My story Lailah’s Lunchbox is coming out this June! My illustrator is Lea Lyon and she has done a phenomenal job making Lailah come to life. I did not know making a book includes a team of people and the editors and publishers at Tilbury House have been working hard and doing a great job! After working through this process, I understand why word count matters so much with picture books and how less is more. Lea’s illustrations of Lailah are spot-on and the emotions she paints synchronize with my words. I love picture books, sometimes more so than books for people my age. There is something about the glossy pages, big words, and the pictures of a good children’s book that mesmerize me.
I have seen Lea’s illustrations for my story and have had the chance to sit and look at the almost-finished-product. It is a rewarding feeling to see a Microsoft Word document come to life. When you are at the very beginning stages of a story, the blinking cursor sometimes taunts you. Your phone rings. A child needs to use the bathroom. Writing is hard work. Writing is also beautiful work. When you see your writing become something, it feels surreal.
As I sat down to read Lailah’s Lunchbox to Z, I told her that I was the author, to which she laughingly responded, “You! How???” I feel the same, how? Upon seeing the character Lailah in the story, Z said, “That’s me!” I love how the book hit close to home, and how Lea’s illustrations of Lailah was someone she could relate to.
In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of Lailah! Looking forward to sharing more about her with you soon!
Doodling Through Life 
This is so great, cannot wait to get my hands on the published book.
can’t wait either :)!!