Momwriters Spotlight On

{All About MomWriters} {MomWriters Write}
{Special Events} {Projects} {Resources/Links}
{Contact Momwriters}

Meet Momwriter

Terri Brown by Lisa Beamer

From Louisa May Alcott to the Internet, Teri Brown has found inspiration and encouragement for her writing career. Now, with a lot of non-fiction work under her belt, including her book, "Christian Unschooling: Growing Your Child in the Freedom of Christ," she is putting her creative energies into her fiction.

"I've always written," explains Teri, "but only professionally in the last year or so. I was inspired by the life story of Louisa May Alcott and used to climb apple trees to write poetry like she did." It was after Teri got
hooked up to the Internet several years ago that she found writing support groups. "After that, things happened rather quickly. I began being published in magazines and about a year after I began pursuing writing professionally, I got an acceptance for my nonfiction book. A year later [I] was holding a copy of my book in my hands."

Besides doing PR for her book, she also has a novel coming out as an e-book from Writer's Exchange and is also working on a homeschoolers' devotional. Most of her energy now, though, is tied up in "Surviving Alfalfa," her women's literary novel.

"My work habits have been in a state of flux since I began fiction writing," Teri admits. "With my non-fiction, I could write anywhere and any time. I mostly didn't mind being interrupted because I could always recapture my train of thought. With fiction it is much more difficult because you really are in a different world. There is this zone you get into and it is hard to pull yourself out and even more difficult to reenter."

Originally from Alfalfa, Oregon, Teri has lived in Portland, Oregon for the past twelve years. She and her husband, a guitarist, have two children, ages 11 and 12, whom they homeschool.

Having a musician for a husband, Teri is blessed in that he understands and supports her when she gets into a writing mode. Teri also credits fellow Momwriter Teraisa Goldman as being the first writer to really encourage her in her work. "But it was my friend and partner Linda Sherwood who really prodded me on," says Teri. "Working with her has been a pleasure and she is such a fine writer and person."

Some fun facts about Teri:

Her favorite book/author: "Probably the best book on writing I have read in the last year is Natalie Goldberg's 'Thunder and Lightning.' Extremely inspirational. I also read her novel 'Banana Rose,' which was wonderful."

Her favorite ways to relax: "I have always been a reader. I would also like to learn to paint. Show my creativity in different ways."

Her most memorable vacation: A trip to the Oregon coast a few years ago. "Not only is it a beautiful place to vacation, but it is very relaxing. We had no agenda. None. By having no agenda, we had the freedom to explore on our own."

The last movie she saw: A Walk to Remember. "It was really well done and great for my daughter. I like the female character; she was very strong and steady in her faith and I was glad my daughter was able to see that."

If Teri could go to lunch with anyone, she would choose Gabby, the lead character in her novel in progress. "We would go to a pub in Bend, Oregon and I would ask her all about herself and her motivations. Part of her is an open book, but she does some things that flabbergast even me...and I created her!

Teri has recently decided to take a hiatus from her writing due to some health issues and her desire to spend more time with her family as she deals with them, but if you'd like to send her a note of encouragement, you can do so via e-mail at unschoolr2@aol.com.

Back to Top