By Renee Nolte

Laurent Linn, Author…

I recently interviewed a well-known art director and book designer at Simon & Schuster Books, Laurent Linn. He has additional titles and numerous impressive talents that come with each one. He’s been working at Simon and Schuster for over a decade; we can all recognize that name in the publishing world. It may go without saying Laurent has excellent caliber, but I will tell it anyway: the man has clout! With all his endeavors beginning at an early age, he has intricately woven a path of an artist and creator’s dream. Laurent started as a designer for several Broadway shows in New York. He later became a puppeteer at The Jim Henson Company. How cool is that? He succeeded in the Big Apple and greatly expanded his skills and career.

It was quick to see his adaptation to N.Y. But that Texas slur is hard to shake, and when I asked him where his country accent must have gone, he said, “Oh, at night, when I’m tah-d at night, it comes out!” His heart is as big as Texas. My number one takeaway from speaking with Laurent was that the story you write should be your own. His debut book, DRAW THE LINE, features a creative character in which a boy in a small Texas town discovers his power and how to use it.

Building a Relationship

Getting to know one another is essential for a good interview; it builds trust and respect. An interview is a two-sided street; both must show interest in the other; if not, it makes for a dull story like simply checking those boxes. Before I visit with someone, I do my research and my due diligence. I seek out all their social media platforms, read all I can about a person on the sites, and find the areas most interesting to me and what I want to highlight. To set the stage where I came up with my questions for Laurent, as I seek to know the artist and appreciate all that goes into honing his craft, it shows when one can speak joyfully about their creation beyond what others may see, and I write about that.

I gave Laurent a little background on me as I was a new name for him in the writing world. I shared with him some things I have written and why; he was happy with my achievements. However, when I shared with him all I have accomplished in the martial arts industry, he was pretty impressed and encouraged me to write about that. His message of writing your own story made incredible sense to me.

I have been part of franchises in my school-owning career. Although the ways of the franchisees and some of its ideas were ok, it was never really me, not my story, only simply acting it out. There was a void, a mediocre something that didn’t sit well, so I left them reasonably soon. When I created my Global Self-Defense system, homing in on all my experience, crafts, and talents, it was mine, made the most sense, created the most joy, and was most effective. So, I can appreciate what Laurent said by letting it be your own.

Although I began writing books on Martial Arts decades ago, I still need to finish a book on them. The season was gathering and creating because when you teach full-time, compete full-time, and run a business full-time, it wears you out to write about it full-time. I used my creative energy instead to write fun books; by doing so, it taped into my creative mind, allowing me to unwind, relax, and breathe. Now that I am retired from working full time, running, and owning my studio, I have added mainly to these chronicles of Martial Arts Mastery; it will be in the world soon enough.

Laurent was a breath of fresh air in the encouragement department and did not hold back on positivity. In the interview I printed for SCBWI, I called Laurent The Mr. Congeniality of Artistic Influencers; he is genuinely upbeat and down to earth. Let’s get to know him more then, shall we?

Sesame Street

Laurent shared that he learned to appreciate what we do most from Caroll Spinney. Caroll played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street. Can you tell me how to get, How to get to Sesame Street? Who remembers that song and sitting in front of the giant television set, eyes gazing at these characters who come to life, learning from their every word and action? I certainly do; this was a large part of my upbringing in the 70s. I grew up watching Sesame Street on PBS. Having a real-life Sesame Street character as your role model is not too shabby! Laurent traveled the world to do concerts and events with Caroll and his wife, Debi. He learned so much from Caroll, not just about character and story but also how to appreciate so much of what we do. “Caroll had such a fantastic view of life. Be a Big Bird, he’d say; he was the most caring and giving person”.

On My Way To Where The Air Is Sweet

Big Bird was giant, physically and emotionally. I felt this way when he was emphatic for others. If you worked with the puppets and voices for a time, what would you have learned most or from whom? The lessons the characters teach about love indeed did and do help others in a BIG way. My favorite character was Cookie Monster. For I, too, am a real-life cookie monster! My weakness is Homemade chocolate chip and pecan cookies made with real butter; mmm, delicious! I can go on and on about it, yet I digress. Nonetheless, I never considered who was pulling the strings or wearing the costumes back then; all I knew was that the characters made me feel good. I can only imagine what it must have been like for the actors and puppeteers on the set sharing and helping in these lessons of what I know are the fruits of the spirit.

Fruits of The Spirit

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness and Self Control. I can think of every character that portrayed one or more of each of these traits. After all, the traits you portray develop habits that follow you, and those habits develop your character, and that is who you are. Perfectly stated in the Sesame Streets theme song in the line, “Every door will open wide to happy people like you.” I believe Laurent has manifested that!

If you Ask Laurent Q&A

If you were to pick one as your favorite talent,

which would it be? Laurent says he loves them all; the variety makes them all special, and we are different people on different days.

I asked what the most challenging aspect of his

job is. That is a tricky question because everything is so much

fun to do. I much prefer the creative side of things. A positive challenge

would be working on a book with a celebrity. It requires me to use a different way of thinking, especially in a high-profile book. It’s something new and requires a new focus, and certain books will get a lot more attention; that could be a challenge because the circumstances are different every single time. It all involves cooperation and collaboration.

What personal attributes are essential for

success? Everybody is so different, but it’s [about] being yourself! I have found that if you try to put yourself in a box, it never works out. The story you write should be your own and come from your own experiences and what you have to say, and not follow some trend or do something you feel someone else would want. It’s your own experiences that make a difference and speak to success in everything. Be true to yourself.

What factors increase your production? Do you have any tips that may help to serve others? Prioritize focus, be kind to yourself, and respect your boundaries of time and energy. It is essential to take the time to ensure you have those boundaries around your creative time.

Laurent shared that he is always learning, and part of that is making time to read and go to museums and the theater. He enjoys seeing architecture, designing, and just filling his creative well. He has a passion for children’s literature and illustration in picture books. His career has focused on children and what is meaningful for them. His expertise lies in design.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Laurent as much as I did. I’d love your feedback and comments on this story. It’s a small world we live in. Every kind person in it makes for a beautiful life—a life you create through your experiences and influences and what you give back to help others in their journey.

The Story You Write Should Be Your Own blog is dedicated to my niece Brelynn Renee Mellon, a native Texan named after me; go figure, ha! Brelynn graduated from NYU last year. Currently working on a play, she is making her way in the BIG Apple as a Director, Actress, and Writer in the Manhattan area; I hope she and Laurent run into each other and how the world is intertwined. -Renee Nolte