Mayr Boros: ‘Lizabeth and the Dinosaurs
Can you give some background on your piece? What inspired you to write ‘Lizabeth and the Dinosaurs?
This piece was inspired by one of my daughters, Elizabeth, when she was about three. She discovered and fell in love with dinosaurs. One day after preschool, I noticed Elizabeth and her teacher walking hand in hand towards me. “Elizabeth corrected us on the spelling of some of the dinosaur names today,” her teacher said. Surprised, I just smiled and gave my little girl, still holding her favorite blanket, a big hug.
Your poem includes a great amount of rhyme, play, and imagination. What message are you trying to share with your readers?
Sometimes after we grow up, we forget to play. If we listen, the little ones in our lives have a great deal to teach us.
Can you tell us about your journey as a writer?
Like the writing life of many others, mine began in grade school with homework assignments. In that era, we were required to write quite a bit of fiction. (I recently found some of those stories that my mother had saved. Thank you, Mom.) Fast forward to college and a gap year I needed. I wrote a training manual for my job as a contracts and license clerk for an insurance company. That is when I noticed how much fun it is to write.
In my first job as a dietitian, I started a newsletter called the “Kidney Beam.” Though the hospital management would not allow me to continue the work, I was again reminded of how much fun writing is. Throughout my career as a Dietitian, I wrote various articles about nutrition related topics. I also wrote lots of church/spiritual newsletter articles. In 2014, Good Ground Press published my book of art and prayers, “The Dance of Creation: Labyrinths of Healing Prayer and Art.” This book was a response to the hope I sought in dealing with pancreatic and breast cancers. After that, I took lots of writing classes at the Loft. A few years ago, I decided I wanted to study writing in school. I enrolled in a creative writing certificate program at MN State Southeast in Red Wing. ‘Lizabeth and the Dinosaurs was written as an assignment for one of my classes.
Do you have any advice for children who want to be writers?
You can do it! Get a notebook, typewriter or word processor for your computer. Make a list of what you can write about and just practice. Write about whatever inspires you and have fun.
Do you have any other projects we should look out for?
My silly poem for Minnesotans called Minnesota Katt needs a home. I’m also seeking representation for some short children’s mysteries that take place in the fictitious animal world of Cinnamon Hollow.
They all center around food/baking. Raisin Thief is ready to go.
Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know? About you, your work, or life?
Growing up, I learned that when life brings pain, making something can help. I taught my daughters, 23 and 26, the same thing. Catherine, 23, is a wonderful knitter. Elizabeth, 26, knits and crochets. So my free advice is to weep, wail, cry and then use any of the creative arts, including writing, to help yourself get up again and keep moving.
I am honored to be a part of this collection of stories. I love Strive Publishing’s timely mission and wish it great success. Thank you for your time.