Meet Terra Elan McVoy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Terra Elan McVoy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Terra Elan, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
This quote was on a card I received for high school graduation, and I’ve kept it taped to my mirror since then:

The people who get on in this world
Are the people who get up and look
for the circumstances they want,
and if they can’t find them
make them.
— George Bernard Shaw

Though I suppose this quote could be chalked up to simple “bootstrapping,” I don’t see it that way. Rather, it’s encouraging and inspiring, especially for me as a creative person.

First, the quote encourages us to “get up and look” for the circumstances we want. That means getting out in the community, meeting people, trying new things, being open to new thoughts, and possessing a hopeful belief that what you want may in fact be right there — but you have a responsibility to seek it, first. It won’t just fall in your lap or appear thanks to algorithms. It involves being engaged. Listening. Asking. Connecting. It means seeking, and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.

It’s only after that quest (or maybe it’s in parallel to it, because to me life is about continual curiosity), if you don’t find the world you want to live in — the relationships that fire you up, the paintings or books or thinktanks or acts of peace and justice or jobs or anything else that you want to see in the world — the quote calls us to use our talents, skills, intellect, creativity, and physical labor to build it.

Though I’ve been looking at this quote for longer than some people might believe, it really warms my heart when I see it. Because when I get down about any limitation I think is holding me back, it always says to me: “Okay then, go look for what will make it better. And know that you can create it yourself if you need to.”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I got where I am today, I suppose, because I grew up in Tallahassee, FL spending a lot of time playing elaborate games of Barbies, paper dolls, dollhouse, or Wilderness Family with my two younger sisters. Before bed every night our mom or dad read out loud to us, and once I got good enough to read and write stories all on my own, I have pretty much not stopped. (You can ask anyone who went to Lincoln High School, St. Andrews University, or the Creative Writing MA Program at Florida State University with me and they will verify.)

So — the first thing I did was find something I really loved (and had some talent at), and then I practiced it a lot. (Like, a lot a lot.)

Then, I found jobs that would let me keep doing my favorite things. I’ve managed an independent children’s bookstore (Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA); I’ve worked at Barnes & Noble (as event coordinator) and answered fan mail for Captain Underpants (among other duties) as Editorial Assistant at Scholastic Inc.. I had the honor of being the Program Director for the AJC Decatur Book Festival, and have taught writing classes to both children and grownups all over the country. Pretty much, if it has to do with reading, writing, and talking about reading and writing, that’s a job I’ll enjoy doing!

Because of all the work and study I did (plus the relationships I built along the way) in 2009 I published my first novel (PURE from Simon & Schuster), and am now the author of a total of eight novels for young people, including This is All Your Fault, Cassie Parker, from HarperCollins, and the Edgar Award finalist Criminal, from Simon & Schuster.

Was it easy? I don’t think anything worth much comes without effort.
Were there challenges? Yes of course, because that’s how we grow.

But thanks to friends and family, a vivid imagination, a rock solid belief in the tremendous good of this world, and that quote from George Bernard Shaw I shared, I’ve just kept being inspired to look for the things I want in this world, and have worked (with my talent, a great deal of discipline, a deep love of the arts, and true delight in building relationships with other people) to make them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend (whom I’ve known since second grade) were here for a week, I’d build an itinerary that included creative time, a few fun excursions, good food and drink (including some at home), some socializing, and a spa treatment or two. (Note: this itinerary is surely to showcase that I am more home body than trendsetter.)

Day One:
Trip to Your DeKalb Farmers’ Market for groceries for the week
Creative Writing time at a Switchyards location
Afternoon visit to the Georgia Aquarium
Supper at Fishmonger
Evening Film at the Plaza Theatre

Day Two:
Morning walk at Legacy Park
Creative Writing time at home
Afternoon pottery lesson at Mudfire Gallery
Massages at Natural Body Spa
Cooking dinner at home and watching Our Flag Means Death (which she hasn’t seen)

Day Three:
Morning meditation time at home
Head to Ponce City Market (featuring a long browses at Archer Paper and Sugarboo + walk on the Beltline)
Late afternoon session at the Splatter Studio
Pedicures at Lavish Nails & Lash in Avondale
Happy Hour at Wild Heaven Avondale with Ginsberg’s Refresher for dinner
After dinner cocktail at Anansi

Day Four:
Day trip and overnight at Chateau Elan
(Vineyard stroll, spa treatments, Creative Writing time, general luxury relaxing)

Day Five:
Return back in time for lunch at Cafe Alsace in Decatur
Afternoon browse at Little Shop of Stories and Wild Oats & Billy Goats
Cook dinner together at home, watch a film

Day Six:
Morning meditation time at home
MARTA to the Woodruff Arts Center
Visit to the High Museum
Visit to Museum of Design Atlanta
Lunch at Colony Square
MARTA to Oakhurst Cemetery for afternoon walk
Dinner at Krog Market
Post-dinner Beltline stroll
MARTA home to play board games

Day Seven:
Breakfast at Leftie Lee’s in Avondale before taking her back to the airport!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This Shoutout is dedicated to my sisters, Erika Dawn McCarthy and Brae Courtney McVoy, because while I have been blessed by so many remarkable people and places, anything I’ve ever been or done as a person (let alone a creative one) began with knowing them, first.

Website: https://terraelan.com/

Instagram: @terraelanmcvoy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terra-elan-mcvoy-00a5782/ 

Image Credits
Terra Elan McVoy