The Idea

Snuggled into a corner of my bed, propped up by pillows, I was flipping through pictures from my trip to India, reminiscing and missing my friends. One little guy in particular made me smile whenever I saw a picture of him--and there were quite a number of them bringing back sweet memories: drawing pictures in the sand, putting lotion in my hair, crawling around on the floor together. 

And just like that, the beginnings of a story popped into my head. 

It didn't take me long to write it, lying flat on the bedroom floor, scribbling away on a crumpled legal pad. I made few revisions as the text seemed to flow from the pencil in time with the lyrical rhythm in my head. No, the story is not a poem, but when I am "in the groove" I hear the syllables for the sentences before I put the words to them. That is usually when I do my best work. 

The Little Tiger From India is a story about a little boy with a big imagination, who pretends to be a tiger. The "little tiger" rules the house until one day a stranger comes to visit. The stranger and the tiger overcome language barriers to become friends and get into some mischief together. 

It is all based on a true story that happened to me while in India, though some things are embellished or changed for story structure and simplicity.

It means a lot to me because I know the little boy it is written about and the other people involved in the story, but I don't know if the story will resonate with others who have no connection with either the country or the people in the story. I think it should though because the little boy is as curious and demanding and imaginative and rambunctious and loving as many other little boys around the world.

Maybe you will fall in love with him as I did as you see the story and illustrations take shape. 

I Could Do That

Who hasn't picked up a children's book, flipped through it and scoffed, "I could do that. I could probably do better than that!" I've been there too. With old books and new, with both story and illustration, I have thought, "That looks easy. I could do that." 

What I have come to realize, however, is that the distance between "could do" and "doing" is very wide. It is crossed with hard work, mistakes, failure and perseverance. I have not often attempted to cross it, nor have I made it very far. 

Over the years, I have written several stories which I have shared with family. In college, I even went so far as to write, print, bind, and start illustrations for a book I titled The Papermaker. So far, that is the furthest I have made it. 

But I'm ready to try again. 

Honestly, I have no idea what I am doing. I am not a professional writer, artist or anything, but I enjoy being creative and am interested in how far I can make it. 

My first goal will be to complete a fully illustrated, hard-bound copy of my book for me and my family. My secondary goal is to look into getting it published. 

I'm inviting you to join me on the journey and learn along with me as I illustrate and maybe even attempt to publish my latest story which I call The Little Tiger From India.