Linda G. McGowan
Linda G. McGowan is a retired college teacher, fine artist, and graphic designer based in Pueblo West, Colorado. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Fine and Studio Arts, with a minor in English focused on fiction writing, from Colorado State University Pueblo in 1995, followed by a Master of Education from Lesley University in 2004. Early in her career, Linda ran a successful graphic design business in Canyon City, Colorado, while also working for local newspapers, including the Daily Record, The Shopper and in Buena Vista, Colorado, the Chaffee County Times. She handled advertising design, feature writing and digital content uploads. Her extensive experience in graphic design, fine art and publishing spans over two decades, including proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, book layout and photo montage and drawing with pen and ink. Throughout her 17-year teaching career, Linda shared her expertise in graphic design and photography at three colleges, inspiring students with her creativity and dedication. In 2015, she began working with the Boys & Girls Club of Chaffee County, where she initiated collaborative story-time sessions that led to her passion for writing. This experience became the foundation for her fantasy book series, The Rosemary Saga, where all characters are named after plants, accompanied by a detailed glossary explaining their attributes. Beyond fiction, she is working on historical projects and a documentary exploring her father’s missionary work in Angola, Africa, blending storytelling with her artistic talents. Now retired from full-time work, Linda continues to run her creative business part-time, producing self-published books and fine art and an occasional logo or pamphlet. Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to creativity, education and nature, with gardening playing a central role in both her personal life and artistic inspiration. She supports charitable initiatives such as Heifer International and Wikipedia, reinforcing her dedication to giving back to the community while continuing to pursue her passions in writing, art and design.
• Lesley University - M.Ed.
• Universtiy of Southern Colorado, now Colorado State Universiy-Pueblo
• Belong to the YMCA Book Club
• Heifer Project
• Wikipedia
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to overcoming my father's discouragement (although I doubt he meant it in a mean way) and finding a teacher who believed in me. When I started writing as a young mother, my dad looked at me and said, 'What do you know about writing?' and I just said, 'I guess nothing, you know, other than I read.' That comment stayed with me for years. When I went back to school in 1993, I took a fiction class because I wanted to write and I knew I could write but I was just afraid to write. Our teacher walked in and he was almost the spitting image of Danny DeVito with a ponytail, and I thought, 'This ought to be good.' The first thing he did was read us a short story and said, 'Now, finish the story.' I froze. I was scared to death because of what my father had said to me. I put three sentences down on a piece of paper and handed it in. I walked out knowing I was probably going to drop the class. The next class, he handed my paper to me with a check plus on the front, and when I opened it up, he wrote, 'This is a little short, but it works.' I get shivers when I think about it and talk about it. It opened up my world. That's kind of the beginning of me, Linda G. McGowan.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't ever give up. That was a hard one for me to stand by. My fear always poked holes in me.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't ever give up!!!!!!!! My industry is a hard one because there are so many wannabes out there. But understand, every wannabe has the ability to succeed. Believe in yourself, have faith that the path will be revealed but mainly know it will happen. Knowing is the key...period.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I see in my field today involves navigating the impact of AI and copyright, especially in areas like photomontage and image creation. I’m also aware of the growing prevalence of online scams and promotional services that require payment but deliver little real value. On top of that, self-publishing and marketing remain significant hurdles, as it’s essential to develop a compelling “hook” to reach and engage an audience effectively.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both my work and personal life are creativity and artistic expression, a commitment to education through teaching and lifelong learning, and a deep connection to nature with gardening and plants playing a central role in my life. Also I have to credit my children. They are a big part of my life and come first always.
Locations
LM
Pueblo West, CO 81007