Lauren The Cow was the winner in the Children’s (Board books and Pre-reading) category of the 2023 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author T.I. Frazier.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The name of my books is Lauren The Cow, published December 2022
What’s the book’s first line?
Once upon a time there was a young cow named Lauren.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Lauren is a young calf who has a dream to become a jumping cow. But cows don’t jump…do they? Lauren is determined and begins training in earnest. She feels confident with each day until a failure makes Lauren doubt herself. But the young cow learns that when she believes in herself, she can soar higher than she ever imagines.
A heartfelt story that inspires young readers to explore their capabilities and believe in themselves to achieve their dreams.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
My wife (Lauren) was not supposed to be able to get pregnant due to complications of a surgery earlier on in life. Shortly after her mother died of cancer, we found out we were pregnant. She was both excited and sad during this time in her life. On one of the days, she was particularly challenged by everything including what was going on with work. I wanted to inspire her to never give up. I created this story as a way of encouraging her to not just keep going, but to aspire to even greater feats.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
The character and determination of the little calf in this story I wrote to match the personality of my wife, Lauren.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Anyone looking to read a story that inspires perseverance, captivates the imagination and illustrates positive character traits that can be called upon for use in their own life later on should read and reread Lauren the Cow.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
Kelly Marie Tran and Lauren, the cow- (she played Raya in Raya and the Last Dragon) She has both softness, and strength to her voice.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I have always been a story teller with the desire to share my stories with a greater audience.
Is this the first you’ve written?
This is the first Children’s book I have written. I have an adult faith -based book called Faith Arising. Faith Arising is a reflection of my faith development, a memoir and a blueprint for others seeking to develop Faith.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I work in Trust/ Financial Services.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I don’t typically spend time. I will binge write, or take a writing vacation and spend 48 hours+ straight writing everything in one shot.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
My first book I did not have a marketing plan. My second book I had a marketing plan but didn’t really evaluate the timing of rolling out my ARC etc. Learning these things on the fly while trying become discovered is both rewarding and the hardest part of being an indie.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
I am open to the possibility of a traditional publisher, but I would need to evaluate the pros and cons. Right now, I love that as an Indie writer I have control over the distribution of my book and have been able to make it accessible on multiple platforms.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
I write to leave a legacy of my heart/ life- that others may learn, be challenged and be inspired.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Langston Hughes, he allowed his dreams to carry him and had a variety of cadence and topics for his poetry.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
I still have multiple books in my heart that I believe will one day be written.