It’s Meet the Author Monday! Each week we meet a new author and get to know a little about them, their writing process, publishing experience, and tips for other writers. Today we’re talking to Kristin Greco, author of Smart in My Heart.
About Kristin Greco:
Kristin Greco is a Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist, and Clinical Director of a private mental health clinic in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, where she resides with her husband and three children. In her clinical practice, Kristin supports individuals who have experienced complex trauma.
Since childhood, Kristin has nurtured a deep passion for writing. As a compliment to her clinical practice, she writes a blog that can be found on her clinic website www.newmarketpsychotherapy.com.
It is Kristin’s hope this book and her blog act as a resource and support; normalizing shared human experiences as we navigate our individual journeys through life.
About Smart in My Heart:
At some point in our lives, all of us have hard-to-feel feelings. We get mad, sad, or scared, and we have no idea what to do about it!
When one little girl’s world goes topsy turvy, her feelings are way too big and confusing. She has no idea what to do! And the adults in her home seem too busy to help, or feel too far away to talk to. With the help of an animal friend, she discovers the smart in her heart, and learns how to understand and cope with her emotions.
Smart In My Heart sheds light on children who don’t have the language to express how they feel. It is a tool for educators, therapists, and even parents to help children who are feeling lonely or emotionally unwell. The text, pictures, and psycho-educational questions teach children self-soothing strategies and how to access their inner strengths.
Author Interview with Kristin Greco:
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- What does literary success look like to you?
I greatly value the feedback I receive from readers who have felt a sense of connection and who can relate to the messages in my book. I have had the privilege to read aloud to children at my author visits to elementary schools. I get such a fantastic feeling when I hear the children express feelings of validation, and when I see their ability to connect the story to their own experiences. This is the essence of literary success to me!
- Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?
Yes, that is my experience. When I write, I’m most appreciative and attuned to the human experience. I’m immersed in creativity, excitement, and I’m acutely aware of my senses; always connecting me back to the beauty and mystery that is life.
- What is your favorite childhood book?
Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood. I grabbed this book over and over again at bedtime. The illustrations are enveloping and colourful. However, the way in which my mom read the book aloud to me was what made the book and its message come to life! Remembering or re-reading childhood books can be like catching an old, familiar scent in the breeze; they transport our minds back to a specific place and time in our life, where nostalgic memories and feelings reside.
- What inspired you to start writing?
As a child I was extremely shy, but I had a lot to communicate about myself and my observations of the world around me. So, as a quiet and observant child, with a need to express my inner world, I naturally fell in love with writing. I began to journal and write stories as young as six years old. I was very lucky to have the adults in my life tell me I had a talent for writing. So I kept writing! I created imaginary worlds and characters, and it made me feel accomplished and fulfilled as an artistic person. There is something so incredibly satisfying about choosing just the right words, or having them flow (sometimes) seamlessly from mind to fingertips. I imagine the experience to be similar to the exhilaration or satisfaction felt by a musician writing music; that moment when the perfect composition of notes is heard.
- Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Yes. I cannot recall a time when I did not experience a persistent voice in my head telling me to write. My interest in the lives and experiences of others has helped me write stories that resonate with those who read them. I suppose I have always used writing to convey what I’ve come to learn as a therapist; we all have interesting and intricate life stories, and yearn to feel a certain degree of belonging, validation, and connection.
- Favorite quote (doesn’t matter the source)
“Facing, accepting, floating and letting time pass.” – Claire Weekes
- What is the best part of your day?
I love early mornings when the house is still and quiet! Sometimes, I feel I have to move quietly and swiftly like a ninja; careful not to wake anyone so I can enjoy my first few sips of coffee in silence. Then, I’m more appreciative of the beautiful chaos that rises with my three kids, the dog, and my husband!
To learn more about Kristin Greco, here’s where you can find her:
Website: smartinmyheart.ca
TikTok: @smartinmyheartbook
Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UCdqZoZVZion8-1Xa5btKnhA
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