Elizabeth Conway is an elementary school teacher who enjoys using children’s literature to support reading and writing in her classroom. She works closely with students of diverse learning styles and emotional needs, often gaining insight through the personal stories they share.
During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, Elizabeth noticed that many children were expressing increased worry and uncertainty. Drawing from both her students’ experiences and her own childhood memories, she was inspired to write a story that gently supports children as they navigate their fears and find reassurance.
Elizabeth is an enthusiastic runner who enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, traveling, reading, and learning new and exciting things.
Q: What inspired the idea behind your book?
A: As an elementary teacher, I often found that during one-on-one time, young students would share things, especially things that worried or frightened them. Their stories gradually brought me back to fears from my own childhood and the ways my mother helped me through them. I began thinking about how those once-big fears became memories of growth, and that reflection eventually became I Used to Be Afraid.
Q: As an author, what tips would you give anyone who wants to get into writing?
A: I would encourage anyone who wants to write to begin by simply writing their thoughts and ideas down, even if they don’t know where they will lead. Keep a notebook or journal, read widely, and study books you admire as mentor texts. And don’t be afraid to revise—sometimes the most important part of writing is giving yourself the time and space to discover what you really want to say.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White.
Q: Was your main character modeled after anyone in your life?
A: The main character was inspired by my own childhood experiences. Many of the fears and little quirks in the story came from things I remember feeling as a child, as did the comforting ways my mother helped me work through them. Those memories became the foundation for the character and her journey in I Used to Be Afraid.
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
A: My favorite part of the writing process is taking an idea that begins as almost nothing and watching it gradually grow into something. Writing is truly a labor of love, with plenty of work and revision along the way, but seeing an idea take shape and eventually become a finished story is incredibly satisfying.
Q: Do you believe that being a “good writer” is a developed skill or a natural talent?
A: I think good writing can come from many different places. Writing skills can certainly be taught, practiced, and developed, but I don’t believe those skills alone determine whether someone is a good writer. To me, good writing is a combination of developing the craft while also having the imagination, ideas, experiences, or perspective to give your words something meaningful to say.
Q: Do you have a favorite book, poem, TV, or movie quote?
A: “‘Why did you do all this for me?’ he asked. ‘“I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you.’”
‘“You have been my friend,’” replied Charlotte. ‘“That in itself is a tremendous thing.’””
—E. B. White, Charlotte’s Web
Q: Would you write another book (or are you already writing another book)?
A: Yes, to both.
Q: Is there an author you look up to, and why?
A: To me, Kevin Henkes is truly a gift to children’s literature. His animal characters are wonderfully relatable and feel so real. Their personalities, worries, and friendships make me laugh out loud while capturing so much of what it feels like to be a child. As a teacher, I often began the school year with one of his books, even devoting an entire week to studying his work with my students. I admire the warmth, humor, and understanding of children that he brings to his stories.
Q: If there were an apocalypse and you could only take five books into your doomsday bunker, what would they be?
A:
- Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
- The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne:
- The Selected Stories of O. Henry by O. Henry
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- 1984 by George Orwell
Learn more about Elizabeth Conway's new children's book, I Used to Be Afraid, here. Coming soon September 15, 2026!