“Juggling a full-time job with parenting and writing is no joke. It’s exhausting,” shares writer and attorney Stephanie Laterza. “Some mornings, it’s heartbreaking to try to explain to my toddler son why my husband and I have to go to work and why he has to go to daycare, and why we can’t all just stay home, or go to the park like we do on the weekends.” Laterza’s son was the inspiration behind her short story, The Clown Nose, published through Akashic Books’ Terrible Twosdays series last year, which she feels captures an aspect of this hectic lifestyle. Other works like short stories In Triage and Niagara, and her recently released first novel, The Boulevard Trial, draw from moments in her life and career, serving as a huge influence in her storytelling.

And as challenging as the balance between lawyering, parenting and writing tends to be, Laterza credits her husband and mother for their unwavering support: “As I say in my blog, I send much peace and inspiration to all families making it work one way or the other.“

Find out what three favorite personal possessions Stephanie can’t live without! Then to learn more about this gifted author, visit StephanieLaterzaAuthor.wordpress.com

Red Sweater

My red sweater from H&M, which I bought about ten years ago. I put it on every time I write and it kept me warm on many mornings in my drafty den this past winter. Red is, and has always been, my favorite color. Of course, red signifies passion, love and fire, all of which come through one way or another in my writing.

Masters of the Universe T-shirt

I bought the shirt in Niagara Falls this past summer for one dollar at a souvenir shop and have never loved a T-shirt more. Growing up, I adored She-Ra, the Princess of Power, and her brother, He-Man. The shirt fills me with nostalgia for my childhood and reminds me of my sweaty plastic She-Ra Halloween mask from the second grade. I wore the T-shirt on my birthday last December and felt like a child of the ‘80s again.

Tall Black Boots

A couple of winters ago, my husband bought me a gorgeous pair of tall, black leather boots with thick square heels for Christmas in his hometown of Cologne in Germany. Every time I put them on, I feel fierce and two feet taller than my petite frame. They’re sexy yet elegant and I can wear them with pretty much anything.

Jacqueline Colette Prosper, yummicoco.com