The Unpredictable Evolution Of A New Adult Colouring Book

Sometimes when we inquire of the Lord; He gives the most unexpected answers. I always find it is a good idea to listen, no matter how strange it may seem at the time. Recently, I questioned if He wanted me to continue in publishing.  I was financially stretched and it was demanding too much time from my family. I was in conflict. I knew He had initially called me to it, but the expenses outweighed the meager returns and I was tired. Should I continue? I knew I was touching lives with existing books but it was the 11th hour in practical terms. I hoped God would unveil new secure work opportunities and continue to use the existing books. What I heard was strange.

He told me to play; adopt the idea of creative exploration with no itinerary for a season. I had a sense that I may not earn anything for a time - to let go and trust. You’d think exploring creativity more freely would have been music to my ears, but I was disillusioned by the result of my efforts. Never the less, C’est la vie - I began to celebrate His instruction, decline most invitations for work and began to play.

Knowing what gives us joy

I experienced a relief as the demand lifted and began to get excited. A few things animated me; patterns, sketching in ink, hand lettering and typography. I challenged myself and questioned why I hadn’t adopted it before now. Around the same time I began sharing my illustrated church notes publicly. I was incredibly reluctantly at first but, it became easier as I saw God using my notes-powerfully! I began to combine all these areas in a daily indulgence of heavenly bliss!
A new illustration style blossomed, replicating elaborate line art suitable for adults colouring book illustrations. Friends began suggesting I make my work more accessible and to create a colouring book for adults.

I then realised what God was doing. His instruction lost some of its mystery. He loves to turn our passions into something special. He is also more interested in obedience than sacrifice. I couldn’t see a kingdom purpose but I could see a people purpose and that was enough for me. I also felt loved by His blessing my down time.

I began creating a colouring book as a collaborative experience. This colouring book would encourage others by combining affirming words and illustrations. Apart from scripture, these are the kind of words I incorporate into my life and enjoy blessing others with. The whole process was playful, exciting and invitational to everyone no matter what faith.

His way is the best and blessed way

Thankfully I have been blessed with pre-orders. I’m yet to see how successful the book will be financially but already seeing the joy it’s will bring others. The excitement from the community already has been electrifying. Should this be financial success I am planning eye surgery. I’m open to a miracle for my sight but if the funds become available through this book, it is laser surgery for me! Either way, metaphorically, it’s open my eyes to many lessons and blessings.

It’s my hope that the audience from this book draws more attention to other wonderful Christian books. It’s good for community to know Christians love creating books that build the health of our community and are not all are bible stories.

Positively Quote Colouring Book is unique. It is the first to be printed in beautiful sepia lines for an authentic artistic finish. The colouring book is A4 so illustrations can be inexpensively framed as gifts to encourage friends or displayed as reflections to encourage your own family. I pray it blesses you or a friend more now you know a little about the creation of it. More details here: http://kayleenwest.com.au/portfolio/shop/crafts-and-activities/positively-quote-colouring-book/

Kayleen West is a children's book Author and Illustrator from Victoria. 

Her picture books include Adoptive Father, Without Me?, Better Than A Superhero and Celia and Nonna

Her portfolio can be seen at: www.kayleenwest.com.au

Okay, It's THAT Time!

What happened to my day - where did it go?  Sound familiar?

This a head-shaking question I ask myself all too often, usually as my phone alarm resounds a bothersome ‘STOP what you are doing and get the kids from school Mrs Author/Illustrator MUM!’ 

Then there are the times I notice my work day creep into ‘THAT’ time.  You know - THAT time, which is apparently important to the three hungry wolves sniffing at the door dividing my work area and the kitchen. I hear sounds not dissimilar to that of my companion toy poodle – Boaz, when separated from his first love (me). The whimpering and sniffing noises inevitably invade my space and interrupt my concentration.  Their tummies on a timer and smack on time too!

My mind is reluctant to free itself from the allure of the word-littered screen or pencil lines on paper, but sensing something akin to a Myer Stock Take Sale crowd about to burst through my studio door, I’m reminded of the demands of motherhood and its associated time restraints.  The will impedes the process and the battle of right and left side of the brain begins.  

