Author Spotlight: Sarah Parisi of Woodstock

Name:

Hometown

Woodstock (originally from Chicago)

Latest Book:

The Ultimate Kids' Adventure Guide to Chicago

Publisher:

Reedy Press

Release Date

May 1, 2017

Where can we find it?

Read Between the Lynes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Hardscrabble Gifts, Magic Tree Bookstore, Secret Agency
Supply, Red Balloon.

What's it about?

The Ultimate Kids' Adventure Guide to Chicago is a filled with family-friendly places to stay, things to do,
restaurants, and events in Chicago and the surrounding areas. There are several McHenry County attractions
included in the book!

Where did the idea come from?

I've been writing a blog called Toddling Around Chicagoland for about 5 years. My family and I visit places
all over Chicagoland and share our experiences with other parents so they can find fun things to do. Reedy
Press discovered Toddling Around Chicagoland and asked if I'd be interested in writing a guidebook for parents
and I jumped at the chance!

What genre is your book, and why were you drawn to it?

Non-fiction/family travel.

I love exploring the Chicago area with my family and sharing our experiences. I like to provide other families
with detailed information and insider tips to help them have amazing adventures too!

Who is the intended audience?

Families who live in the Chicago area, or families who are new to the area or visiting. There are activities
for all ages, and each attraction included in the book has age recommendations so families can find fun things
for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, grade schoolers, tweens, or teens.

Why is this story important to you?

This is my life. Becoming a stay-at-home mom was a huge adjustment and I discovered I'm not happy just staying
at home. I enjoy taking my kids on outings and discovering new places to go and trying new things with them. I
really wanted to share the information I've learned with other parents and encourage them to explore all the
amazing things our area has to offer.

How long did it take you to write? What was your process?

I've been writing this subject for about 5 years, but the book itself took about a year and a half. I made
lots of lists, collected lots of information, traveled a lot, and wrote whenever I had the chance - during
kids' naps, after bedtime, or whenever I had a little kid-free time.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book? What was the hardest part?

I love visiting tons of places in the book with my family! Collecting information and photos was easy, but
time-consuming. The hardest part was deciding which places NOT to include; there are SO many fun places to
visit, but I just couldn't include everything. I was concerned my publisher would want me to cut more because
of the length, but I was able to include all the places I submitted in my first manuscript so I was very
happy.

How are you publishing this book and why (traditional/indie/self-publishing)?

This is a traditional publishing company. They approached me to do the book and because I'm new to publishing
I felt comfortable working with a traditional publishing company.

What is your education/background?

I got my B.A. in English at NIU, and my J.D. at NIU College of Law. I worked as a lawyer at the Cook County
Office of the Public Guardian for about 4 years before I had kids. When I had my first child 9 years ago I
quit my job and became a stay-at-home mom.

How/why did you decide to write a book?

I've wanted to write books since I was a kid. My husband told me when I started Toddling Around Chicagoland
(my blog) that it would eventually be a book, but I didn't believe him. Reedy Press approached me and I was
thrilled to do it.

Who are your favorite authors?

Dr. Seuss, M.R. Carey, Liane Moriarty, Erin Morgenstern, J.K. Rowling, Mary Kubrica, Stephen King

Pick one: Danielle Steel or John Grisham?

John Grisham.

Pick one: Stephen King or Nicholas Sparks?

Stephen King.

Pick one: Ebooks or hard/paperbacks?

Paperbacks.

Have you written anything else?

Just my blog. (So far!)

What's next for you?

Right now I'm focused on my blog and promoting my book. I'd love to write another book someday, but I'm not
sure what I'd write yet!