Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Ricciardi.
Hi Megan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I spent most of my adult life traveling and had many nights camped out by myself under the stars. This gave me a lot of time to think and the idea for my first book, “Moon Dream” came into my head. It took a few years to finally write it down then I had it written down for a few more years while I kept traveling before I met my illustrator, Anna Holzner, in Australia. Once it was illustrated I seemed to meet all the right people at the right time to help me turn it into a book. When I got back to the US I met a man who introduced me to the world of licensing and we now have a company together with a couple other authors and illustrators to help fellow independent authors get their books out into the world. We also help kids become published authors and help them start on their entrepreneurial journeys.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with any self published author, there are struggles, but it’s been about as smooth as it can be! I had to figure out all the basics of formatting, printing, and everything else that comes with turning an idea into a book, and I made a lot of mistakes. I dealt with different scams like book contests that you have to pay for to receive an award so your book looks more prestigious. I got scammed out of a lot of money from a plushie company that never gave me any product. That is part of the reason we have started our company, to help other authors learn from our mistakes and so we can learn from theirs!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Aside from writing children’s books and helping fellow authors, I also teach people to build dome houses. In my book, “Moon Dream” there is a line that gets repeated, “Follow your dreams and they will all come true, if you put love and passion in all that you do.” I want to teach children, and adults, that you don’t have to just be one thing. I’ve had a lot of different jobs, it took me a long time to find my passions, I’m still finding more, and I don’t focus on one career or goal. I follow my dreams, whatever they may be at the time, and I put love into everything I do. I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to live my life on my terms and I’m happy!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as being proud of yourself and knowing that you are making a contribution to the world, even if it is something tiny. You don’t have to make a lot of money, or solve all the world’s problems, just be a good person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://airyfairylibrary.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/airyfairylibrary
