Author entrusts illustrations with local eighth grader
Published 7:02 pm Monday, April 9, 2018
Leah Robinson chose to take a risk.
While looking for an illustrator for her new children’s book “Anitra Meets a TV News Anchor,” she decided to entrust the artwork to an eighth grader. Ashlynn Palmer, who attends the Academy of Innovation, handled all 19 drawings for the book, which was released in late March with Palmer’s drawings gracing the cover and many of the pages inside.
What started as a risk has blossomed into a partnership that Robinson says she hopes will last through all 10 planned Anitra books.
“I was excited, but naturally hesitant,” Robinson said of working with Palmer. “She did such a wonderful job. They always say it is a risk in life and it was a great risk and reward. Ashlynn is a great illustrator and I am so glad that I allowed her to work with me and that she is able and willing to work with me. I definitely look forward to our continued work in the future.”
The book follows a girl named Anitra as she takes a tour of a TV newsroom and meets one of the anchors. By watching how the anchor deals with challenges at work, Anitra learns the value of being professional and how to handle herself at work.
“This series came about because I see there is a lack of professionalism in the workplace,” Robinson said. “I feel like our young people need to know that if our leadership is not necessarily showing us the way, we need to have other resources so we know how to conduct ourselves at work and in the public and school.”
Robinson said she was struggling to find an illustrator to complete the project after writing the book when she was introduced to Palmer through a friend. After meeting Palmer and seeing her work, Robinson hired Palmer to do the artwork for the book.
“She looked at my art and said she loved it a lot and she sent me a packet of things to draw for the book and the plot of the book,” Palmer said. “At first it was hard because I was in the middle of cross country and all that type of stuff so I had to find time in my schedule. It took about three months for me to find time and sit down and draw. I would have to do two drawings every week.”
Palmer said she was “amazed” when she saw the final product with her original art and name on the cover.
“I didn’t know it would get this far,” Palmer said. “I didn’t expect that I would draw that good in the book. Sometimes, I will be in my moods where I don’t feel like drawing at my best and other times I do. When it comes to drawing for her and the book, I really like the book a lot so I put my best effort into it.”
Palmer said she has already began working the drawings for the second book which will follow Anitra as she meets a basketball player.