Finding Energy for Creativity
with guest author, Alison McGauley
Today, we have a special guest. Alison McGauley one of my co-members of PB Vibes 2025, a group of children’s authors launching books in 2025. And, she is also a chronic illness warrior. Her book KENZIE’S LITTLE TREE features a child who is dealing with chronic illness. Be sure to check it out when it releases next March! In the meantime, I hope her words inspire you as much as they did for me.
“Unused creativity doesn’t just disappear. It lives within us until it’s expressed, neglected to death, or suffocated by resentment and fear.” - Brené Brown
For years, as I managed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), along with teaching and parenting, I wondered: With all I have going on, how can I possibly find the time or energy for creativity?
With all I have going on, how can I possibly find the time or energy for creativity?
Growing up, I enjoyed many creative pursuits such as crafting, drawing, writing stories, songs, and poems, and even mixing perfume and potions (sorry, Mom). And then I got older, busier, and sick.
I was diagnosed with IBD in my twenties, and for years afterward, focused much of my time on appointments, research, special diets, medication trials, and alternative therapies, on top of parenting my young children. Creative activities didn’t feel like an option.
One day at the beach during the pandemic, aka the year-we-examined-our-lives, I hit an emotional wall, a pivotal point where I could no longer ignore the need to create, and I wrote a poem that night. Writing that piece reopened a door for me, and afterwards, I took a course at The Children’s Book Academy, met other amazing and inspiring creators, and continued learning and writing.
Though I’m now busier than ever, I’m also more fulfilled and my gut generally feels better too! Puzzling over plot lines is far more interesting than meditating over medications.
Writing also provides me with an outlet for processing thoughts and feelings about my health. My upcoming picture book, KENZIE’S LITTLE TREE, illustrated by Emilie Leduc, is about young Kenzie who navigates life’s ups and downs with a chronically ill mom. Writing this story allowed me to reflect on and share some of the events and feelings that my family and I have experienced throughout the years.
With the fluctuating nature of chronic illness, there are certainly days when writing isn’t an option, but allowing myself the time to create with words continues to help me feel my best physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Allowing myself the time to create with words continues to help me feel my best physically, mentally, and emotionally.
So, these days, I wonder something entirely different: How could I manage my chronic illness if I didn’t write?
ALISON MCGAULEY is a special education teacher, author, and mom who resides in Ontario, Canada with her partner, two daughters, and Ragdoll cat. She aims to create big-hearted stories for little readers. As a person living with chronic illness, Alison is passionate about writing stories that speak to children and caregivers who are impacted by illness or disability. She also loves creating books that feature humor, SEL, and the natural world.
Alison’s debut, KENZIE’S LITTLE TREE, illustrated by Emilie Leduc, will be published in March 2025 with Orca Book Publishers. You can find Alison on her website or on Instagram, Twitter/X, or BlueSky. Pre-order KENZIE’S LITTLE TREE and help fight chronic illness.
Photo credits: Geronimo and Gustav Quepon on Unsplash