What will Kentucky Book Festival visitors find on your table?
I am soooooo excited to share my children’s book, There Was a Zookeeper, with book-loving residents of Kentucky and beyond! Visitors will be greeted by the characters from the book displayed on a 7’ vertical banner, including Harper Lou Kangaroo and Blaire Bear!! It’s a perfect place for a photo op for adults and children alike.
If possible, I will display a monitor that will show a brief video of my publishing journey from rough sketches to final art, ending with my illustrator Alexey Chystikov saying a few words about what working on my book meant to him. I also have a time-lapse video which shows how he took my written words and transformed them from a beginning simple sketch to a beautifully illustrated double-page spread. Sharing my journey allows people to appreciate the time, hard work, excitement and even tears that come with publishing a children’s book.
Whom do you invite to stop by? Who will benefit from reading your book?
I would love to say hello to people of all ages who pass by my table! My book is for children from birth to 6-7 years and beyond. Filled with vibrant illustrations and memorable characters, There Was a Zookeeper offers a tale of good decision-making, friendship and forgiveness. Readers will see that one good decision can lead to a happy ending for all!
I would love to connect with parents, grandparents, and early elementary school teachers who may want to introduce my book into their classroom. Those in attendance who may be looking for that special holiday gift won’t want to miss There Was a Zookeeper!
I would also love to speak with adults who have always dreamed of publishing a children’s book. By sharing my journey (from the written word to the illustration phase and finally to the printing of the hardback book), I hope to inspire others to take that first step towards their own publishing journey!
Could you please tell us something curious about you and/or your book?
I wrote There Was a Zookeeper (along with numerous whimsical writings!) when my daughters were young. I always dreamed of publishing it to share with others, knowing they would love it as much as my girls did. I am now a grandmother, and I am a testament to the fact that dreams do come true! Just don’t put a time limit on them.
Little did I know what an emotional journey publishing my book would be. The young man I hired to illustrate my book, Alexey Chystikov, lives in Kyiv, Ukraine. Together, we brought to life a collection of spirited zoo animals, showing children that the decisions they make may very well affect others. The book’s ending is amazingly beautiful! Alexey credits working on my book during times of ongoing war with keeping his mental health in check. I credit working with him with opening my eyes to a life unlike my own, reminding me to take nothing in life for granted. Our journey to complete There Was a Zookeeper may be over, but our friendship continues to this day.
Is this your first time participating in Kentucky Book Festival? If yes – what are you looking forward to the most?
Yes! I look forward to sharing my book with as many people as possible! A children’s book is meant to be shared, enjoyed, and cherished by little ones as it sparks their imagination through descriptive words and vibrant imagery!
I consider myself a people person, so I am truly looking forward to meeting other authors from around the state, hearing their stories, and learning from their experiences. As an Indie author, networking with others who have been in the business much longer than I is sure to be an inspiration. It may even open a few doors!
