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This is the story of "Parasol Adventures," the second children's book written by Orinda resident Lindy Novak. The high-quality book, written in rhyme with beautiful, brightly colored illustrations by Sue Jensen, an Orinda native, is a whimsical tale sure to enchant 3- to 7-year-olds.
Novak's first book, "Red," is equally delightful. "I love red so much! Oh, what a color. All of the rest are just so much duller!" says the little boy who wants everything to be painted in his favorite color. Again featuring vivid drawings, "Red" was illustrated by Novak's then 11-year-old niece, Poppy Novak.
Admitting to once having had dreams of becoming a full-time children's author, Novak has learned just how hard the process is. "Red" and "Parasol Adventures" took approximately eight years from initial concept to publication with a local book printer, Edition One Books.
Novak has binders filled with ideas for future children's books, some almost completely written. She also has files of illustrations she likes and says she has done "rudimentary rough sketches" to go along with some of her plots. Her ideas come from a variety of sources. "Red" came to her simply because it's her favorite color. "Parasol Adventures" began from a retail clothing/home decor catalog which featured a beautiful photo of parasols floating upside down in water.
Neither Novak nor Jensen have children, but both admit to loving children's books and having their own collections. "The world of imagination is such a fun one," Novak proclaims. "There's something about transcending our everyday life and going someplace exciting and unexpected." Her affinity for rhymes "probably comes from my love of Dr. Seuss' clever style," she says. Additionally, her mother was known for writing poems for family and friends' celebrations and Novak proudly states that she is happy to carry on that tradition.
Her desire to write children's books came about years ago when she was involved in Read Aloud, a program started by a former neighbor. Novak volunteered to read to first-graders in Richmond. "It was often hard to keep the kids' attention," she recalls, so, being both an avid reader and writer herself, "I thought perhaps I could write something that would keep them interested and engaged." Working in her family's Napa Valley wine business, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard and Winery, left her little time to pursue this on a full-time basis. So she filled binders with her ideas.
Novak and Jensen were sorority sisters at UCLA. Novak transferred to UC Berkeley and she and Jensen lost touch. As luck would have it, they reconnected at a sorority reunion many years later and discovered they had much in common, including an interest in writing and in kids books. Jensen, a talented artist, had, at one point, taught art to preschoolers. She had also been working on her own children's book. "So, we decided to jump off the cliff together," Jensen laughingly declares, and elected to collaborate on "Parasol Adventures," with Jensen creating whimsical, colorful watercolors to accompany Novak's clever rhyming verses.
Novak creates the stories and often provides Jensen with some very rough sketches or magazine clippings of what she envisions the images should be. Jensen then runs with it, doing her own research. "I always want the illustrations to be just right," she states. "We knew the book had to have bright, compelling illustrations and be a fun story where kids wanted to turn the pages to learn what happens next," states Novak.
Neither women had prior experience writing, illustrating or publishing a book. They took classes, attended seminars and conferences and did their due diligence. "But," as Jensen acknowledges, "we were both flying by the seat of our pants at times, learning as we worked." It was a long process but, both agree, definitely a labor of love.
A paperback version of "Red" may be purchased on Amazon. A limited edition of hardbound copies of "Parasol Adventures," may be purchased for $30 (no dust jacket) and $35 (with dust jacket) by emailing parasoladventures@gmail.com.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA