Everybody has a dream. A dream can sometimes feel out-of-reach or unattainable. It can be easily crushed like the grapes to make your favorite wine or distinguished like the candles on your last birthday cake by self-doubt or even a little constructive criticism. Sometimes it's easier to dismiss the dream than plow through all the disappointment.
I love to write stories. I've been writing tall tales since I saw a scrappy short girl in elementary school. Over the years, I've taken writing classes and submitted stories to publications, magazines, and contests. At first, all I received was the stock form rejection letter that always started with, "Dear Author." It would have been so easy to quit after the first 40 of these, but after a few more years of writing classes and rewriting, I started to receive some encouraging personal letters back from editors addressed to me-not, "Dear Author." The closest I've come to selling a manuscript was my childrens' picture book, "Princess Daisy." But alas, it was returned after review because it didn't fit into the publisher's plans for that year. It was crushing to come so close to a dream and have it taken away. But I've come to far to give up now.
My Mother is an artist. She paints acrylics in vivid color and her striking charcoal black-and-white portraits look so realistic-you think the person is actually looking at you. She has won local awards in Spokane for her artwork, but has lacked the confidence to go any farther with her artwork-until now.
So, my Mother and I decided to combine our talents into one Mother-Daughter book by self-publishing Princess Daisy. Prose by me: illustrations by her. It's the perfect combination of generations and talents-and accomplishes two dreams in one! Here's a preview of Princess Daisy. The tall tale of a daisy who believes she is a princess and is too good for the cottage garden where she lives, and the journey in which she learns what it really means to be a princess.
I hope you enjoy this preview. We're still working on finalizing the drawings and layout and hope for a Spring book release (spring is perfect for a flower book). I'll also let you know how the self-publishing process works in case you have a book dream of your own. We'd also love your feedback in the comments on the story/illustrations.
Good luck with your dreams!
Di
Princess Daisy (Preview)
Copyright 2009, Story by Diane Grabow, Illustrations by Betty Stears
Page 3-
One morning, the hot sun was boiling over in the sky.The babies' breath below her were thirsty and started to cry.
Princess lowered her leaves to give them her last drops of saved rain.
"I'm thirsty too," Princess muttered, "but I'm not one to complain."
She was tired of caring for the babies. They were a pain!
All of this responsibility and sharing was a drain.
From this miserable cottage garden she had to be free.
So Princess started to make plans for when and how she would flee.
Page 4-
While the flowers were all dreaming of sunshine and good weather,Princess dug-up her roots and gathered all her leaves together.
She gazed up into the stars above and plotted her new course.
And with one look back at the garden, she left without remorse.
Her roots were like long spider's legs that carried her through the night.
The full moon and the bright stars overhead were her only light.
After hours of walking, her roots were wilted and dried out.
When she saw the ocean up ahead, she gave a happy shout.
