I wrote and illustrated my first story when I was seven. It had a plot, dialogue, rising tension, and a surprise ending. I was hooked. I knew from that moment on I wanted to write and illustrate my own stories. Back then I had no idea I’d have to sell them to make a living.
After graduating college, I moved back to Denver and wrote my first fantasy novel. When everyone else went to sleep, I moved out to my parent’s camper and wrote all night. In the morning, I’d read my new chapters out loud over breakfast and then would go to bed, thus cementing that I am a certified night owl.
That first novel taught me a valuable lesson. It’s much easier to have a plot and character(s) before starting a story. I’m not a pantser. I’m an outliner.
I took an eight-year detour into the oil industry before deciding it was time to make a career in publishing. I got an Associate degree in commercial art as I thought I’d have an easier time breaking in as an artist since I hadn’t had luck selling my stories. Of course, you have to be consistent about querying your work before selling it, but who can take all that rejection? Luckily, it was easier selling my art.
I illustrated two books, On the River, ABC and Mountain Meadow, 1,2,3, both by Caroline Stutson and both finalists for the Colorado Book Award. A third book, A, B, See Colorado, by Claudia McAdam, was another finalist for the Colorado Book Award. I combined my illustrations with John Fielder’s photography through Photoshop. Eventually his photographs overtook my illustrations in the story about a homesick llama learning to love the Colorado mountains while carrying John’s camera equipment.
I got a job at Shortland Publications, a New Zealand educational publisher, where I learned book design and prepress. In 2000 I became a freelance writer and illustrator, writing 24 grade school readers and illustrating about 40 books for educational publishers. I have also designed and handled the prepress for several hundred books.
Nowadays, I make my living helping people self-publish their books, approximately 40 so far. Three of which have won CAL Awards. I edit, sometimes ghost-write, illustrate, design, and oversee the publication of their books, from children’s picture books to adult fiction and nonfiction self-help. The most successful was The Big Eclipse, a picture book which sold over 30,000 copies.
I’ve edited and illustrated three books so far this year. Two are picture books: Sparkle Power, by Jeanne Svobodny, about siblings learning to deal with school bullies (featuring my dog, Tucker in the illustrations); and Lexie and Little Ant, by Nancy Bentley, where a girl and ant meet each other in a meadow. The third, also by Nancy Bentley, is a middle grade historical novel called Out of the Shadows—after a stranger shows up, Ona is shipped off to spend the summer with her Lithuanian relatives in 1955 rural Pennsylvania.
I love being able to bring other people’s work to life so that it shines. In addition, I mentor writers privately and through RMC-SCBWI’s mentor program. I also have a number of my own books making the rounds looking for a home…whenever I get around to querying them.
You can see my work at https://annamariacrum.com/wp/.