Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Brick
Hi Stephanie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey to write THE SECRET DOORS OF CANNONDALE–the new national- and international-award winning children’s fantasy book–is not what I’d call a traditional one. I’m not a writer by trade: I’m a licensed architect and subject matter expert in salutogenic design, an evidence-based design strategy to improve health and well-being in the built environment.
I’ve been a writer my whole life, but as a professional, my writing always augmented my architecture career. But a few years ago, there was a paradigm shift in the relationship between writing and architecture for me. I had recently accepted a new architecture job that was, much to my surprise, far less creative than any position I’d previously held. As a result, I found myself desperately in need of a creative outlet: THE SECRET DOORS OF CANNONDALE became just that.
THE SECRET DOORS OF CANNONDALE, my debut novel and book one of a trilogy, is about an outcast 12-year-old girl looking to belong who discovers secret doorways to other worlds. I’m thrilled to say that since releasing in March, the book has received multiple national and international honors, including the national gold medal for Best Children’s Book (Readers’ Choice Book Awards) and honors in the international Purple Dragonfly Book Awards and Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are a few things to know about me. I am a highly driven, enthusiastic, optimistic person. I’m also a huge foodie! They say when life hands you lemons, it’s best to make lemonade.
The road hasn’t been easy. But I don’t just make ordinary lemonade. I make the most deliciously revitalizing, fresh-squeezed lemonade you’ll ever taste…with a splash of lavender syrup for flavor and pizzazz!
Changing from a highly creative to (an unexpectedly) highly technical job was tough for a few reasons. But instead of leaving the job, I found a constructive path forward for myself. I devised my own creative outlet by harnessing my passion for writing to find a way to design unique environments and meaningful experiences outside of my architecture career. And, it was an outlet just for me: I was writing a story *I* wanted to read, that *I* wanted to live through my younger self, and hoped one day it would resonate with others, too.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
First, a little background about THE SECRET DOORS OF CANNONDALE, a thrilling middle-grade fantasy (ages 10+) about belonging, self-discovery, and survival wrapped up in a magical adventure:
When twelve-year-old Adeline Perle’s transient military family finally plants roots in an old, creaky mansion–Cannondale–the girl craves to build the lasting friendships that she, as a constant outsider, never had. At last, on the cusp of bonding with a new group of affable teens on Cannondale’s grounds, Adeline discovers an unusual treasure behind a secret door, unveiling portals to extraordinary realms where she is confronted with disappearing creatures and magical people, good and evil, and a boy who’s desperate to help her find her way back home.
But not all friends are as they seem. Some will go to any length to get what they want, including a secret Adeline does not even know she possesses. It is a secret so important, all the magic in the universe is at stake. Wars have been waged over it, and Adeline finds herself right in the middle of it all. She must overcome all inhibitions and face her greatest fears not only to survive but–after a lifetime of wanting–to find her place and way home.
Uniquely, I have spent about half of my architecture career as a civilian architect for the Department of Defense, specializing in designing workspaces that lower service members’ stress and improve their resiliency. As an architect, I feel supporting the military with this expertise is the best way I can serve my country.
Seeing the profound, positive impact of my salutogenic design efforts on service members’ well-being has been the most meaningful work of my design career. When I decided to start writing THE SECRET DOORS OF CANNONDALE, I wanted to continue to give back to this community, which is why I made the hero of the story an only child in a military family.
Since the book’s release earlier this year, on-post school and library faculty have championed THE SECRET DOORS OF CANNONDALE as the only mainstream fantasy book to star a U.S. military child as its hero. The support from the military community has been extraordinary, and I am incredibly proud to bring the spotlight to military kids in a way that is equally relatable to non-military readers.
How do you define success?
I do a lot of school and library author events where I get to engage directly with readers in really fun ways, from my author talk (which covers my STEM career in architecture, the process of writing a novel, and even my own personal secret box collection) to breakout box activities themed around THE SECRET DOORS OF CANNONDALE. Engaging with enthusiastic students and faculty about my book and their experiences reading it, or wanting to write their own, feels like the pinnacle of success! To me, success comes down to connecting with people through my book: people relating to my characters, loving my story, and bonding over it with others.
Thank you! THE SECRET DOORS OF CANNONDALE by critically acclaimed debut Baltimore author Stephanie Brick is available in paperback, hardcover, eBook, and audiobook in stores and online wherever fine books are sold. Follow her on social media or by signing up for her newsletter at www.stephaniebrick.com/secretdoors
Pricing:
- Hardcover – $20.99
- Paperback – $12.99
- eBook – $7.00
- Audiobook – free with Audible subscription
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stephaniebrick.com/secretdoors
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanie.brick.author/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniebrickauthor
- Other: eNewsletter sign-up: https://www.stephaniebrick.com/secretdoors#newsletter
