Interview with
Lisa M. Pritchard
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was in the first grade, I wrote a story in a picture book with no words, from the school library. I got into a little trouble, but was later gifted the book, and it is one of my prized childhood possessions. Decades later, here I am.
How long does it take you to write a book?
It depends on the type of book. I've been highly inspired with both children's book series. The picture book series, Dirt Dog and Friends, takes a week to write and iron out a rough draft, but it still takes about a year to get published with edits, illustrations, planning, and publishing. In the children's chapter book series Pets to the Rescue, A Cousin Crew series, I am a co-author, and we take turns writing the chapters. We don't know in advance which direction the other writer has taken. It's a lot of fun and very creative. But we finished a twelve-chapter book in two to three weeks before. The light romance I wrote for Carolina Tides was 10,000-plus words. It took about six weeks, but I was also working on the other two series, and my time was divided. Usually, I have it all in my head before I start writing and just have to tweak details. I'm totally in love with writing. Whatever time I wake up, I get up and get to my office with my coffee. I'm generally in my office 12 hours a day, sometimes more, because I was working on five projects at a time. I now realize I have to slow that down a bit if I want to keep my sanity!
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
I didn't realize that my background with literacy teams from past years would come back to the forefront. In my research on childhood literacy, I've discovered some shocking statistics. Because of that, I've incorporated lessons into both series to encourage discussion, critical thinking, and the application of what is learned during reading. In the series I'm co-authoring, we each have tasks we enjoy more. One of mine was researching the grade-appropriate vocabulary for second through fifth grades and incorporating those terms into the stories. They are highlighted, and the book includes a glossary at the end with definitions to help children learn the words in context. I also found that I enjoy creating promotional materials, such as websites, stickers, bookmarks, invitations for launch parties, and the like.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I'm quite new to all of this, so not very much. The friends and family who have read them have shared positive remarks and reviews, and that makes my heart happy. I've even had some ask me to sign them! I wrote a book in early 2025, and it was just published in March of 2026. The next book of the series will be released in June 2026, and the third will be released late 2026 or 2027. There are more titles to follow. The first book in the Pets series was released in February, and the second, America's Birthday Hero, will be released in April 2026, with a third in October 2026. We plan for at least three more to follow. I hope that by the end of this year, I will have a following that enjoys my stories and will reach out to let me know.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
I would definitely say writing energizes me. I mentioned earlier that I am in my office on an average day for about twelve hours. Sometimes I wake up at midnight or 2 am and get up and go up to my office, and the clackety-clack-clack begins. Some of the associated tasks, like going to author events, parties, and other events, where I have to make small talk, are a different story. I'm an introvert, and so trying to entertain people I don't know is hard. I do love all people, so I'm trying to work through this and learn to be confident and how to start up conversations instead of hugging the wall.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
My Kryptonite is INTERRUPTIONS! I like to stay focused. By that I mean that I may be multi-tasking through all my cluttered piles that I just cleaned up last week, but now they're baaaack, and I must get through them again. When interruptions happen, I lose my train of thought, which can set back several tasks at once. This typically only affects tasks associated with writing, not actual writing, as I'm pretty clear what I'm about to type next.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I must be authentic. I can't write what someone wants me to say, and I don't want to copy what someone else said. I write about what I believe is true, whether it is that we have value in our hearts because we are kind and helpful, and not based on our appearance, or teaching kids about the founding of our country, how to share, or overcoming the fear of going to a new school, etc. I wrote this quote about a year ago after I wrote my first book. "Pen to paper patterns a path from pandemonium to peace, producing a powerful portal to a protected paradise." There is so much to unpack in that statement, but my protected paradise is my happy place that resides in my writing. And I hope that is what readers want.
What authors did you dislike at first but grew into?
At what point do you think someone should call themselves a writer?
Someone should call themselves a writer the moment they determine they are (and of course have something they are at least working on.) If it is their own work, whether it's a short story, novel, article, interview, news report, textbook, or recipe book, they are a writer. They may not yet be accomplished, but they are writers nonetheless.
What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
To me, writer's block would mean extended periods where the words don't come, and the ideas aren't flowing. As long as there is some brainstorming and thoughts being written down, I'm okay. Even if you have to skip to another section. That happened to me with the novel I was working on. I haven't gotten a chance to get back to it for all the other projects, but eventually, if my clock keeps ticking, I will get back to it. Maybe I will even have fresher ideas for stepping away from it for a while.
Are there therapeutic benefits to modeling a character after someone you know?
What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
The characters come first. I love to create children's animal characters, at the same time, I'm forming which lesson I want to add in about character, social issues, family values, etc., and then I determine how to work in the plot.
How would you describe your book’s ideal reader?
They vary in age, genre, and media. One thing they all have in common is that the words should help them lose track of time or reality for a few moments (or longer) because they are submerged in the writing, and they want more.
How much research did you need to do for your book?
Tell us more about your book/s?
From the time I was five, I remember learning to read. My family moved frequently, so many times books were my only friends. I know the joy and comfort books can bring to a child. Couple that with knowledge, and a child can learn to understand that they have value, to be kind and helpful, to persevere, to share, to be confident, to respect their parents, to be honest, and to be a leader; the possibilities are endless. The vivid, fun, and relatable characters are infinite. And while I'm at it, I aim to help kids WANT to read; increase literacy rates, and decrease dropout rates. If you want to learn more about me or my books, go to: dirtdogandfriends.com, petstotherescuecc.com, or www.praying-prodigals.com.