Interview Tuesdays

Interview Tuesdays: Jeff Dorrill with @MaryLanniReads

After years of professional writing, private equity attorney Jeff Dorrill decided it was time to write something a little different. Switching gears from his experience writing law review articles, including over thirty-five pieces for publication in SMU Law Review, Baylor Law Review, and Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law, Jeff wanted to write something that would be read for fun.Growing up, Jeff combined the skills and life lessons he learned from each of the caring adults in his life to build his own roadmap for living. Now an adult with children of his own and recognizing that families in today’s world are formed in ever-changing ways, Jeff sought to pen an entertaining and emotional children’s book about the magic of chosen family. Inspired by the many caregivers who played a role in his own rearing, Jeff dreamt up Brunt and Eggbert and brought the story to life.Jeff currently resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Melisa, children, Tenley and Hunter, and his grandchild, Vivian. He is working on his third master's degree at the University of Southern California in criminal justice, and despite the time dedicated to practicing law, studying, and writing, Jeff doesn’t spend his life behind a desk. He has won multiple national championships in triathlons including three-time Ultra-Distance Triathlon National Champion in his age group.Learn more at https://bruntandeggbert.com/

Interview Tuesdays: Haven Iverson with @MaryLanniReads

Haven Iverson is an author of children's literature living in Boulder, Colorado. She received her MFA as a fellow at the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, Austin. Slow Down, Tumbleweed (Sounds True, 2021) was her first published children’s book, and her next book, Into the Wilderness, which received a Kirkus starred review, is forthcoming from Macmillan in March 2026. Learn more at https://haveniverson.com/

Interview Tuesdays: Alexandra Diaz with @MaryLanniReads

Alexandra Diaz is the award winning children’s book author of The Only Road and its sequel, The Crossroads, and also Santiago’s Road Home and Farewell Cuba, mi isla. Along with her mother, she translated the four books into Spanish, El único destino, La encrucijada, La travesía de Santiago, and Hasta siempre Cuba, mi isla. The Only Road is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Pura Belpré Honor and Américas Award, among others. Her other books include Good Girls Don’t Lie (a New Mexico-Arizona Book Award finalist and International Latino Book Award 2nd place winner) and Of All the Stupid Things, (a New Mexico-Arizona Book Award finalist and ALA Rainbow List book), both for young adults. An overactive imagination had her making up stories at an early age and led to getting an MA in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University. The daughter of Cuban refugees, she is a native Spanish speaker who currently lives in Santa Fe, NM. Learn more at https://alexandra-diaz.com/

Interview Tuesdays: Pooja Makhijani with @MaryLanniReads

Pooja Makhijani is the author of Mama’s Saris, Bread Is Love, Together For Mama, and Aunties.Her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Real Simple, The Atlantic, WSJ.com, The Cut, Teen Vogue, Epicurious, Publishers Weekly, ELLE, Bon Appétit, The Kitchn, BuzzFeed, and Catapult among others. Learn more at: https://www.poojamakhijani.com/

Interview Tuesdays: Melissa Taylor with @MaryLanniReads

Melissa Taylor is a mom of two girls, an education blogger & writer, a children’s book expert, a former award-winning bilingual teacher with an M.A. in Education, a former literacy trainer for teachers, and a passionate advocate for literacy, representation in children’s literature, and high-quality education. She has taught ESL, bilingual kindergarten, bilingual 4/5, 4th, and 5th grades, and coached teachers in K-12 grades. In addition, she was a four-time consecutive winner of Outstanding Teacher in Douglas County, Colorado. She loves to make learning fun, engaging, and meaningful for kids by providing helpful information and resources for parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians. She consults with children’s authors and illustrators in her business, Imagination Soup Consulting. In that capacity, she helps authors improve their school visits with presentation tips and personalized, interactive, and educational activities customized to their books. She also supports authors with publicity, marketing, and author branding. She's the Communications Chair for The Right Step Board of Directors. The Right Step, Inc is an adaptive riding barn that serves veterans and adults and children with disabilities. Learn more at: https://melissataylor.net/