We recently had the chance to connect with Sydney Dunlap and have shared our conversation below.
Sydney, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Animals bring me joy every day. I have two dogs and three cats, all of them rescues, and they all seem so aware of how much they are treasured. Each one has a unique personality, interesting quirks, and is adorable in their own way. No matter how hard the world around us might feel sometimes, animals are a source of unconditional love and sweet, furry cuteness. Their tail wags and purrs remind me that sometimes it’s important to just take a minute for a walk or a snuggle, even if there’s a lot going on, because in doing so you are making a dear living creature very happy, and it makes you pretty happy too.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an author of books geared toward readers ages 10-14. I love writing for this age group because it is such a formative time in life when many people are really starting to think about the bigger questions of their existence. My books delve into tough topics but include lots of hope and heart.
My debut novel, IT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY, explores social media safety through a character-driven story of a girl named Julia who narrowly escapes becoming a victim of human trafficking after meeting an older teen online. The story includes age-appropriate friendship difficulties and recovery from trauma, as well as horses, cats, a spooky house at Halloween, and relatable school situations. It has been chosen for all-school and all-community reads and received several medals and spots on state reading lists.
My recent release, RACING THE CLOUDS, is about a girl who meets her estranged grandparents for the first time and tries to mend the rift in her family while her mom is in rehab for opioid addiction. This story features a town festival and a sweet rescue dog who helps bring everyone together, and it explores themes of the complexity of family relationships, the value of forgiveness, and finding your way forward through a hard time with resilience and hope.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I feel that words can break the bonds between people, and that words can restore them. When someone speaks in an angry and hurtful way (and often is hungry, tired, stressed, or all of the above), the words that come out of their mouth are often not what they really mean, and nothing that they would have ever said unless “a perfect storm” was already brewing. Hurtful words leave their mark and can’t be forgotten, but they can be forgiven. It takes time and sometimes a degree of space and separation, but if the bond between the two people is really strong, words of sincere apology and understanding can restore what at one time appeared to be shattered.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell myself that life is going to be ever-changing, and that there are always going to be happy times that feel easier and sad times that feel harder. I’d advise myself to never give up, to always keep trying, and to remember that I’m a valuable person who matters just like every other person on this planet and to take good care of myself and not be so hard on myself when I make a mistake. I’d tell myself not to ruminate over what can’t be changed, but give myself grace, allow myself to be human, and extend that same understanding to those around me.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
It’s very important to me to create books that will leave my readers more informed about important topics, but that also enable them to lose themselves in an entertaining story where they are rooting for the main character from the first page and care enough to get swept up in the journey. Stories can have important messages but, first and foremost, must be interesting and compelling in and of themselves. My goal is to continue to write books to inspire, motivate, educate, and entertain, and I’m very grateful to be able to do so.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I began writing the moment I was old enough to put letters on a page. I used to write stories to entertain myself as a kid, and I wrote in a journal to reflect on the big and small events of my life through my childhood and into my college years. I often communicate better with other people in writing because I can plan out and organize what I want to say and not share the words until the message is what I truly wish to communicate. Words have always been there for me, and words matter so much. Words capture emotions and moments we want to come back to again and again, and they have a special magic and power. Being a writer just fits.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sydneydunlap.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydneydunlapwrites/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
- Twitter: https://x.com/SydneyDunlap16
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sydney.dunlap
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