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| Erin Frew |
Read up, Erin Frew's, 'Golden Boy Bailey', which makes for a superb read. It tells a story of four dogs, a golden
retriever, a pit bull, a Labrador and even a German Sheppard and a bigger adventure, that they take on. So, this
was a book for super fun reading, easy to understand
too, for all kids and adults, alike. And the illustrations are really good, and one can see the effort, she took, doing it all by herself, Folks...
How did ‘Golden Boy Bailey’ happen? Could you
describe the journey?
Writing children’s books was a thought; I’ve had lingering in the back of
my mind since high school. My
Grandma Dodie, first planted the seed, one day after school. She read to me from an article she had cut
out of the newspaper.
It was the story of a girl my age that
was writing and illustrating her own children’s books. It was Grandma Dodie, who first told me I should write
books. She thought I would be good at
writing stories and illustrating them.
Grandma Dodie must have seen something
in me at that early age that I couldn't see in myself. I went on to receive my Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree
in Education from Eastern Illinois University. Three years later I moved to Santa Monica, California
and began working for an inventing firm as a toy designer. It was during this
time my creative juices took over. I began designing toys for companies such as
Mattel, Fisher Price, Radica and Rose Art.
One evening, I was homesick missing
family and my dog Bailey back in Illinois.
I felt inspired and wrote the story for Golden Boy Bailey. The story of Golden Boy Bailey was on
my hard drive for over 15 years.
Shortly, after writing the story I returned to the Midwest. I got married and
had three beautiful children. During
my last pregnancy with my son Oliver I finally made the decision to illustrate ‘Golden
Boy Bailey’ and have it published. It
was something that I wanted to dedicate to my grandma for her encouragement and
endless support. It was, however,
through my own children that I found the inspiration to see it through.
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| Grandma Dodie, Erin Frew, Bailey |
My Grandma Dodie was 99 years old and
passed away January 13, 2016. ‘Golden Boy Bailey’ was published in February,
one month after her death.
I love reading to my children at
night. I believe it develops within them
a passion for learning. ‘Golden Boy Bailey’ is my first children’s book. My children are so proud of the book and have
mommy read it to them over and over again.
How did the story, especially all the entire dog’s
stories come about?
I used real characters in my book. The four dog characters are based on real dogs
that I knew personally and loved very much.
Bailey, of course, was my best friend. Bailey’s best friends were my brother, Jason’s dog,
Chewy, my sister Meghan’s dog, Sable, and my sister Carey’s dog, Logan. It was fun turning our real live dogs into
characters in my book.
Did you have a lot of personal experiences to go with it?
I could write so many Golden Boy Bailey stories. I have fond memories and many years of real life experiences that I shared
with these dogs. They were so fun and
such a joy to have as part of my life. I
have a feeling you may see another ‘Golden Boy Bailey’ adventure in the near future.
How did you
come up with the core idea and develop it?
It was natural for me
to pick the dogs as my main characters. The idea for them to go to blue pool was a
way for me to give the book a local connection to my hometown Alton, Illinois.
Blue Pool is a place
that carries with it a legend throughout the Alton area for its endless bottom
and myths of locomotives and mine cars disappearing beneath its waters. For me, Alton’s Blue Pool is a natural landmark full of
amazing wildlife and beautiful scenery.
What according to you is different about your book?
I think there are several things that make Golden Boy Bailey uniquely
different. The
most obvious would be the illustrations.
I love how the drawings turned out so vibrant and colourful. To create the artwork, I took sketches and
turned them into computer-generated imagery.
Another unique aspect of Golden Boy Bailey is that
the artwork and storyline are something that both boys and girls can relate
to. This is a children’s book that
everyone can enjoy.
How would you
relate the lives of dog’s characters to today’s characters, both dogs and
people? Any similarities?
Golden Boy Bailey is a wonderful story that relates well to the children
of today. The dogs live in a rural area
within the Midwestern part of the United States. I think children
all across the world will find the story interesting and the illustrations
engaging.
I think pet lovers, both children and adults, will
develop bonds with the characters. I
hope children find inspiration from Golden Boy Bailey to create their own
adventures and wonderful life experiences.
What was the most challenging part about writing the book?
The most challenging part was finding the time to complete the
illustrations. It was a juggling act
between working full time, caring for my family and scheduling time to draw.
What book is
coming from your desk, next? When do you see it released?
I’d love to write and
illustrate more children’s books. Golden
Boy Bailey has been very well received. I am honoured
and proud to announce that Golden Boy Bailey has been named among the best in
family-friendly media, products and services by the Mom’s Choice Awards.
People have been
reaching out and asking for another Golden Boy Bailey Adventure. I think a second adventure for Bailey and his friends
will be coming soon.
Who was it that told you
that you could become the author, you are today?
It was my Grandma Dodie.
Do you have
any suggestions for anyone who is looking to publish a book?
It was very rewarding
for me to have my book published. If
publishing is something you want to do, just do it! To be successful, you’ll need a great
manuscript and to believe in yourself. After that you just need the
determination to go for it.
Which book
are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading ‘The Shepherd of the Hills’ by Harold Bell Wright.
After my Grandma’s passing, we started cleaning out her home. She must have had twenty copies of ‘The
Shepherd of the Hills’ so, I took a copy home with me.
Who are your
favourite authors and why?
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| Eric Carle : Taken from https://kindergartencce.wikispaces.com/K-Author+Eric+Carle |
One of my favorite
children’s book authors is Eric Carle. He wrote Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do
You See and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
I also find Tish Rabe to be fascinating.
She is the author of ‘The Cat in the Hat knows a Lot About That!’ book
series.
What else do
you do on a daily basis?
On a daily basis, my husband and I own and operate a 30,000 square foot retail
store. We specialize in Bridal, Tuxedos
and Formal Wear. Our store is called
Frew's Bridal.
We also have an Internet business, www.bestbridalprices.com and
sell dresses worldwide. We sell wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, mother's
gowns, flower girl dresses, prom dresses and any other special occasion gown
you can think of. I live and breathe
high fashion, design and I love every moment.
You can Read the Review, too and Buy the Book, here as well.
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