Interview with Marlene Byrne
What inspired you to start Project Play?
After starting an ad agency, I was not afraid to try a new venture. I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin playing backyard games like "kick the can" and "ghosts in the graveyard." After pondering the fading popularity of backyard games and realizing that today, scheduled activities, electronic games, and organized sports have replaced the carefree days of playing in the backyard, I decided to write books to teach children these nostalgic games.
I’m excited to say that it’s been a wonderful journey so far, and every new installment in the series is an adventure for me, Jesse, and hopefully, my readers.
Are any of the characters modeled after your own children?
Yes and no. There are characters with Matt and Maggie’s name but each character is a combination of personality traits. In fact, all the kids that live in Edgebrook reflect many characteristics of the kids in our neighborhood. I get to choose some of the most fun attributes and incorporate them into my stories.
What did you do prior to Project Play?
I have worked in a creative environment for over 20 years—owning an advertising agency. I believe the creativity we use in our adult life begins as children. We need to create, play and especially negotiate rules with our peers and carry those skills into adulthood. These skills are as important as the academic skills we learn in school. Some of the most creative problem solvers I have worked with, credit their ability to think outside the box with their childhood experiences.
Describe your ideal workday.
I love to be challenged to be creative in new ways. In advertising, I get motivated to solve marketing problems for my clients. In my writing, it’s creating new stories and ways to deliver those stories that will engage children to play. At home, it’s keeping up with my children and making sure they have well-rounded experiences as they grow.
What have been some of your major successes?
I believe success is a marathon not a sprint. Just like raising children, my accomplishments come through hard work over time. I have been able to run my ad agency successfully and now have the opportunity to build on this series of children’s books. Through the years, I hope to touch families and make Project Play inspire a new generation of children to play.
What have been some of your major challenges?
The publishing business was foreign to me. There are many layers, and it is sometimes difficult to know the right partners to align with. I have been fortunate to gain positive reviews for Project Play, receive acceptance from the bookstores and be able to open doors in expanding my distribution for the books.
On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?
My mother told me once that if she could change anything about raising her family she would play more. Even at those times when I don’t want to, my children and their friends asking to play motivates me. I can’t tell you how many treasure hunts we have had in our house on a rainy afternoon or how enjoyable it is to get a group of kids together and just sit and watch them play a pick-up game of baseball at the park. Those are the things that motivate me.
What is your favorite quote?
"Play is the expression of human development in childhood. For it alone is free expression of what is in a child’s soul."
— Friedrich Froebel, "Father" of modern Kindergarten
What advice would you give an aspiring author or entrepreneur?
It is always easier to be creative about something you love. If it is cooking, create a new dish. If it is painting, create something for a friend. If you love to garden, make the front yard your canvas.
I love to write and I grew up playing backyard games, so the idea of bringing the games to life was not a stretch for me. I believe that if you want to create something special, it must be something close to your heart.
