As part of the ongoing series on freelancing with kids during Claire's vacation, we bring you Marque Thompson , who maintains a Web site on freelancing with kids. Her three are pictured above.

Age: 38

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

Web sites: www.thewritemom.blogspot.com, www.dearcrabby.typepad.com

What is your specialty or focus? Mostly, being a mother and a freelance writer, artist, poet. I also focus on parenting, family, marital relationships. I just love to share my two greatest passions on this earth - my children and my writing.

What's the latest thing you've worked on? I have been doing a lot of web site work. This has involved developing web logs, web sites, contributing to mothering and freelance writing web sites. I am also a regular contributor to the Charlotte Observer newspaper, in the features columns, and with some regional parenting magazines where I contribute articles regularly. I am also working on a book right now that will be a group of essays, journals, art work, whatever form of creativity, from famous authors and artists who are mothers.

What has been your most difficult assignment and how did you deal with its challenges? I would say interviewing (even if it's email) a famous person is difficult for me. I have had to do this a few times for different assignments and reviews and it always challenges me. I am not at all star-struck. I just feel very humbled before some of the people that are mentors or someone I aspire to be. I get tounge-tied and always think of things I should have asked after I leave. The way I have learned to deal with it is to realize that they were not always famous or well-known. They were once exactly where I am. The other thing is I am always very well prepared days before any type of interview. I write and re-write. And, believe it or not, I get great advice from my 10 year old daughter.

What's the best or most helpful thing that an editor has told you? Keep writing and keep reading.

What's the worst writing or freelancing advice you've ever gotten? I have never really gotten bad advice about writing. The only thing I have gotten, and I am sure a lot of freelancers have gotten, is the negativity. The comments and flippant remarks about our little "hobby". Or all the other writers who say how you will never be famous or make money at it or even get published. I hate that. But, finally after almost 40 years on this earth and having 3 children, 2 being daughters, I have learned to block it out. If you are going to write, you have to get thick skin and move past it. Many people are rude, envious and do not like to see other people succeed. That's why I started my web site, a place for support and positive reinforcements. Being a stay at home mother and a freelance writer - well, either one of those things alone can set off a slew of insults. But, I don't care one bit. I am creating beautiful things that will make the world a better place in the end. When you have the ability to create life and art and offer it to the world...it's an extraordinary feeling.