Leticia McKnight’s journey as both a mother and daughter comes alive in her heartfelt children’s book, Where the Butterflies Fly. Inspired by the symbolism of butterflies in her family, Leticia weaves together personal memories and her mother’s poetic influence to create a story that celebrates love, growth, and the courage to soar. Through her writing, Leticia reflects on motherhood, the delicate transition to an empty nest, and the joy of passing down wisdom and creativity. Her story is not just a tribute to her children but an invitation for readers to cherish their own family moments and embrace the beauty of sharing their passions.
- What inspired you to write Where the Butterflies Fly, and how does it connect to your personal experiences?
In the story, Where the Butterflies Fly, I drew inspiration from multiple personal experiences as a daughter and mother. Butterflies have held a very symbolic meaning of cherished love which started in hand written poetry by my mother. My sisters and I were her butterflies. My children then became my butterflies as we navigated their childhood together. - How did your mother’s poetry influence your own writing and creative process?
My mother’s poetry influenced my writing and creative process because it allowed me to see her as a creative writer. It is a powerful moment when a child sees their parent for the first time as someone more than a caretaker. Understanding that my mother was and is a multi-faceted woman gave me the confidence to take on many roles during my lifetime, and the permission to set priorities on my terms. This included being a story-teller. It took 30 years to write the story because I needed the experiences of motherhood to come to life within my writing. On the cusp of becoming an empty-nester, I knew it was time to release the butterflies. Sharing my poetry in this children’s book has been a true labor of love, and therapeutic for me as my children spread their wings. - Can you share the significance of the verse “fly where the butterflies fly” in your life and family?
When my children were younger and climbing heights that made my mom-heart uneasy, I often repeated the phrase “go way, way high where the butterflies fly” to encourage them to be brave and reach for their dreams. This phrase became a constant theme for them as they navigated many events during their lives. From moments we shared as a family to each of their own talents and passions, my husband and I encouraged our kids to work diligently, practice self-care, and bravely soar toward their goals. - What challenges did you face in turning your personal memories into a book, and how did you overcome them?
The most challenging aspect of turning our family experiences into a book was selecting which moments to share. There are so many cherished memories that didn’t make the book. It was important to me that my children be able to see themselves through my eyes, as well as share moments that strangers could relate to in their own childhood memories. - How did you handle the transition from using AI for illustrations to planning for your daughter’s artwork in future editions?
Everyone’s journey is not always on the same timeline. With the personal nature of this book, it has always been important to me that my daughter become the illustrator. In order to share the story with the world, I had to decide to utilize new technology, or wait for my daughter to be ready to create the pictures. This first edition was illustrated using AI so I could get the story out, but the illustrations are in the works for a second edition. - What has been the most rewarding part of sharing your family’s memories through this book?
The most rewarding part of sharing our family memories through this book is the joy it has brought to our family. My children beam with pride when they read through the story, and reminisce the moments that brought them happiness. - How do you navigate the emotional aspects of sharing such personal stories and memories in your writing?
In order to navigate the emotional aspects of sharing such personal stories and memories, I permitted myself the space and time to feel all the emotions that came with motherhood. It is easy to be very critical of myself regarding my parenting in hindsight, but sharing these memories also gave me the opportunity to enjoy the great moments of parenting. - How do you balance your personal life and creative work, especially when it involves family?
Life is all about balance. My priorities shift constantly. I’m a teacher, so the school year becomes very busy with work for my students and their learning. During breaks, I love to travel. Much of my time has been spent raising my children. Now that they are on their own, I have more time for creative endeavors. - What advice would you give to other women who want to turn their personal experiences into creative projects?
Do it! Turn your personal experiences into creative projects. The process alone is cathartic. They say there is no instruction manual on life, but there are great stories. Your story has value. Your story is relatable. Your story matters. - How has your mental health been impacted by writing and sharing your personal story?
Recently, the development of this book has helped me maintain positive mental health. Instead of mourning the departure of my last child from our home, I used writing and sharing the children’s book as a positive, productive way to process those feelings. - What role has your family played in your creative journey, and how have they supported you?
My family has played a very large role supporting my creative endeavor. Not only are they very proud of the result, but they share and promote the book. - How do you deal with any self-doubt or challenges that arise during the creative process?
Self-doubt is a killer of dreams, but it is a very real feeling. I combat self-doubt by reminding myself that my story has value, my story is relatable and my story matters. - What are some ways you find inspiration and maintain motivation in your writing?
Since completing this story, I feel the storytelling floodgates have opened. I’m working on additional stories that are inspired directly from my life experiences of being a veteran, teacher and culturally diverse. They are stories I wish I had throughout my life. The stories include topics like service to others, bi-cultural/bi-racial, neurodiversity, and traveling across the US and the world. - How do you envision the future of Where the Butterflies Fly with your daughter’s illustrations?
My daughter and I envision the next edition of Where the Butterflies Fly to be gorgeous watercolor artwork with similar structure to the AI illustrations in the current edition. - What message or feeling do you hope readers take away from your book?
After experiencing the book, I hope readers are reminded of the precious moments of their lives that bring a smile to their souls. I hope children build confidence and courage to reach as high as the butterflies fly in chasing their dreams. I hope others are inspired to share their passions and talents through poetry and storytelling. Lastly, I hope that people feel the love expressed in our family.
Website: https://leticiamcknight.wixsite.com/lmcknight
