Rising Stars: Meet Lauren Zurcher

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Zurcher.

Hi Lauren, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Boston, Massachusetts and moved to Denver, Colorado when I was a kindergartner. I attended a bilingual elementary school where classes were taught in both English and French. I began my journey as a lifelong writer at the age of six when I wrote about family vacations across the world in my journal. I have always enjoyed writing and drawing.

In June 2020, right in the midst of COVID-19 lockdown, I graduated from the University of Denver with a double major in Media Studies and French, as well as a minor in Marketing. During my last year in college, I spent a semester in Aix-en-Provence, France. The colors, history, and art that flourished in the South of France solidified my passion for writing and drawing. After graduating during the pandemic, I spent a lot of time at home trying to find ways to stay motivated. I turned to exploring the outdoors and drawing. My first book, They Call Me Lucky, is about a baby rabbit that I observed in my backyard over the summer. Once I realized that writing and illustrating books could be a job, I put my all into it.

Since then, I have published five books — three of my own and two that I illustrated for other authors. I am currently working on a series based on real animal stories. They Call Me Lucky follows the trials of a cottontail rabbit in Colorado, and award-winning Good Boy, Nicco is about an ambitious German Shepherd from California. My latest title in the series, Kaya Finds Her Home, tells the story of a clever female African Leopard in Botswana. The geography, peoples, fauna, and cultures I experience are the source of my inspiration. I wish to share those treasured moments with others through my creativity.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s not easy being an author, let alone a children’s author. There are so many great stories out there and a lot of competition, so sometimes you think that yours will never be seen. The biggest challenge is having to prove to others that your book is worth it. Some days, I’ll have great responses from bookstores or private sales, and other days nothing. It’s a rollercoaster. The most important thing is to never give up, even though you may feel let down at times.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have received accolades for my watercolor illustrations and real-life stories. At the end of each book in my animal series, you get to see a photograph of that animal. Although my books are written for kids ages three to seven, I like to add a few difficult words within the writing to encourage learning. I am proud that my books can be used as early literacy tools.

What does success mean to you?
Success is subjective, but more importantly, I believe in small measures of success. It’s not always about the glamorous, final goal of becoming a best-selling author. Seeing the smiles and awakening the curiosity of kids are significant elements of what I perceive as an accomplishment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bylaurenzurcher.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bylaurenzurcher/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPvwAld0tKWH5sO7EMgV-Ig