Meet Christopher Low | Children’s Author and Middle School Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christopher Low and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christopher, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I started pursuing a writing career more seriously about eight years ago, a big part of my motivation was to find a creative outlet that was compatible with the kind of husband and father I wanted to be. I had previously been involved in the music scene, but as much as I loved playing, it pulled me away from home on a pretty regular basis. Choosing to focus more on writing was part of a conscious effort to restore balance without abandoning my creative aspirations. I think that’s how my understanding of work-life balance has changed over time — I’m getting better at finding ways to alter or reimagine the “work” when it interferes with the “life”.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Writing has always been a passion, and getting to write for kids is one of the greatest joys of my life. That said, anyone in the writing world knows that the road to traditional publication is lengthy and full of rejection, and my path was no different. After finding homes for a few of my short stories with children’s magazines like Highlights for Children and Spider, I began working on novel-length projects. I pretty quickly learned that the path to publication in that realm is even more complex, generally requiring a literary agent to get a manuscript in front of an editor. It was three books later that I finally connected with the right agent, and now we’re on to the next step on the path to publication — a process called going “out on submission”, which is when my agent pitches my work to editors at publishing houses in the hopes that someone loves it enough to acquire it.

Throughout the process, the thing I’ve probably learned above all else is that patience isn’t just about waiting. Patience takes work. It’s an active process. It’s something you build up over time like a muscle. Patience goes hand in hand with perseverance, and you definitely need both in the world of book publishing, especially if you’re like me and also work a full time job / raise children / try to be a reasonably social human being.

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?
I’m not an Arizona native, but one of my favorite places to visit is Old Highway 66. Yes, some stretches are a little touristy, but there are many stops that are beautifully preserved snapshots of a different time. Driving through towns like Winslow and even parts of Flagstaff can be like stepping back decades, and I’ve always found places like that to be totally captivating. With a few days to spend in the area, I’d definitely recommend making the trip north to the Grand Canyon. Yes, you’ll again be fighting crowds, tour groups, etc., but all of that melts away when you get your first glimpse of the park. For me, it felt like landing on another planet.

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?
Huge shoutout to my wife, Julia, for reading every half-baked manuscript I’ve ever sent her. She embodies the impossible combination of cutthroat editor and passionate supporter. I’m also super thankful for the my literary agent, Joyce, who routinely helps me navigate the often treacherous waters of the publishing industry.

Website: www.chrislowauthor.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chrislowauthor

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