Today we’d like to introduce you to Phyllis Schwartz.
Hi Phyllis, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a married mother of two who, after a highly successful career in the TV news business, finally has the time to indulge in and focus on my “civilian” writing. Even as a kid, I kept a diary and wrote little stories and poems, a creative release that continued well into adulthood. I wrote news by day and poetry by night. And despite battling three different types of cancer over more than three decades, I am still filled with energy, joy, and optimism, and look forward to writing much more poetry and children’s books in the future. My writing often centers on what I observe daily: including friends, husband, two children, as well as my garden and beautiful beach town residence in dreamy Encinitas, all providing continued inspiration for her verse.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a woman in the rough and tumble news business was not a direct path. I had to zig and zag to get the better jobs and salaries, sometimes taking a lateral move to get into more diverse and fair management environments. Add to that my medical challenges: I battled three different kinds of cancer, all while working to move up through the local TV industry from the newsroom to the General Manager’s office of the NBC station in San Diego.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have been a writer my whole life. Professionally, in the local news business. But throughout my life, I always wrote poetry. A few years ago I wrote a tough poem about waiting to hear if my breast biopsy was benign. It wasn’t! The poem was published in a local San Diego paper. And it made me think: I have had three tough struggles with cancer. But what has helped me survive those cancer struggles for 40 years? And I started writing a children’s poem, my first one, about the experience of a sick mom getting wonderful support from her family and friends. A light bulb went on and I said to myself, “This feels like a children’s book!” So I sought out publishers and they thought so too and that became my current book “When Mom Feels Great, Then We Do Too!” which was released last September, right before Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I wrote several children’s poems right after that and the second one became another book coming out this fall: “Mom Wombat Says Make War No More!
It’s got an anti-bullying theme which I think we really need right now, whether in our school yards, front yards, or on the world stage. After my children and my successful news careers, I’m most proud of my ability to turn my hard news writing skills into heartfelt poetry and beautiful rhyming picture books with important themes for children. After my first two books, I have three more waiting in the wings! Each one is not only fun but has a learning, helpful theme as well.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Don’t let others define you. Sense of humor is important. Have outlets: creative, exercise, friendships. Surround yourself with positive people. Do your research! Go into every job interview or meeting as prepared as possible. I wish when I was first starting out I had made sure I had productive outlets for my frustrations. People get jealous and narrow-minded and will try to throw obstacles in your path. You have to figure out how to shine them on in a non passive aggressive way. Don’t let the bullies win!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.phyllisfeelsgreat.com
- Instagram: phyllischwartz_author
- Facebook: phyllischwartz_author
- Email: Phyllischwartz@gmail.com
Image Credits
Paul LeaVesseur
