Seize the Day with Sandy Spence Narron!

By Sarah Hurley

Sandy Spence Narron, author of the Seize the Day with Lilly Mae children’s book series, was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. At sixty-five years old, Sandy is a retired hair stylist and former drama teacher at Mooresville Christian Academy with two children, four grandchildren, and beloved goldendoodles. She loves laughing, antiquing and thrifting, spending time with her family—and of course, writing.

A few years ago, when Sandy’s husband was receiving treatment for a major foot injury, she commuted to Greensboro every week for five months, then 120 days straight for hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments. “I was sitting in my car waiting and the Lord gave me the title of my series, ‘Seize the Day with Lilly Mae,’ and that is where it began,” she says. “At that point everything flowed.”

Her writing process, which has largely remained unchanged since undertaking her first Lilly Mae project, leans more toward sporadic bursts of inspiration than tracking word-count by the day or hour. “Mainly [the writing] flows out suddenly and I will quickly write it out on notes on my phone and then to my computer. I am not as disciplined as I should be as far as sitting down every day and writing a certain amount of words. That is a continuous goal.”

Soon after completing her first manuscript, she secured a literary agent and published Seize the Day with Lilly Mae at the Christmas Tea through Book Pros Publishing in 2024. Now, she has published four additional books: Seize the Day with Lilly Mae the Philanthropist, Seize the Day with Lilly Mae in New York City, Seize the Day with Lilly Mae and the Hike, and Seize the Day with Lilly Mae at the Beach. Seize the Day with Lilly Mae the Philanthropist is her most popular book worldwide, but each of the Lilly Mae stories are equally popular with her "besties," as Sandy fondly refers to her fans. As a self-published “indie author,” Sandy’s goal is to eventually publish with a top five traditional publishing house. She currently has several more book projects in the works, as well as a full-length novel.

Best-selling author, actor, and director Ira David Wood III describes the Lilly Mae series as “Delightful, devoid of pretense, and rather joyous.” What a sparkling review!

Sandy’s first book, Seize the Day with Lilly Mae the Philanthropist, arrived on the shelves at Minkology shortly after its initial publication, and her series has been a staple of the shop’s children’s literature section ever since. She has participated in multiple open houses and author events at Minkology and loves knowing that “[her] books are in the company of such a wonderful store…. Minkology is one of a kind in the best possible way. I am honored that my books are selected to be on their shelf.”

And what’s Sandy’s favorite thing about being a children’s author, you ask? “That's easy,” she’ll respond with delight. “It's the children! The people. The author visits. Seeing the spark in a child's eyes as they hear me read my book.”

Connect with Sandy Spence Narron on Facebook or Instagram, and find her books online on Amazon or anywhere else books are sold.