Lynn Rogalsky

“Snowless In Tucson, No Shortage of Snowmen”

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It’s funny when Christmastime comes to the Arizona desert. People put up large figures of snowmen blown up by generators. They are cute and make me feel chillier. While the temperatures at night and early morning are cold (30’s), we rarely get snow. If we do, it doesn’t stick.

For that reason, Tohono Chul Park in Tucson assembles snowmen made out of tumbleweeds. (See above photo.) Now that makes sense. How does this relate to writing? I’m not sure. Other than to say this season is a wonderful time of year to think back to the excitement of being a child at Christmas, capture it, and write a Christmas story for children.

I’m working on it, along with my stockpile of other stories, all stuffed into a stocking by the pretend fireplace with care.

Published by Lynn Rogalsky

I'm a former TV News Producer/Reporter who now has a love for writing children's picture books and middle grade novels. As an active member of the Arizona chapter of the Society for Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI-AZ), I attend workshops to better my writing craft, and mingle with other like-minded children’s book writers/illustrators published and pre-published. Being a member of a dynamic SCBWI writer’s critique group is a monthly highlight. I'm actively submitting my children's manuscripts to agents and editors. Here’s my writing background: Lynn Rogalsky is a native (since age 5) of Tucson, Arizona where she befriends the saguaros and wildlife. Since she grew up in this beautiful desert city, a thread of Southwest flavor shows up in many of her humorous stories for children. Lynn became aware of her writing talent by a middle school English teacher. During her high school senior year, Lynn’s English teacher also praised her writing abilities. She encouraged Lynn to study Journalism, which she did at Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. Lynn began her professional writing career as a newsroom intern at KGUN Ch. 9, Tucson’s ABC-affiliate TV station. She quickly worked her way up to News/Feature Writer and 10PM News Producer, giving her B.A. in Journalism a good workout. Currently, Lynn works as a freelance Slogan Writer, which takes a lot of creativity to project an idea in one short phrase. In the past, she has enjoyed working as a Copywriter for a catalog company and ad agency. With a minor in Creative Writing, later she yearned for more than news and feature stories. Lynn fell in love with the idea of writing for children at a workshop given by award-winning children’s author, Jennifer Ward in 2008. That spark took flame after meeting another Tucson children’s author at the Pima Writers’ Workshop. As an active member of SCBWI since 2008, Lynn has been inspired by many authors and fellow members. In Spring 2009, she completed the class “Writing For Children” at Pima College, taught by award-winning children’s book author, Juanita Havill. Lynn has since written multiple picture book manuscripts, one chapter book, and has a middle grade novel in the works. She loves writing and working “quirky” into her manuscripts. Photography is another passion of Lynn’s, and she often incorporates her own photographs in her writing blog, Whimsical Words Blog. She has also had my photos hanging in galleries. Visit her photography fan page, Through Lynn’s Lens on Facebook. I can't live without my faith, family, friends, dogs, and Indian food. Thanks for stopping by!

6 comments

  1. The only way snowy weather encourages writing for me is that I’m not distracted by the splendors of nature and so can hunker endlessly over my keyboard. i will agree that Christmas can bring out the child in us grownups and so stimulate the creativity to write child-oriented stories.

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    • Children certainly are creative with their imaginations, Forrest. And as certain Christmas songs (“visions of sugar plums danced in their heads”) and plays (the dream sequence from the Nutcracker Suite) will attest, this season of fun seems to magnify creativity. Such a gift for children and adults alike!

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  4. Christmastime is very relate-able to writing, especially for writing children’s stories. Such a magical time although here in Arizona it feels much like my childhood California Christmases. I admit this time of year I miss Washington. I was spoiled my first Christmas there though because I woke Christmas morning to snow. I don’t think it happened any other Christmas I was there but for a 9 year old that was so ticked to have had to move from Cali to cold and rainy Washington, the snow made up for it!

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  5. I know what you mean, Savannah. My youngest childhood years were spent in northern New Jersey where Christmas was always covered in snow. Then when I was five, our family moved to Tucson, where Christmas was wrapped in warm winter sunshine. I feel our Southwest weather is a close match to the original Christmas in Bethlehem. The New Testament doesn’t mention any snow. I prefer a warm winter, I hate being cold!

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