When Leah Orr learned of her daughter’s diagnosis with Cystic Fibrosis, a chronic disease that can affect the lungs and digestive system, she knew that she wanted to do something special. The Florida-based author wrote two kids’ books inspired by her daughter, Ashley Elizabeth, called Kyle’s First Crush and Kyle’s First Playdate.

The proceeds from those books help benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to the cure and control of the disease. Through various efforts, the Orr family has done extensive fundraising for the Foundation over the past 7 years.

Leah’s most recent literary creation is Messy Tessy, about a mischievous girl who finds humorous ways to entertain herself while her babysitter is asleep. The book came out this past October and is the first in a planned series featuring the character.

Leah took some time to answer some questions about Messy Tessy from the FiledBy blog. (Click “Continue Reading” below to read the interview.)

FiledBy: What is it like collaborating with your mom, Josephine Lepore, who illustrates your books?

Leah Orr: My mom and I once owned a greeting card company together. We sold it to a larger company shortly after. I wrote the sentiments, and she created the illustrations. When my youngest daughter was born with Cystic Fibrosis we decided that we would write children’s books and donate the profits to the CF Foundation to help find a cure.

FB: You donate proceeds from your books to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. What are some of your other involvements with the organization?

LO: The Orr Family hosts a Great Strides walk in our hometown of Weston, Florida, each year, and to date have raised over $400, 000 for the cause. This amount includes book sales.

FB: Tell us more about being the “recipient of Oprah’s generosity” on her TV show “The Big Give”.

LO: One of the contestants on the show chose Cystic Fibrosis as one of her charities to give away $25,000 that one day. So, 15 CF kids were called to the show and given an exercise bike, a nebulizer, and a CVS card to help pay for medicines.

FB: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

LO: Keep writing…..and keep sending your work to literary agents. You only need 1 person to believe in your work.

FB: What is your fondest memory involving a book?

LO: Staying up late at night reading scary Stephen King books.

FB: If you could spend a year in any city with no job to perform other than to work on your next book, where would that be?

LO: Definitely Maui, Hawaii, without a doubt. This is one of the most beautiful and inspiring places on the planet.

FB: What is the book that most influenced you as a reader or the book you first remember?

LO: I like scary books and movies so it would have to be Stephen King’s Pet Sematary.

FB: What is the book you are most excited about now?

LO: I am currently reading Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol. Before that, the last book I was excited about was The Shack [by William P. Young].

FB: What is your favorite line from a book?

LO: “Beware of the Evil that was meant for you.” – Stephen King, Thinner

FB: What are some of the books you have read more than once?

LO: The Secret – read many times.