{"id":31573,"title":"This is how it all started.....","description":"A few years ago I had an idea of creating some colourful, fun animal designs to make into prints for children\u2019s rooms. I sold a few at fairs and through social media. \nI was working at a care home running art sessions and then in 2020 the Covid lockdown hit\u2026\nI couldn\u2019t go into the care home so spent time working in my art room on a few different things. \nI saw these animals and thought, Hang on, these would look fun in a children\u2019s picture book.\nSo I sent off emails to children\u2019s book publishers with just some of the designs, no text as I\u2019m not a writer (or so I thought\u2026.) \nIf I\u2019m honest, I didn\u2019t really expect to hear anything from any of them, but was so pleased when I did hear back from Candy Jar Books who are based in Cardiff.\nAnd so my journey began....","content":"

\"5327x6ugwm629frmcoizpzkvvhcd5qrjvqyt3oibnaldwvke.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"A few years ago I had an idea of creating some colourful, fun animal designs to make into prints for children\u2019s rooms. I sold a few at fairs and through social media.<\/strong><\/p>

I was working at a care home running art sessions and then in 2020 the Covid lockdown hit\u2026.<\/strong><\/p>

I couldn\u2019t go into the care home so spent time working in my art room on a few different things.<\/strong><\/p>

I saw these animals and thought, Hang on, these would look fun in a children\u2019s picture book.<\/strong><\/p>

So I sent off emails to children\u2019s book publishers with just some of the designs, no text as I\u2019m not a writer (or so I thought\u2026.)<\/strong><\/p>

If I\u2019m honest, I didn\u2019t really expect to hear anything from any of them, but was so pleased when I did hear back from Candy Jar Books who are based in Cardiff.<\/strong><\/p>

Well they loved my animals, and I needed to do a few more for the book. I did my research on some fun facts for each of the animals, and work began on getting my book written, edited and published.<\/strong><\/p>

In August 2021 I received a big box from the courier, I opened it and pulled out the first copy of my newly published book \u2018The animal says\u2026\u2019<\/em> A very special moment\u2026.<\/strong><\/p>

I remember sitting on my stairs with tears rolling down my face, I never expected to have a book published and it felt wonderful!<\/strong><\/p>

Since then, this little book of mine has gone all around the world, copies are in Finland, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, America and of course all over the UK.<\/strong><\/p>

I\u2019ve visited many schools to read the book to the children, which is great fun and very noisy as you can imagine! My old school friend has been a teacher in Madrid for many years and is using the book in her school to teach English to her classes there.<\/strong><\/p>

A film of my book has been made by Cued Speech UK based in Devon.<\/strong><\/p>

The charity provides family support, training and information to help deaf people see what you\u2019re saying using Cued Speech.<\/strong><\/p>

\u2018The animal says\u2026\u2019 <\/em>is read using Cued Speech which ensures that the book can be enjoyed by all children, which is amazing.<\/strong><\/p>

In 2022 \u2018The animal says..\u2019 <\/em>was a Finalist in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards in the Picture Book category. I couldn\u2019t believe it, and what was even better is that the books are read and judged by children. Now, we all know that children are brutally honest, will say what they think so this meant even more to me, Wow!!<\/strong><\/p>

My illustrative style has been likened to that of Eric Carle\u2019s \u2018The Very Hungry Caterpillar\u2019 which I take as a compliment as his books have been enjoyed by children for a very long time.<\/strong><\/p>

My next book is having its official book launch early in 2024 which is very exciting.<\/strong><\/p>

\u2018Grow Tall Sid!\u2019 published by Candy Jar Books is the story of Sid the sunflower seed.<\/strong><\/p>

Sid is small and grey, but wants to be tall and bright like the other flowers in the garden.<\/strong><\/p>

Follow Sid\u2019s story from tiny seed to tall sunflower!<\/strong><\/p>

<\/p>","urlTitle":"how-it-all-started","url":"\/blog\/how-it-all-started\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/how-it-all-started\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/theanimalsays.teemill.com\/blog\/how-it-all-started\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1694352860,"updatedAt":1701514782,"publishedAt":1701514782,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":306709,"name":"The Animal Says"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/3si6zdv6imddc4n2xqa5ixdenxpgwl0uhiirdqtbocpd4tut.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/3si6zdv6imddc4n2xqa5ixdenxpgwl0uhiirdqtbocpd4tut.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/3si6zdv6imddc4n2xqa5ixdenxpgwl0uhiirdqtbocpd4tut.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[],"labels":[]}