Featured Interview With Author Laura DeNooyer-Moore
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m a Midwestern gal, born and raised in Michigan, now in Wisconsin with my husband. But my spirit of adventure has taken me on some wild rides elsewhere: bicycling across the Golden Gate Bridge, white water rafting in Tennessee, hiking the Appalachian trail, and snorkeling with stingrays in Belize.
After decades of parenting, teaching, and tutoring, I now enjoy visiting my four adult children who are spread all over. Some of my favorite memories of their childhood are book-related: reading books at bedtime and taking a “Little House” trip with my daughters. We also went on hikes, took bicycle rides, and hosted neighborhood tie dye parties.
I indulge in a road trip once or twice a year. Karaoke works best when driving alone and singing to an audience of one. It got me through seven such trips from Wisconsin to New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kansas (2018 – 2022). Always seeking story inspirations and learning something new, I stay with friends along the way.
My guilty pleasure is watching Andy Griffith Show reruns and embracing all things Mayberry, including a visit to the original Mayberry in Mt. Airy, North Carolina.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My interest in writing started with “The Gingerbread Man” in second grade. Mrs. Haan gets all the credit. Not a typical 1960s teacher, she had students writing original stories and making them into illustrated books.
Uncertain what to write for my first book, I paraphrased one of my favorite stories, “The Gingerbread Man.” Instead of chastising me for my lack of originality, Mrs. Haan challenged me to create my own ending.
I accepted the challenge. By the time I was done, I concluded writing my own stories was the way to go. After completing twenty-plus original illustrated books in second grade, I aspired to be an author when I grew up. The Muse has followed me. I’ve been writing stories ever since.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Though I read a variety of genres—from historical fiction to contemporary to young adult—dual timeline novels are my new favorite. Some authors who have mastered this are Lisa Wingate, Susan Meisner, Kate Morton, Melanie Dobson, Heidi Chiavaroli, and Rachel Hauck.
Reading a great novel inspires me while writing my own. I enjoy both general market and Christian authors, including Barbara Kingsolver, Jodi Picoult, Chris Fabry, Erin Bartels, and Sarah Loudin Thomas.
To Kill A Mockingbird is my all-time favorite and encompasses everything I love about good fiction: multi-layered stories with depth, complex characters and family dynamics, and complicated relationships. Stories that address tough issues, but also embrace hope.
A good book is like a balanced meal:
MEAT: Can you sink your teeth into it? Does it have substance over sizzle? Does it take awhile to digest as food for thought?
SALAD & VEGETABLES: Is this story life-giving and nutritious?
SOUP: Is there a savory, spicy mix of plot elements, setting, and characters? Does it warm me to the bone?
BREAD: Is it hearty and textured, something to relish with each bite?
DESSERT: The Sweetness Factor. Is there enough humor to balance out the heartier elements?
Tell us a little about your latest book?
During college decades ago, my professor took a group of education majors to southern Appalachia, close to the Smokies. As we met people and explored the area, I was struck by the number of people who created meaningful lives by a route much different from those seeking the prosperity of “The American Dream” that I’d grown up with as the granddaughter of a self-made businessman. Even with humble surroundings, meager possessions, and simple goals, these people enjoyed rich lives, and missed out on nothing.
Moved by this experience, I wrote an award-winning story about it when I returned home. Then, over the next fifteen years of researching and revising (between working and parenting), I expanded it into a novel.
"All That Is Hidden" was born with the help of my writers critique group. I consider it my fifth child.
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles
Laura DeNooyer-Moore’s Website
Laura DeNooyer-Moore Facebook Page
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