Created by Chicks interview

Created by Chicks
August 31, 2011

Who's Creating Wednesday: Cathy Mazur
by Lizeth Alvarez

Cathy Mazur was born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She earned a B.S. degree in Library Science from Mansfield University in 1975. In 1978, she received a Reading Specialist Certificate from the University of Scranton. She was employed by the Mid Valley School District as an elementary school librarian from 1975 until her retirement in 2010. While serving as the school librarian, she was responsible for implementing and operating the Reading Is Fundamental program. She has been married for 31 years to her husband Frank and has two children, Gary and Gia. Presently, she is writing books for children; embarking on a new career as an author.

Q: Why is creativity important to you?
A: Creativity is an outlet in which you can express yourself and share your ideas with others. A world absent of creativity would not allow society to push boundaries and lead to brighter futures.

Q: What do you enjoy the most?
A: Writing and creating stories for children. In my experience children are impressionable at an early age and I believe reading is a great way to help expand their minds and enable their development.

Q: Do you have any fears when creating?
A: The only fear I have is writing is a new adventure for me and I don’t know what to expect, but that fear of the unknown becomes easier as I step further away from my comfort zone.

Q: Are your friends and family supportive of the things you create?
A: Yes, my family and closest friends support me 100%. They provide a solid base of positive energy that I leverage when I need a boost.

Q: How do you find time to create?
A: Fortunately, I am retired from teaching and now have found more time to create. I recognize that for everyone time is at a premium but I would challenge those who want to create to focus on one project at a time and dedicate all of the time that can be afforded to it.

Born in Scranton, Pa., Cathy Mazur is the daughter of Gary and Catherine H. Errico. She was educated in the Dunmore public school system and graduated from Dunmore High School in 1971. She received a bachelor’s degree in Library Science from Mansfield State College in 1975. She received a Reading Specialist Certificate from the University of Scranton in 1978. Cathy was employed as an elementary school librarian for the Mid Valley School District from 1975 until her retirement in 2010. While at Mid Valley, she instituted and coordinated the RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) program for 33 years helping students to develop a love of reading outside the classroom. Cathy served on the Board of Directors for the Valley Community Library in Peckville, Pa. for over 20 years acting as president for one year and board secretary for 19 years. She presently serves on the library’s Developmental Committee chairing various fundraising events. She resides in Dickson City, Pa. with Frank, her husband of 31 years. They are the parents of two children, Gary, 27 and Gia, 19. Now in her retirement, she is focused on writing books for children like Stanley Seagull.

You can get Cathy’s book Stanley Seagull at http://www.StanleySeagull.com