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An overwhelmingly positive reaction at a Mahurangi East Library forum for creative writers has inspired a Snells Beach woman to write her first children’s picture book.
Isabella van Hulten, 57, says attendees at the Winter Words forum, held about a year ago, said her story A Friend for Amy deserved to be in print.
That encouragement set Isabella on a quest to find an illustrator. She eventually found one online – a Ukranian woman, Olena Kiptelaya.
Isabella says Olena has quite a story of her own to tell. She fled an abusive relationship and lives in a single room with her eight-year-old boy.
“At night when he is in bed, Olena draws and paints. I just loved how her pictures are so sweet and that’s what I wanted,” Isabella says.
A Friend for Amy, which is aimed at children aged two and a half to seven and a half, tells the story of a little girl who makes friends with the snow, rain and sun, but overlooks a good friend who was right beside her all along – the wind.
Isabella says the moral of the story is that there are always friends to be found, but you must be open to them.
Isabella says she has always loved writing but never really had time for it until she abandoned a busy lifestyle in Auckland and moved to Snells Beach.
“I think I will put out another book next year – but it’s more for the love of it than for anything else really,” she says.
A Friend for Amy is available at Pipi Gallery in Mangawhai and Coconut Gallery in Warkworth or by emailing Isabella, nzisabellanz@gmail.com.
Book Giveaway
Mahurangi Matters has one copy of A Friend for Amy to give away. To go in the draw, email editor@localmatters.co.nz. Competition closes Monday, November 30.
