Hi, I'm Zibi Owens, and you're listening to the award-winning podcast.

Moms don't have time to read books.

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Today's episode is sponsored by poets and writers,

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Founded it in 1970, Poets and Writers is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Visit p.w.org to get inspired, connect with others,

and explore a treasure trove of trustworthy information

about writing contests, literary agents, and more. Elizabeth Gerlock is the author of the

children's book series Ben's Adventures about a young triplet brother who uses a wheelchair

but loves to dream up fun adventures with his family and friends. The series was inspired

by her son, Ben, who passed

away in 2016 at age three. The two books in the series so far are under the big top and

day at the beach. Elizabeth is a special needs advocate and fundraiser for the Ben Smiles

Memorial Foundation, which she founded, a former advertising and marketing exec with an MBA in marketing. Elizabeth currently lives in the suburbs of Chicago's with Ben's triplet, siblings, Colin, and Ava. Her husband is recently back from being deployed in the Middle East and is now in the Army Reserve. So welcome, Elizabeth. Thanks so much for coming on Mom's Don't have time to read books. Thank you, Zibby, so much for having me.

I'm happy to be here.

My real name is Elizabeth, too, just so you know.

Oh, is it? Yeah. Oh, great. So if you ever want to steal a nickname and go through the pain of... Zibby is not one I've heard before. I've gotten Liz. I've gotten Lizzie. I've gotten Beth.

You know, people ask me always.

Yeah.

You know, do you go by Elizabeth?

I'm like, yeah.

...