Portland children’s author and mom of two, Nora Ericson knows a thing or two about those wee early morning hours spent with a little one. In fact, it was the inspiration for her latest book, Too Early, released last fall.
“Both my kids were — and still are — pretty early risers, but until my son was about 3 years old, he took it to an extreme,” says Ericson. “Those early mornings were hard on my husband and me, but there was also something magical about that one-on-one time together, especially after our second child was born.”
Ericson’s daughter and son, now ages 9 and 11 (pictured above), motivate and inspire her as a writer, she says. In fact, her latest project is perfect for middle schoolers: A chapter book about a strong-willed girl named Alfie who lives during the Viking Age and is determined to change her lot in life. But Ericson says she’ll still make picture books for her youngest fans. “I have an art background,” she says, “so I’ve actually been dabbling in some illustration, though I still have a long way to go to get comfortable with that side of things!”
When Ericson isn’t writing or drawing, she describes her life as a “pretty typical Portlander.” “I love biking and hiking and getting out in nature. I also love to cook, and when my kids were home during the pandemic we watched all the seasons of The Great British Baking Show together and made a lot of fancy desserts,” she says. In February, Too Early was named a Notable Book by the American Library Association.
For more great books for kids, including from local authors, check out our book picks!
- Top 5 Places to Learn about Black History in Portland - February 20, 2024
- New Asian Restaurants for the Whole Family - January 25, 2024
- Top 5 Holiday Toy Drives - December 4, 2023
