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THE STORY: JUNIPER SPARK and The Dagger of Mirren The “story” is actually a new book Courtney has written, entitled Juniper Spark and The Dagger of Mirren. It has been well-received and is gaining in popularity.
Courtney, please share a few details about your childhood years and your educational achievements. I’m grateful for my upbringing and family life in Huntsville. In the summertime, you could often find me out of the heat within the airconditioned walls of the Huntsville Public Library. My parents gently “forced” me to participate in the summer reading program each year, and I’m so thankful they did. I also have fond memories of my art teacher Marsha Phillips, who has been an important influence in my life. I graduated from Huntsville High School in 2004 and earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies with concentrations in English, art, and hospitality management from the University of North Texas. My master’s degree is in human services counseling with a focus on military resilience. I studied Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how it affects veterans and their families. This experience translated well and helped me to better understand and serve the foster care community.
Have you written professionally prior to writing this book? I created a personal blog when my husband joined the military. While we were stationed in Germany, I got a job as a writer-editor for Stars and Stripes, a newspaper for the troops. Our small team -- which was actually led by another Huntsville native, Genevieve Ruffin Northup (such a small world!) -- launched a website for military families stationed overseas, and I wrote and posted articles online. I’m thankful for Genevieve’s friendship and mentorship. I later wrote for USAA, an insurance company that serves veterans and their families.
Share the road you traveled that brought you into your new role as the author of a children’s book. I have had the idea for this story for at least ten years. Growing up as an adopted child, I had many questions and did not know how to ask them. I thought it might hurt my parents if I asked questions, so I kept them all inside. These types of situations are hard enough for adults; more so for kids, and issues relating to adoption and foster care are generally hard to discuss for those involved. But stories are really powerful and can bring to light these issues and provide avenues for discussion. That was my purpose for writing this book -- to create an opportunity for kids to connect with and form deeper bonds with their parents.
» August 2021 | Postcards Magazine: Piney Woods Edition 15
