Hi, I’m Chazelle!
Hi there, and welcome to my secret corner of the internet! If you’ve stumbled upon this, you’re either a fellow author, parent, teacher, social media follower, or just a nosy human (totally get it). Let me introduce myself—I’m Chazelle Ahearn, a mother, wife, realtor, and now, apparently, a self-publishing author set to release my book in Spring 2025.
Want to see who I am behind these words? Allow me to introduce myself here:
Here’s the scoop: I’ve had this book idea for what feels like forever. You know how it goes—one day you get hit with an idea, and it sticks with you like that annoying song you can’t get out of your head. In this case, the idea came straight from my kid’s mouth. Yep, my little one had the audacity to inspire me. I was thrilled and already knew the title before even writing a word. I know, I know—“You’re not supposed to pick the title first,” they say, but keep reading on why I don’t care.
I’ve always been a great writer, but never thought I could actually “be” a writer. I didn’t major in English or writing, and I’ve never published anything before. I’m just a busy mom with a lot of weird thoughts translated to whacky notes on my phone and journals. Who do I think I am, diving into the world of children’s books?
So, back to that idea—it lived in my iPhone’s Notes for years, just waiting for its moment. Then, after what many would call an interesting day with my closest girlfriends on a random Saturday in April 2024, we dove into the deeper parts of our minds and went down the rabbit hole of life. We began sharing our vulnerabilities and discussing the creative world, eventually spilling that we all had art projects we’d like to start. That’s when the ideas and goals were born. This experience set us on a brand-new path of growth and inspiration—it felt both new and exhilarating!
Fast forward a few months, I have a complete and edited version of my first ever manuscript and my book is currently starting illustrations.
I recently read the book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (a book that urges artists to embrace their creativity without fear or judgment), though I didn’t exactly plan to. It’s been lounging on my bookshelf for YEARS (do you see a theme?), untouched, until a friend who’s also on her creative journey texted me a picture of the book. She said, “Highly rec! Encouraging, harnessing, & embracing your creative ideas.” I replied with a similar picture of the book, “Oh my gosh, I have this book!” and promptly started reading it. Let me tell you, the way this book spoke to me at just the right moment was something of the divine. The book had been sitting there, waiting for its moment to shine, and clearly, that moment was now.
I talk about the universe and its magic a lot. Simply said, I’m a little woo-woo, but I firmly believe that if we stay open, the universe will hand us exactly what we need. It’s just another form of manifestation, people! I had already finished my first manuscript before diving into Big Magic, but three key points stuck with me:
It’s Just Art: Don’t get your panties in a bunch if not everyone loves it. Create for yourself, not for others. It’s a fact that not everyone will appreciate your work, simply because, let’s face it, some people can just suck, so be creative for YOU only. Elizabeth Gilbert puts it well: “You can recognize the people who live for others.” Let’s not try so hard; it’s obvious. So, here’s the deal—create for you and let the rest follow!
Make a Contract with Your Idea: When an idea finds you, treat it like a serious commitment. When that spark of inspiration hits, you have two choices: either say, “Not the right time,” or dive in with a “Yes, this is brilliant, let’s get started!” Make a pact with your idea and see it through. Think of ideas as having their own consciousness—if you don’t act on it, it’ll find someone else who will. WARNING: your idea might even evolve into a full-blown business and then you have to write a blog!
Give Yourself Permission: Give yourself permission to do whatever the BLEEP you want with YOUR art. You don’t need anyone else’s approval. As Elizabeth Gilbert says, “Your own reasons for creating are reason enough.” End of story.
Ok, so my first blog has turned into more of a lesson from a book than a deep dive into who I am. Blame the thoughts swirling around in my head—or the classic mom brain. But honestly, this is just who I am. I don’t feel like writing more about myself right now, but you’ll get to know more about me as we go along.
Stay tuned for more! Chow!
