7 Fun Facts About My Upcoming Children’s Book✨

Behind-the-scenes details that made this book magical

As my book release gets closer (ahhh! 💜), I thought it would be fun to share some behind-the-scenes facts about how it all came together. Some of these details are deeply personal, others a little quirky and together, they tell the story of how this project grew into something magical.

1. Anime-Inspired Eyes 👀

Growing up, I was obsessed with shows like Sailor Moon and Cardcaptors. ✨ I used to spend hours drawing anime characters and even creating little comics and stories of my own. So when it came time to design my main character’s eyes, it felt natural to pull from the style that first inspired me as a kid. Anime eyes are expressive, magical, and full of emotion and I’d never seen them in a children’s book before.

2. Inspired by Family 💕

My characters are inspired by me and my grandma. I grew up living with both my mom and grandma, but when I was younger I lived downstairs with my grandma and spent most of my time with her. We’d go to the farmers market together, laugh at silly things, wander the mall, and watch TV side by side. I was even her “walking stick” she would call me her bamboo. 🌿 Including her in my book felt like the sweetest tribute to the woman who shaped so much of who I am.

3. it took 7 Months of Illustration ✏️

The illustration process alone took about 7 months much longer than I expected. I spent countless hours making mistakes, testing out ideas I didn’t like, and slowly learning through trial and error. It wasn’t always easy, but it truly leveled me up as an illustrator. Now, I can confidently say I work faster, cleaner, and with so much more skill than when I started. Growth is messy, but so worth it. 💫

4. From Aliens to Humans 👽➡️👧

This pivot was brewing for a while, but it really clicked after I came back from a 5-day trip to Amsterdam with my mom. When I sat back down at my desk, I immediately started resketching the characters. I wanted more emotion, stronger body shapes, and better hands (hands are still one of the hardest things for me!). Switching the characters from aliens to humans gave the story a deeper emotional connection that I absolutely love.

5. An Idea Born in 2020 📖

This story originally started in 2020. Like many people, I suddenly had a lot of time to sit with myself that year. I spent hours researching different worlds, sketching out ideas, and drafting rough spreads. Eventually, I put it aside and almost forgot about it… until the time came for me to bring it back to life. Looking back, I think that pause was exactly what I needed.

6. A Color Palette That Found Me 🎨

I never planned a color palette for this book but somehow, all of the colors fell into place. I always find myself gravitating toward dreamy purples and deep blues, and sure enough, they showed up again here. It makes me smile that even when I don’t try, my art seems to carry its own visual voice.

7. Names with Meaning ✨

When it came to naming my characters, I knew I wanted simple, two-syllable names that sounded cute, easy to read, and memorable. But I also wanted them to have deeper meanings.

• Oma means grandma in German, which ties to my own heritage and to the inspiration for one of the characters.

• Yari has connections to “small gold jewelry” and “light/loved one” both of which connect beautifully to themes of stars, light, and inner magic that flow through the story.

  
  

Wrapping It Up 🌙

This book is the most challenging and rewarding project I’ve ever worked on, and every detail from the eyes to the names carries meaning for me. I can’t wait to share it with the world.

✨ My book officially comes out on November 1st, and preorders are open now!  You can grab your copy here 💜

Thank you so much for reading, and for being part of this journey with me. Your support means the world.