Meet Molly McNamara Carter | Author/Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Molly McNamara Carter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Molly McNamara, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’ve learned a lot over the years about work life balance, mainly that what you want most in life has to be at the top of the list. It seems that the ‘to-do’ lists of life can be never-ending, but putting what you want most at the top helps you make sure the things you really care about get done. I’ve had to let go of a lot of expectations for myself, and outsource other things in order to create the time I’ve needed to work on my craft and build my career. It’s not always easy, but I always go back to recognizing what I want most, what matters most, and for me that’s my family, and my craft. Once I get my kids off to school, I love getting lost in my work, hours can fly by seeming like minutes before I realize it’s lunch time. It used to bother me that things like errands and laundry were piling up, but now I realize those things are never really done.

Recently I heard someone say, “Maybe I’ll start next year.” There are always good reasons to push off the things you want, but the reality is, you either have a year of working toward your goals, working on your craft, building your business, or not. You can only get closer if you working in the right direction.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an author and illustrator, creating books primary for young people. I absolutely love what I do. Even the drudgery of editing feels like a privilege to do. Connection is one of the words that stays on my whiteboard. I want people to feel connected when they read my writing, whether that’s to the character in the book, the person reading to them, or even to themselves. I also want people to feel. I want to evoke emotion with my work, whether that’s happiness or sadness, empathy, or love. Lastly, I want to bring light, especially in my art. There is plenty of darkness in the world, I want to help bring the light.

I remember when I was little sitting on the couch next to my dad as he held a book, moving his finger from one word to the next as he read to me. It was as if this light went on and the world was suddenly in color. I realized the magic that words held, and I’ve never forgotten it. Stories are so powerful. They can help people empathize with others, understand others, feel emotions that we may not feel in our everyday lives. They can be an escape from harsh realities, or help give someone hope through a rough situation. We can see ourselves in characters, or see who we want, or don’t want to be.

I knew from the time I could read that I wanted to be an author. Few people can say their career is literally what they wanted to be at five, but I can. I’d make up stories in my head while doing chores, riding my bike, or playing on the swings. I’d tell my little sisters stories as they laid in their beds ready to fall asleep. It’s almost as if I couldn’t help it. I was always going to be a storyteller.

In college I took an English class and for the first half of the semester had a C in it. I was devastated, this was what I was so passionate about, but the teacher wanted me to write in her constraints, not freely like I always had. I worked so hard and by the end the the semester had pulled my grade up to an A. The last day the professor asked me to stay after class, she then asked if I’d considered majoring in English. My heart soared. It was what I wanted more than anything else, but by the time I finished college, graduating with a BA in English I felt burnt out from the rigorous required reading, and stunted by the hefty feedback I’d receive from teachers and peers on my writing. I put stacks of stories in boxes and got a job to support my new husband and I as he finished his schooling.

For years I had a variety of jobs, but always came back to writing, whether it was my weekly solo date to write at Starbucks, in the many journals I kept, or the stories I told my own children as they came, I couldn’t get away from my burning desire to create stories.

When my youngest started Kindergarten I knew it was a now or never situation. I worked evenings, but during those four hours she was gone, I wrote. Some of it was horrible, but it didn’t matter. I had finally created a substantial time to focus on my craft. I received my first offer of publication a year later. As the years since have passed I have excused more and more things from my life, creating more time and space for my craft. I didn’t even know the joy and satisfaction I was missing before.

I learned that you’re never too old or too young to start your dream. That moving toward your goal is better than standing still, and that it doesn’t matter who believes in you, you have to believe in yourself.
At the end of the day, I want to be able to look back on my work and proudly say, “this is who I am.”

I am so excited about the future of my work. Having had the privilege of releasing a book in the fall with Lawley Publishing (an incredible AZ publishing house) that I was able to illustrate I got to get my hands in the illustration part of writing for young people, and I love it. “The Little Green Pumpkin” is about a pumpkin who, you guessed it, is green and wants to be orange like all the other pumpkins. Of course in the end she realizes that there are pumpkins of all colors shapes and sizes. It’s a beautiful thing to read this to a child and watch them ‘get it’–to see them make the connection to their own lives. The book I most recently released in January 2023 is “Wait For Me” illustrated by the talented Ina Kotanko. This tells the story of a little boy named Charlie who is always being told to hurry up. Meanwhile, he is fascinated by the slugs, snails, and pretty rocks all around him. I love this gentle reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty around us. I am very much looking forward to the fall when “The Little Green Pumpkin” will be released in Spanish, as well as my first Middle Grade book (ages 8-14), “Before.” Set slightly in the future there is suspense, adventure, and survival, but most of all it’s a story about sibling love. I also just signed a contract for another picture book that has yet to have a date of release. It is a wacky goodnight story with educational elements. It is so fun to get to bring these stories to the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First of all, I’m an outdoor girl, so I hope my bestie is visiting in April. I adore April in the valley! The blooming wildflowers fill the desert with vibrant colors, and if we’ve had enough rain, the Ocotillo are flowering.

We’d start with a morning hike of Camelback Mountain. I have fond memories of hiking Camelback with my family when I was young, and have loved creating new memories with my family as an adult. We’d spend the afternoon next to the pool relaxing our sore muscles with a good book of course, before we’d end the day with dinner at Ocotillo. Every bite I’ve put in my mouth from that restaurant is delicious.

The next day we’d climb Hole in the Rock with a picnic lunch, and if she’s bringing her kids, we’d hit the zoo. Then in the afternoon we’d visit Tempe lake and rent the pedal boats. For dinner we’d visit Vegan and Vine Restaurant, it’s family owned, inspired by the owner’s daughter who started creating her own vegan recipes as a teenager, and delicious.

The next day we’d head up to Lake Pleasant for a day on the lake soaking up the sun again. We’d get there early to avoid the crowds of course, in the afternoon we’d head to Bookman’s and get lost in the shelves of books, finding new stories. In the evening we’d Visit old town Scottsdale for some shopping.

I also hope my bestie is coming on a first Friday because I love the art walk in Tempe. I love street art, and am so inspired by what people can create. While we’re down there we’d stop at Taco Chelo for dinner, because there are few things that go together better than street art and street tacos.

We’d end the week back up north with some hikes again, nothing crazy, just maybe some trails on the Sonoran desert preserve. We’d end the day with some Thai food at a another small, family owned restaurant in Anthem, where if it is actually the first Friday in May we’d sit at the park afterward and enjoy
the Music in May.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are a few groups of people that have helped me along the roller-coaster ride of my career. First are the authors that have gone before, those that inspire me and set examples of what I want to accomplish. I am and have always been a voracious reader. I’m grateful to learn from every book I read.
Secondly, my author critique group that I work with officially on a weekly basis, but often with emails and texts throughout the week as well. These ladies are a huge support and have become my ‘book sisters.” I love them dearly, and am grateful for their support and encouragement as I grow and improve.
Lastly, my family and friends. It is their unending love and belief in me that keeps me going even when the roller-coaster ride feels like it’s going down hill.

Website: www.mollymcnamaracarter.com

Instagram: @MollyMac_Car

Twitter: @MollyMac_Car

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mollymcnamaracarter

Other: Photo Credit: @julieannmphoto Julie Ann M Photography www.julieannm.com

Image Credits
Julie Ann M Photography