Laura Anne Bird
Author Interview - Laura Anne Bird
Author of Crossing the Pressure Line
Crossing the Pressure Line is my contemporary middle grade novel about Clare Burch, a plucky, deeply reflective twelve-year-old who grieves the untimely loss of her grandfather, puts her self-confidence to the test, and learns how to listen to the courageous voice inside. It’s the perfect book for tweens (especially girls) who love swimming, animals, fishing, art, and setting fierce goals for themselves. At its core, Crossing the Pressure Line is about feeling strong and confident in one’s body, which is so important during the often-volatile pre-pubescent years. Clare, for instance, devotes one hundred percent to everything she undertakes physically, even when she’s not the biggest or the fastest. I love this about her! Crossing the Pressure Line also aims to cultivate a sense of wonder and reverence for the natural world, which I believe is essential in these times of cell phones, social media, and virtual everything. My novel features non-traditional families and diverse characters so that all kids can see themselves reflected in the pages.
Author Interview - Laura Anne Bird
Author I draw inspiration from: I’m inspired by countless authors across many genres, including Ann Patchett for her thoughtful way with words, Dan Gemeinhart for the joy he packs into his middle grade novels, Kevin Henkes for all that remains unsaid in his children’s books, and Lucy Maud Montgomery (rest in peace) for connecting kids so directly to nature and the outdoors.
Author Interview - Laura Anne Bird | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book: I will happily crack open a book anywhere—and I mean that literally, because I’ve been known to read on fishing boats, golf courses, and all forms of public transportation. But if I had to choose my favorite spot, I’d have to say at a coffee shop, or in my bed.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: I recently read Sarah Winman’s gorgeous Still Life, a sprawling epic (spanning the 1940s to the 1970s) about a small group of Brits who become each other’s chosen family. In the spirit of E. M. Forster’s A Room with a View, they relocate to Florence, and we see the rapidly changing world through their empathetic and very witty eyes. I would willingly get stuck in an elevator forever with two of Winman’s characters: dear old humble Cressy, who talks to trees and is exceedingly intelligent, despite never having graduated from school; and Evelyn, an elderly art historian who has seen (and done) it all, with uncompromised style and passion.
Author Interview - Laura Anne Bird | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: There’s never been one specific moment when I knew I wanted to be a writer. Instead, it’s always been a part of who I am—it just took a long time for the stars to align and my kids to grow up. Once they did, I was finally able to sit down in a chair and write, edit, and revise my book. I’m incredibly grateful for Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, which gave me the strong shot of self-confidence I needed.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: Hardback or paperback—I don’t mind! Just as long as I can hold a physical book in my hands and run my fingers over the pages and smell their delicious woody smell.
The last book I read: I’m a shameless book polygamist. In the last couple weeks, I’ve finished five titles, and they’ve all been spectacular: These Precious Days by Ann Patchett (essays), Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King (short stories), No Cure for Being Human by Kate Bowler (memoir), The Days of Afrekete by Asali Solomon (novel), and Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (novel).
Author Interview - Laura Anne Bird | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer: Please don’t make me choose! I use both, for different purposes.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: In a heartbeat, I’d be best friends with Jane, the main character in Katherine Heiny’s fabulous novel Early Morning Riser. Jane is the real deal—tender, affectionate, and true. She teaches second grade in a small town in northern Michigan, and she lives a simple and good life, finding deep meaning in her relationships with the people around her. She’s neither glamorous nor flashy, and I love her completely.
Author Interview - Laura Anne Bird | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a: Fundraising consultant and freelance writer for nonprofit organizations. (Oh wait, that’s what I did for 20 years!) On second thought, I would love to be a librarian or work at an independent bookshop. Connecting people to their perfect book is my passion.
Favorite decade in fashion history: I love the aesthetic of the early 1960s: nipped-in waists, full skirts, clean lines, big buttons, belts, cardigans, and kitten heels. I adore feminine, tailored clothing with shots of color and prints like plaid, gingham, and houndstooth.
Place I’d most like to travel: Italy! Always Italy! I’d go back again and again. I’d also love to travel to Iceland, Greece, Alaska, South Africa, New Zealand, and Prince Edward Island. In college, I studied in London, and I desperately want to return to the UK as well. Those rocky coastlines and lush green fields have my heart.
Having said all this, my favorite spot on earth is the Northwoods of Wisconsin, where Crossing the Pressure Line takes place. My fictional town of Alwyn is based on real-life communities like Boulder Junction, Hazelhurst, and Minocqua, which are situated just north of Wisconsin State Highway Eight—sometimes referred to as the pressure line. As soon as you drive over it, there’s more oxygen in the air, I swear!
My signature drink: My go-to daytime beverage is an Americano with a dash of steamed, frothy oat milk. Once the sun goes down, I appreciate any cocktail made with a healthy dose of vodka and green olives or lime wedges.
Favorite artist: I love old paintings and artists the most, particularly Johannes Vermeer’s treatment of light, Paul Gauguin’s lush subject matter, and Artemisia Gentileschi’s overall kick-assery.
Number one on my bucket list: I don’t have a bucket list. (Is that weird?) Instead, I try very hard to stay in the moment. This includes loving well. And reading a lot. And breathing fresh air. And meditating.
Also, I’m totally committed to writing all the books I can, now that I’ve officially gotten started!
Anything else you'd like to add: When my children (currently ages 18, 18, and 15) were little, I got the idea for my novel quite unexpectedly. Out of the blue, while I was making bottles and cleaning up toys, a crystal-clear vision dropped right into my head, as if it were a gift from the universe. My vision was of a small, brown-haired girl, and she was walking out of a bait shop in northern Wisconsin while wearing something … unique. (No spoilers here!) This vision caught my attention and would ultimately become the closing scene of my novel. Obviously, I had to write and revise Crossing the Pressure Line in the nooks and crannies of motherhood, so I needed MANY years to finally get that scene down on paper, but I never lost sight of it.
I want to remind everyone—particularly women, particularly mothers—that the “dreaded” middle-age years can offer up a thrilling new start, if we’re willing to dip our toes into the unknown. I didn’t attend the Iowa Writers’ Workshop or write my first novel in my twenties—and I often feel like an old dog learning new tricks—but at age 48, I’m thrilled to know that I’m not locked into anything, and that exciting possibilities are always around the corner. I can start a fresh chapter with my hard-fought wisdom and life experiences bolstering me. I can honor who I am and what I stand for—and that’s something I NEVER would’ve been prepared or confident enough to do when I was younger.
Find more from the author:
IG: laura_at_the_library
FB: Laura Anne Merritt Bird
LI: Laura Merritt Bird
Website: www.laurabirdbooks.com
Author Bio: A Wisconsin native, Laura Anne Bird grew up in Milwaukee and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in English. After writing for various Wisconsin nonprofit organizations for more than twenty years, she made the leap to writing fiction.
Laura lives in Madison with her husband, three teenagers, and rescue dog. When she’s not reading her way through a tall stack of library books, she loves to meditate, exercise, and explore the outdoors, particularly in the Driftless Area and in northern Wisconsin.
Laura got the idea for Crossing the Pressure Line when her three teenagers were babies, and she developed the plot and characters over many years, while folding laundry and carpooling kids around town. She’s currently working on her second novel, which will be a companion book to Crossing the Pressure Line.
