A Rhyming Backyard Adventure
Children's Book
Date Published: September 2023
Meet Twiggy! He loves to explore with his family finding treasures to store before winter. Fall is ending, and Twiggy finds a soft and fuzzy treasure to keep him warm during colder days. Unknown to him, it belongs to a girl searching for her favorite lost sock. Find out what happens when Twiggy and the girl come face to face. How will they cope with their complex emotions about the situation and each other?
Interview
Introduce yourself and
tell me about what you do.
Renée
DeVincent is a Kansas-based graphic designer, illustrator, and writer. Her
professional writing journey began in grant and technical writing shortly after
earning her M.Ed. in Counseling. Transitioning from this field to embrace the
role of a stay-at-home mom, she further cultivated her passion for crafting
fictional short stories, literature, and fine art, ultimately culminating in a
degree in Graphic Design. Her love for writing and illustrating grew as she
read stories to her daughters, propelling her to write and illustrate her debut
Children's Book, 'Twiggy and the Lost Socks.' Renée believes reading and
storytelling are powerful ways to connect with others and foster a lifelong
love of learning. Using a lighthearted rhyming style, inspired by nature, Renée
uses her colorful illustrations and writing to self-awareness, responsibility,
positive relationships, and a solid character.
Tell me more about your
journey as an author, including the writing processes?
My journey as an author and illustrator has been an exciting
exploration of creativity and self-discovery, stemming from a childhood
immersed in books and art due to my family's frequent relocations in the
military. This early passion grew over the years through formal learning and
dedicated practice. The desire to inspire young minds through my stories and
art was sparked while reading to my children, ultimately driving me to embark
on my writing journey. When my children were older, I had the time and courage
to publish and illustrate my debut book, Twiggy and the Lost Socks.
My creative process is a fusion of inspiration and
structure. Starting with a resonating idea, I visualize the narrative and
illustrations concurrently. After a solid mental foundation, I delve into
outlining and meticulous research. I like spontaneously creating, experimenting
with different approaches, and writing sections out of sequence. Revision plays
a pivotal role; I iterate through numerous cycles, refining language, enhancing
storytelling, and gathering insights from trusted beta readers.
When illustrations come into play, they offer a visual
dimension to the narrative. This process is tightly intertwined with the
story's development. I decide where visuals can enhance the experience,
sketching and refining compositions while carefully selecting mediums for each
piece.
Throughout this journey, I've understood the profound impact
of storytelling in forging deep connections with readers. Realizing my words
and art can inspire, educate, and entertain is humbling. Each stage of my
creative process has illuminated facets of my identity, my craft, and the
remarkable influence of stories in shaping the world.
Tell me about your Book
Renée's debut book Twiggy and the Lost Socks is a story that
illustrates personal growth, kindness, and the importance of understanding and
connecting with those around us. It is a tale about a young squirrel who,
through his experiences exploring, learns how to overcome his emotions to
become the best possible version of himself, marked by empathy, bravery, and
love for others.
Any message for our
readers - I would think this message would change based on the
audience, however, here is some promotional information. Please let me know if
this isn't what you need here.
Renée has a new monthly newsletter — WildDays. Your backyard
wildlife education hub! Where you can discover the wonders of your backyard
neighbors. Get free, engaging activities such as art tutorials, word searches,
crossword puzzles, and coloring pages for ages 3-9.
The newsletter features Renee's new BLOG — The Wild Truth. Empower kids with knowledge. Uncover truths, debunk myths, and learn to nurture our vibrant backyard ecosystems.
Story - I am still trying to figure out this question. Is it
the same as #3? Here is another version of my book description. If it is just
the title you want it is: Twiggy and the Lost Socks: A Backyard Adventure.
Meet Twiggy! He loves to explore with his family, finding
treasures to store before winter. Fall is ending, and Twiggy finds a soft and
fuzzy treasure to keep him warm during colder days. Unknown to him, it belongs
to a girl searching for her favorite lost sock. Find out what happens when
Twiggy and the girl come face to face. How will they cope with their complex
emotions about the situation and each other?
About the Author
Renée DeVincent was born on an Army Base in Savannah GA. Her passion for reading and creativity developed at a young age. Growing up in a military family and moving frequently, books and art became a source of comfort and escape. Later in life, she embarked on her writing career, grant and technical writing, shortly after receiving her M.Ed. in Counseling. At the same time, she continued to develop her passion for fictional short stories, literature, and art, leading her to get an AAS degree in Graphic Design.
Reading books to her daughters inspired her to write and illustrate her first Children's Book, Twiggy and the Lost Socks. Renée believes reading and storytelling are powerful ways to connect with others and foster a love of learning. Using a lighthearted rhyming style, inspired by nature, Renée uses her colorful illustrations and writing to encourage self-awareness, responsibility, positive relationships, and a solid character.
Currently, Renée resides in the heart of Kansas with her two children and supportive husband of 30 years. When not writing or creating art, Renée loves to spend time with her garden, nature, the outdoors, and her many fur babies. Hazel the Doberman and Milo the Ragdoll cat, provide many hours of writing inspiration.
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