ENNISKILLEN mother of one, Laura Quinn, is on the brink of seeing her first children’s book come to final fruition.
Having won a scholarship with the Making Magic Happen (MMH) Academy in the middle of last month, Laura’s life has been set on a rollercoaster journey to self-publication.
The 36-year-old’s book, ‘Monkey Blue’ inspired by her son’s favourite teddy, is part of a children’s series which follows the escapades of a monkey and his loyal companions.
And in the midst of setting up her own publishing House, Monkey Blue Press, organising illustrations for the book by local artist, Kevin McHugh, creating a website for her press and sales, and approaching outside distributors and major book stores with her submissions, Laura has set the date for her book launch in September.
“After giving up my job to be a full time stay at home mum, I discovered that there was still too much left of me to give,” she explains, “I wasn’t missing the daily grind or the rat race but at the same time in my heart I knew I wasn’t going back to it,
“It was time for a major life overhaul, time to stop being afraid of making decisions, and time to focus on what I wanted.”
A passionate writer all her life Laura had always spent much of her spare time writing rhymes and poems.
“I have been going to writing conventions, workshops and clubs hoping to meet with someone, anyone besides my parents and partner who critique with enthusiasm after reading three lines!” she says.
“Some times, as the age old saying goes, it is not what you know, it’s who you know and I thought I was too late.”
When her husband, Peter, told her that entrepreneur and writer, Karen McDermott was going to deliver a talk at the Fermanagh Writers’ Group, Laura seized her chance.
“I went along and after the talk I relayed my rejections and disappointments to her [Karen], how every avenue was full of taking cuts and wanting percentages. I told her I was afraid in some cases to even share my ideas.
“I was so confused and needed help.”
Laura submitted her work and it wasn’t long before she was offered a place in the MMH academy.
Her scholarship means Laura is being mentored by Karen through the entire process of self-publication, building up her confidence so that at some point, she will be able to branch out on her own.
“Living in Fermanagh I know so many people feel that things like this are not possible. I want to be the person that is able to say: ‘It IS possible’,” says Laura.
MMH Academy is match funding the self-publication journey, meaning that Laura has invested in the project herself too.
“I want to be able to believe in myself,” she says, “And I want to put my hand in my own pocket. I feel it shows I have a belief that this can work for me and that I am passionate and enthusiastic about it.”
Originally from Newtownbutler but now living in Enniskillen, Laura married Peter last year and they now have their son, nine-month-old Cián.
Explaining that Cián has been a huge inspiration behind the children’s book series, Laura says she has a particular sense of pride in the knowledge that he will one day be able to read her books himself.
But she confesses that she has become a slave to the project over the last few weeks.
“I have never worked as hard! When I left work I thought I would be able to take it easy and forget about the busy office environment, but I don’t think I am actually capable of taking it easy!
“It is not easy publishing your own book, but if you are passionate enough about it, you will enjoy every minute of it.
“I want to give it the best possible platform and have no regrets afterwards, so I am giving it my all and operating on adrenaline most of the time!”
Laura already has the second and third books in the Monkey Blue series in production, and is working on a new project, the ‘Mummy where’s my....’ book series.
“It has been lovely to see ‘Monkey Blue’ come to life but my brain is working overtime and I am already thinking of the next books in the series.
“For a long time I had thought that I should have achieved so much more in my life, but I think things like this come to you when they are meant to come to you,” says Laura.