Women Who Inspire: Brittany Crawford, Author of The Tilly Green Series
Brittany Crawford, Author of The Tilly Green Series
Written By Joy Mathis Chadwick
What a pleasure it was to work with Brittany Crawford while putting this interview together! She undoubtedly has the heart of a servant, especially when ministering to children through her books, TheTilly Green Series. In spite of some challenges that she has so candidly shared with us, she has not let anything stand in her way to accomplish the Lord’s will for her life.
Joy Mathis Chadwick: Tell us all about Brittany Crawford. Readers want to know who holds the pen behind the words!
Brittany Crawford: My name is Brittany Crawford, and I live in Skiatook, Oklahoma. I’m a reading, writing, chalk picture making Jesus lover of all things. My passion is volunteering time to help others. Currently I volunteer at Lakeview Early Learning Academy in Skiatook for two, sometimes three days a week. I work with toddlers and preschoolers, and preschool is my favorite age. Children are so honest. You don’t know sometimes what is gonna come out of their mouths. I also serve my church family (Skiatook Christian Church) by helping out with the toddler classes. I am also active in the church women’s group. WILD (Women in Loving Discipleship). My family lives in Arkansas. When I am not writing or chalking, you can usually find me reading or shopping.
JMC: As an author of children’s/preteen books, did you read a lot as a child? Who was your favorite author? What kind of books did you enjoy the most?
BC: Yes, I read anything I could get my hands on, including cereal boxes. LOL. Some of my favorite books included: The Baby-Sitters Club, Ann M Martin, Nancy Drew Mysteries, Carolyn Keene, and Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
JMC: At what point in your life did you know that you wanted to write your own series of books? Please tell us how this all came about.
BC: My love of writing began in 1992. I was in the 6th grade. My reading teacher, Mrs. Carol Wagner, gave our class an assignment. She wanted us to go through the day as a disabled person. I already have Cerebral Palsy, so I wrote an essay on being blind. Mrs.Wagner liked it so much that she published it in our school newspaper, TeePee Talk. Once I saw my words in print, I was hooked. In high school I actually became the editor of TeePee Talk and served as editor for two years.
JMC: Where do you draw your inspiration for your books?
BC: The Tilly Green Book Series was inspired by a place I volunteered up until March of last year, Osage Nation Headstart in Skiatook. My first book, Tilly and the Terrible Tornado, was inspired by approximately 100 kids and 12 staff members sitting in our safe room when a tornado warning was issued in April of 2019. Our first and foremost responsibility was to keep our children safe. Before I left the room I was volunteering in, I grabbed a book and read to the kids in the shelter. My second book, Tilly and the Ferocious Flood, was inspired when flooding hit Northeastern Oklahoma in May of 2019. Part of the town of Skiatook was underwater and I knew somebody who actually lost a home due to the flooding. My third Tilly book centers around electrical safety; I thought of Louie The Lightning Bug when writing that. There are not very many children’s books out there, so I want 1st-5th grade children to be weather aware, not scared.
JMC: If you could interview and write about any child in the world (past or present), who would it be and why? Would you write it as a biography or fiction?
BC: Headstart shut down in June, 2019. However, one of my greatest success stories is a three year old little girl who stole my heart immediately after meeting her (name omitted for privacy reasons). Her mother passed away due to cancer, and the little girl is being raised by a grandmother and two aunts. I reached out to the grandmother one day by writing a note and putting it with the little girl’s cubby; I sent a stuffed dog along with the note saying if she needed a babysitter at any time to reach out to me. Two weeks later, I was sitting at home watching TV when the phone rang. The little girl wanted to come play with me, and we have been buddies ever since. I would probably write the story as fiction in order to protect names.
JMC: Do you get more feedback from the children who read your books or from their parents? What encourages you the most when you are trying to market your finished product?
BC: I tend to get more feedback from the parents. My books are aimed for first-fifth graders. However, anyone can learn from them, even younger kids. Some of those younger kids can’t read yet. My encouragement comes from wanting the kids to know all about weather safety without being scared.
JMC: Who do you think is your biggest fan of your work? Why?
BC: I have a lot of support from friends and family, but if they were here today, my grandparents, the Late Heartsil and Jean Ann Andrews, would have really supported me. They have both told me that even though you have Cerebral Palsy, you can do anything you want to in life.
JMC: Have you had any struggles as an author? Tell us about your writing process.
BC: My struggles as an author…….right now, with a global pandemic going on, book sales haven’t been too great, and I definitely understand why. I am frustrated because I loved going to schools and talking to kids about my books, but since the pandemic I haven’t been able to go inside schools. I have done mostly Zoom or Google classroom chats since March 12th. I also become frustrated over the fact that I can’t drive and have to have a driver to take me to book signings; however, I have three drivers who are willing to do that. As long as my drivers are willing to take me, I’m good with going into schools.
My writing process: When I first began writing, I used to write out what I was going to say on notebook paper, and then type it out. I don’t do that anymore. Now, I just sit down with my ChromeBook, and let my fingers do the talking, so to speak. I do have a LOT of notebooks stored full of ideas though.
JMC: What advice do you have for someone who thinks they have a story to write?
BC: Listen to and follow your heart. If you believe strongly in an idea, write it down and see where it takes you. Do your best, try your hardest, and never give up.
JMC: Tell us about your relationship with God. Do you feel that your writing is a gift from God? Do you feel that your writing is a calling from God?
BC: I have had countless teachers tell me my writing was a gift, but I believe God called me to do it. I don’t write to make money, but I write to teach and inspire children. I love my relationship with God, and look for ways to strengthen that relationship daily including praying, reading the Bible, or helping others.
JMC: What is your favorite passage of scripture? Why?
BC: I have many favorites, but my most favorite is Phillippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I have Cerebral Palsy that affects the right side of my body, but I refuse to dwell on it. I focus on the things I can do – write, paint, be a good friend, rather than the things I can’t do. (I can’t drive a car. Believe me! I’ve tried!). Focusing on all the things I can do helps me guide myself throughout life.
JMC: What advice do you have for children in this crazy world we’re living in now? What do YOU do when life feels overwhelming?
BC: My advice for children in this crazy world? It’s Ok to have big feelings about these times. These crazy times are difficult for adults too. I want children to remember they can talk to any adult about what they are thinking and what they are feeling. By the same token, my advice to parents: Take time to listen to your child. No matter how busy we are, God always listens to us, so you should take time and listen to your child when they have a concern.
When life gets overwhelming for me, I read a book or lose myself in my painting. I have also been known to watch comedy movies.
JMC: Thank you so much, Brittany, for such an inspirational interview! We hope to see many more books in the future about Tilly and her weather adventures! Please tell us where your books can be purchased. Do you have a website?
BC: All of my books can be purchased on Amazon.com or Lulu.com. Currently those books are:
I Sit in a Wheelchair…….But I will Be Ok.
Tilly and the Terrible Tornado
Tilly and the Ferocious Flood
Tilly and the Electrifying Thunderstorm
You can check out my books on my personal Facebook page, Brittany M Crawford, or my business Facebook page, The Tilly Green Book Series.
