Parkes has many talented people and two of them combined their creative powers to do something they have never done before – writing and illustrating a children’s book. Erica Brazel and Jasmine Cole launched their book, I’m special and it shows from my head down to my toes, at the Parkes Library last Saturday.
“It is a book to help children learn more about their different body parts, from their head to their toes ad all the bits in between,” said Erica, mother of three boys. She started writing the book about five years ago when her eldest was two years old.
In response to a question of where the idea came from, she said the honest answer was in the shower and it was as a tune. “I never intended to publish the book, and if it was not for Jasmine I would never have done it.”
Erica and Jasmine are friends from church. Jasmine does drawing for a hobby and ventured onto new ground illustrating a book. “The first time Jasmine showed me her drawings for the book, I started crying,” said Erica.
Although it took Erica five years to see her first book published as she was doing it herself, she has since written six more books. “I have done a book about dads who sometimes work away from home, as my husband had to do FIFO (Fly In Fly Out). I am keen to see this one published too.
Shellie Buckle of the Parkes Library said it was very exciting to be hosting the launch. “We look forward to adding the book to our collection.” Erica grew up in Lake Cargelligo and moved to Parkes when she was 14. After living in Canberra, Sydney and Newcastle until 2008, she moved back with her husband to have their family.
By Maggi Barnard