Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Guest Post – Who has influenced you the most in your life? – My Parents by Andrew McDowell

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BERJAYA

This series is about the person you feel has had the most influence on your life and has shaped the person you are today, and what you have achieved.  That might be in reaching personal goals or to do with your career.

This is of course also a marketing opportunity for your blog and books, and a showcase of your writing skills.

At the end of the post you can find out how you can participate in this series.

Today Andrew McDowell pays tribute to his parents who have support him in all his endeavours.

My Parents by Andrew McDowell.

BERJAYA

I’ve known many people in my life, but the people who have influenced me more than any other are the ones who raised me: my parents. And I couldn’t write about one without writing about the other. I don’t think I could’ve achieved what I have or become the person I am without their combined efforts.

My mom has always been there with kindness and love, willing to give me a hug even when I think I didn’t need one or deserved one. Often, she liked to take my hand when I went up to bed. When I was little, she read many stories to me aloud. Perhaps that’s where my love of storytelling came from. That’s not to say she hasn’t been stern at times, or pushed me when I resisted. But it was always because she knew I could be better. In eighth grade, when I was struggling with Algebra, the teacher, Mr. Donnelly, let students stay after school once a week to work on homework. I didn’t want to do it, but my mother eventually wore me out. In the end, my grades improved to the point that Mr. Donnelly said I was the most improved student in the class.

My dad has also been strict at times, but he’s been there with love, too, and advice. As a child, he would always whisper at bedtime to me that he’d kiss me in the morning before he went to work. As I grew older, I would hear him whisper “Night, bugs,” so many times in the same fashion. When I first started writing, he told me to always remember that the important thing is to tell a story and to tell it well, and not to get bogged down in the details. He also told me not to overcrowd my story, which I know now I was doing.

My parents always made me study harder when I was struggling, and I think I became a better student because of it. Likewise, when I plucked up the courage to tell them things I was ashamed of and thought they would think differently of me, to my surprise they did not think any less of me. I can’t count how many times I’ve said on birthday and various holiday cards how I couldn’t have asked for a better father and mother. I know I’ll never grow tired of that.

©Andrew McDowell 2026

My thanks to Andrew for participating in this series and I know he would love to hear from you.
BERJAYA

About Andrew McDowell

Andrew McDowell is the author of the fantasy novels Mystical Greenwood and Beneath the Deep Wave, the former of which was a finalist in the 2019 American Fiction Awards, won the 2021 Maryland Writers’ Association Novel Contest, and was an honorable mention in the 2021 Top Shelf Magazine contest.

He studied at St. Mary’s College and the University of Maryland, College Park. Andrew has had poetry, short stories, and essays featured in anthologies and literary journals. He has Asperger Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder.

Books by Andrew McDowell and a small selection of the anthologies he has contributed to.

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One of the reviews for Mystical Greenwood 

Dermot has felt called to the land for as long as he could remember. As a youth his wanderlust caused him all manner of trouble, but now it could be the very thing that saves him. When a griffon appears it puts into motion an ancient promise, a vow made by The Dark Prince to return and finish the task he had started years before. Dermot, with the aid on unexpected allies must journey across the land to seek the only chance of stopping this rising force. Will he find what he seeks, or will The Dark Prince make true his promise and destroy everything Dermot holds dear?

Mystical Greenwood is a high fantasy. Andrew McDowell whisks the reader on a fantastical journey filled with legends, magic, and mythical creatures. With a smooth flowing narrative it is easy to connect to the characters and be pulled into the terrifying plot. I enjoyed the incorporation of old words into the narrative, which I always feel add a little extra something to any fantasy setting. The characters are intriguing and offered the potential to grow and develop as their journey progresses, and watching them change as life tempers them in itself is an adventure. If you’re looking for a high-stakes fantasy plot filled with classic fantasy elements, then this could be just the read you’re looking for. 

 Andrew has also contributed to many anthologies – read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Andrew: Goodreads – Website/Blog: Andrew McDowell Author – Facebook: Andrew McDowell Author –   Youtube: Andrew McDowell Author – LinkedIn: Andrew McDowell –   Bluesky: Andrew McDowell Author

BERJAYA

Some guidelines.

  • If you look back at your life, who would you say had the most influence on who you are today or your life’s achievements?
  • It might be a parent, grandparent, or other relation, perhaps a teacher, employer or someone who you only encountered for a brief period, but changed the course of your life in a positive way.
  • It might be someone you have never met but influenced you in another way such as by their actions or a book that you read by them. This is a tribute to that person.
  • It can be a post your have already written or one that is unpublished.
  • If already published just send me the link.
  • I will top and tail the post with the usual links and a recent review etc.
  • This is an opportunity to show off your writing skills and to encourage readers to follow your blog or buy your books…dress to impress.

What I need from you sent to my email sallygcronin@gmail.com

If you are have been promoted here before.

I just need your word document 1000 to 1500 words and two or three photographs to break up the text.. perhaps of you at that stage in your life or one of the person who you are writing about.

If they are an author then an Amazon link so I can copy the cover of their book or books with a link.

If you have not been featured on the blog before

  • In addition to the word document and photographs for the post I will need your information.
  • A profile photograph, up to date  biography, social media links for website or blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin.
  • If you are an author your Amazon Author page, Goodreads and Bookbub if you are there too.

Once I have received your post

  • I will schedule and let you have the date.
  • On the day of publication I will send you a link for the post.
  • It would be great if you could share your post on your social media.
  • I ask that all comments are responded to individually as it does make a difference to the number of times the post is shared.
  • When shared on social media I will tag you if you are on that platform and it would be great if you could thank the person who has shared the post..

I am looking forward to discovering the amazing people who have inspired you and sharing them here in this series… get in touch… thanks Sally. 

 

59 thoughts on “Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Guest Post – Who has influenced you the most in your life? – My Parents by Andrew McDowell”

  3. What a beautiful and moving tribute to Andrew’s parents. They sound ideal – well-grounded, loving, nudging to get the best out of him and giving great advice and reassuring love. I agree with Pete about forgiving mistakes. I know plenty of adults who’d rather lie to get out of trouble than tell the truth. xx

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Pingback: Guest Post – Who has influenced you the most in your life? – My Parents – Andrew McDowell

  8. This brought tears to my eyes. A great example of unconditional love. Andrew you were so lucky to have supportive, loving parents to guide you along. I love the photo and wonder how you got the dog to keep the Santa hat on?

    Liked by 3 people

  9. A great tribute to his parents, Andrew certainly had supportive and understanding parents, we all would aspire to that.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Pingback: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Guest Post – Who has influenced you the most in your life? – My Parents by Andrew McDowell – MobsterTiger

  12. Andrew’s parents are to be commended for not judging him harshly when he made mistakes. If parents want their kids to remain open with them, they have to remember their own imperfect choices.

    Liked by 3 people

  13. Mystical Greenwood sounds like a fun and very imaginative fantasy novel and it was a great review. Andrew’s story is very interesting and I am glad he was able to finally excel in algebra.

    Liked by 2 people

  14. How wonderful to get to know Andrew through the glimpses he shared of his parents. Beautiful. Thank you, Sally.

    Liked by 2 people

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