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| Welcome to Wesleyan Weekend |
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Arrin Freeman ’01 draws inspiration from children. She learns from them and then gives back daily. As the Art Director at the Georgia Children’s Museum, she offers art instruction, directs an arts enrichment program, plans integrative field trips, assists creatively with the performing arts program, and visually stimulates visitors through her vibrant murals painted throughout the museum. And “on the side,” she claims to have accomplished another major goal.
“I’ve always wanted to surround myself with children and the arts, but publishing a children’s book was a major goal I set for myself right out of college,” said Arrin. As the author and illustrator of her first published children’s book, she recently returned to her alma mater as a lecturer with advice and encouragement for other students with similar goals.
Although she admits the project took a little longer than she expected, in 2007 she proudly presented Look-A-Likes Don’t Act A-Like. The charming children’s book tells what it’s like to be a twin -- to try to be an individual, with your own set of likes and dislikes – while everyone around you expects you to be exactly the same!
“There are moments and images I my life that I hold onto. These are visual moments, almost like a snapshot left in my mind. When I think back to my childhood, I can see actual still-photos in my mind of me playing, skating, and swimming with my twin sister Farrah. These memories are not like moving pictures of my life, but like photographs captured in my mind. It’s funny that these images are the subject matter of my drawings for my first children’s book.”
Written in 2001, Arrin credits the success of her six-year labor of love to her childhood and the children who have inspired her along the way. Growing up with a twin sister, Arrin felt well prepared to address the topic of individuality. She tested her manuscript and sample images on a critical audience of elementary school students and got a positive response. Crediting the children she teaches with the book’s bold vivid color palette, she said, “I draw so much inspiration from the children I teach every day; and, I especially notice the color selection toward which children naturally gravitate.”
The green light from her students encouraged Arrin toward finding a publisher to take on the project. “I met another artist who had written and illustrated a book, but when I learned that he had submitted his project twenty-seven times before finding a publisher – I was worried,” she said. “I had no idea how to prepare a manuscript, a book dummy, or a presentation packet to represent my project. I looked at so many children’s books for inspiration and publisher information; and after much research, I submitted my manuscript with just one illustration to the locally owned Indigo Custom Publishing.”
Immediately interested, Indigo requested additional sample illustrations. A recent graduate with limited resources and no studio space, Arrin used pens and markers to illustrate the forty-page picture book. After a busy month of illustrating and finalizing her project, an entire year passed before she received news of the book’s publication.
The book is now available regionally at Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, Chi Chester’s, Creter’s, Target, and The Georgia Children’s Museum. She’s excited about future book signings and the possibility of receiving royalties from book sales. Arrin places the real value of this project on accomplishing her goal of writing, illustrating, and publishing a book for children.
“Many first-time authors self-publish books, and I want to encourage other artists and writers to consider that option,” she said. “Luckily, with my first experience, I found a publisher who picked up the project. Having a great publisher who markets the book and provides professional expertise really ensures success.” |
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