I feel the shift but it returns long enough to envisage my 3 little wolves (the little pigs arrive only after food is served) licking the kitchen side handle and possibly devouring it any moment.  “Sorry kids I didn’t notice the time, I’m coming, just one more ...” …  STOP!  I switch worlds and land on the left side of the brain with a jolt.  

Ah the delights of working from home.  At least my kiddies (mostly) honour the boundaries of mum’s creative space – it only took 3 years to instil in them!

But isn’t it wonderful to have a job that captures us so much? Don’t get me wrong, I love my family time, but I love my job too.  I don’t know about you, but I have spent too much of my life waisted on the mediocre, feeling void of life when my creative inner self is kept on hold for too long.  There was a time I stopped creating but God’s Spirit told me to use the gift I was given so I searched for the direction through Him.  But once started, I soon saw His lead and got very excited.  Turning off the visionary mind isn’t easy.  Fuelled and motioned by enthusiasm it builds like steam in a pressure cooker.  

As I microwave my coffee a third time I thought, there is something about creativity that gratifies our soul and is a necessary in our life.  Is it because we are made in the image of a creator?

 

“Mum, is it dinner time yet?”
Whoops  – “Sorry, I’m coming now!”

Kayleen West is a children's book Author and Illustrator from Victoria. Her new picture book Adoptive Father can be found at www.adoptivefather.org

Her portfolio can be seen at: www.kayleenwest.com.au

Australian Flavour

Today, Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are visiting our small town of Longreach, in the QLD outback.  It is hot here (40C hot), it is often dusty, there are always flys, and McDonalds is a good four hour drive away.  However you will never find more friendly people. You cannot walk past someone in the main street and not nod your head and smile in greeting.  The businesses are thriving, and people know how to make their own fun. When the royal couple descend upon our humble town they will be treated to a welcome they will not forget in a hurry, and a BBQ with many from the local community.  Those attending the BBQ were also given a list of etiquette rules as long as your arm, but their country charm will still shine through.

As Australian authors we have our own flavor flavour.  We should be so proud that our writing does not blend so easily with the international market. Our work has a unique and zesty freshness that once tested cannot go by unnoticed.  Australian authors are beginning to break through in the market place, due to the hard work of many persistent and enthusiastic authors and their publishers. This coupled with God's blessing for His Kingdom's work more than promises our success.  We are pioneers in essence, a rising tide of Christian voices that refuses to be squelched or knocked back for long. The more we write, the more we fight, preparing the way for future voices to be heard. I am honoured to be a part of such a community of inspirational people, who are obediently using their gifts for God's glory.  A special blessing for each of you:

 

May your heart be at peace and with knowledge of purpose.  May your mind be filled with all manner of inspiration and stories yet to be told.  May your words be sent far and wide in print, to countries you yet to set foot upon. May your work and profit be multiplied according to God's riches. 

Nicole Watson
Facebook Author Page
Facebook-Sam's Heart
www.samsheart.com.au

A Jigsaw versus a Body

When my family arrived in Australia (almost 14 years ago now), one of the first things we did was to hunt for a church to join. Every Sunday, we’d visit a different church. Having worshipped in the Baptist church since my husband and I were married, we were drawn to three Baptist churches in the area. One was very large, one was very small and one was in between. After some thought and prayer and several visits, we felt that the Tea Tree Gully Baptist church would suit our little family best.

The people were friendly and welcoming. We enjoyed the worship. The children’s programs were great – an important consideration for our eight year old son. A wide range of ages was represented in the flock, from bonnie bouncing babies to wise white-haired elders. And yes, the size of the church was just right! Our first years there were happy ones and I soon made a few friends. Every Sunday morning after service, I sipped my morning cup of tea while enjoying a blessed time of fellowship with them.

The services strengthened me greatly in my faith and so I looked forward to my Sunday mornings. One Sunday, I looked for my friends but they weren’t to be found. To my consternation, I heard that they had decided to leave TTGBC. I was very sad. I’d grab my cuppa and look for someone else to chat to – but often I’d not find anyone. My cup of morning tea didn’t taste the same.

