The Making of Eliza

“Read it again! Read it again!”

My sister Sydne and I would chant as my Mom would read her poetry out loud to us, snuggled up in her bed. Her children’s poems made us laugh until our sides ached. She had such a wild sense of humor, a beautiful spirit. She wrote nonsense poems often inspired by my sister and I doing the darndest, little kid things.

My mom always dreamed of getting her work illustrated and published. I think she even sent it in a few publishers to no avail. In 2010, however, she was diagnosed with cancer. Our whole life came tumbling down and all our priorities shifted. It didn’t help that my parents had just gotten divorced a few years prior, and then she was laid off from the job she loved before the diagnosis. Talk about a whirlwind that left us wondering what was next. She fought for three long, hard, years and passed away in 2013.

My mom was one of the best people I’ve ever known. She looked after people, “mama bird” we’d call her. She naturally watched out for lost kids especially, taking them under her wing. Loss is a funny thing, it’s been over ten years since she left us, and yet I still think about her every day, still mourn, still wish she could be here especially in the big moments, my wedding, to meet my husband, help welcome my baby into the world. I have faith she is here still, in her own way.

Now, so many years later, I decided enough was enough. It was high time to get her work out in the world. My husband, my greatest supporter, told me I should invest in an ipad and drove me to the apple store to get one. I was so nervous, spending that kind of money on something for myself is not something I’m used to. He held my hand a long the way and reminded me it was not just for me, but for my Mom too.

I cried in the car holding it in my lap, and cried the first time I drew something in procreate. It came so natural, it was something I’d wanted for so long. Over the next six months I spent learning illustration, procreate and designing Eliza Picklepear. Since, I’ve been navigating the world of self publishing and children’s books. I simply cannot wait to get this book out into the world and share the joy it brought to us, with others.

Me and Mom

As I wait patiently for this book to come out, I am so grateful for people like you coming out of the woodwork to support it. It means so much to me and my whole family. I ask you keep the spirit of Sherri Jackson alive, in the moments you laugh and tell funny stories, the moments you sip a warm drink to the sound of a thunder storm, or take a lost oyung soul under your wing.

Thank you, from all of us.

Love,

Hailey Lioness xoxo