It was embarrassing to hang around sipping tea, while around me swarmed lots of chattering people. I rate myself as friendly rather than unfriendly, but I can be painfully shy. I hate to butt into other people’s conversations. And so – I started to feel very lonely in church. A misfit. A bit like the piece needed to finish a jigsaw puzzle but the wrong shape, size and colour for it! I have to admit that there followed a period of several years, when I was often tempted to leave our church.

Why did I stay on? Simply because each time I wanted to leave and sought God about it, He said ‘No’. And who was I to resist God?

Some years later our church moved. Guess where! Right near our home. We now had less than a five minute walk to get to church. What luxury! We loved the new building – a modern spacious one. It was situated right next door to my son’s school. How easy it was to get there. Very simple too to get to my volunteer job at church, now only a hop step and a jump away unlike the earlier 1 ½ hours away by bus. Wonderful!

Little by little I got to know the church folks and they me. I began to make friends. When we went through difficult seasons, our pastors blessed us greatly by their support, their encouragement and their prayers. I became very active as a church volunteer as we ministered to the community. I began to feel a delicious sense of belonging. I didn’t even mind if I had no one to talk to after service. But you know what? I usually found plenty of people to chat to, with our without my tea cup in hand!

Yes, I finally belonged. It was an awesome feeling. How thankful I was to God that He didn’t allow me to leave when I pestered Him about it. How thankful that I’d obeyed Him. I thanked God that my church, its pastors, its flock and it’s worship had added much richness into my life.

We writers are part of a Christian Writing Community aren’t we? Do we need each other? Yes, of course we do. Yes, you and I do need each other. And you know, collectively we can make a far bigger difference to our world far more than we could ever do as individuals. At church last Sunday, the sermon spoke clearly to me. The preacher talked about the difference between fitting in and in belonging.

She said that if we try to ‘fit in’, it means we need to change.
But if we “belong” it means that we may come as we are.

Isn’t that lovely? We writers belong. We don’t need to change who we are or what we do. We don’t need to “fit in” to a jigsaw puzzle of writers. One of us might write romance stories; another mystery novels. One might write non fiction and one may write short stories. One writer may be a children’s writer while another writes YA novels. It doesn’t matter that we don’t all write the same genre of books. In fact, it’s preferable we don’t. We need variety in the body. That way, we can fulfil the niche in the Christian market by joining together to provide the variety of books that are needed to serve our world.

Do you feel you belong? In your family, in your community, in your church and in our writer’s group? Belonging is such a vital part of life. We were all made to belong.

A jisaw puzzle has to fit in just right. The pieces have to be exactly the correct shape, the right pattern, the right colour. Thankfully God has not called us to be a giant jigsaw puzzle. No, He has called us to be a body – each with a special function. We all have diferent aspects of life to bring to the body. As individuals we contribute. Through our strengths; through our backgrounds; through our experiences; through our knowledge; through our writing; through our giftings; through our walk with God.

If one person suffers, we all suffer. If one rejoices, we all rejoice.

1 Corinthians 12 reminds us that we are all important in the body of Christ. The eye cannot say it doesn’t need the foot. The hand cannot say it doesn’t care about the kidney. The nose cannot say the ear is not important. We have all been touched by His grace and redeemed. Redeemed to sing the praises of Him who called us all out of darkness into His marvellous light.

Do you sometimes feel a misfit? Please remember that you don’t need to change your ‘shape’ to fit in. In the Kingdom of God, everyone belongs. It’s a promise from the Master Himself. And He's the head of the body isn't He? He should know!

Yes, my friend, you can come as you are. You belong!


Anusha loves playing with the English Language and also loves connecting with people. She's blessed to be part of this wonderful writing community Down under who seek to lift God's name through what we were created to do. You will see her sitting on her garden swing enjoying God's creation, typing away at her much loved computer or drinking in the beauty of her world as she walks around her beautiful neighbourhood.

You can also visit her at her website Dancing in the Rain:
http://anusha-atukorala.webnode.com/blog/

Her first book 'Enjoying the Journey' was published in June 2010. She hopes there will be many more hitting the bookshelves in the not too distant future!