We recently had the chance to connect with Starrie Sky and have shared our conversation below.
Starrie , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me right now, always begins with waking up to natural light in the morning, then making myself a french press coffee in the morning. After that, I like to go for a run at the gym, that always clears my head for a fresh day.
Then, I’ll get in some drawing, and make notes for my next book. Living in LA, the weather is usually pretty amazing, so I like to do a lot of my drawing outside on my balcony. Evenings, usually consist of meeting with friends or walking around the unique neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a published author of the Adventures in Cutie Patootie Land children’s series. There a four books in the series, and three
more in the works.
I hand draw all of the illustrations in my series, including all of the cover art. I love to draw! I always use colored pencils for my illustrations, I really love their natural, grainy effect. I am a lefty…I always say: Rule number one, there are no straight lines in Cutie Patootie Land!
I am also currently creating an entirely new series. The concept of this series is for a more mature audience, still in that youthful genre, but with a mysterious and airy storyline, that you just can’t put your finger on…and you keep coming back for more. I am so excited about this new concept, I can’t wait to share more as it unfolds!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Truthfully, I have always been a writer and an artist. I started writing stories and plays as soon as I learned how to read and write.
I remember writing my first story in Kindergarten about a flower. which was a rose, named Tulip. And Tulip never fit in with any of the other roses.
In first grade, I wrote my first poem, which won an award in my class for most creative. I have always enjoyed creative writing, bringing characters and places to life.
The love of art came a bit later. I was always drawing as a kid, but I really didn’t tap into it until I started a theater design course years later. One of my projects included creating costume designs for the characters in the play my class was based on. I remember having no idea how to draw something specific, I had never taken an art class (still haven’t!), so I had never drawn anything like that before. At first, I was struggling and frustrated. Then I remembered, it’s ok to make mistakes, that is what erasers are for. Just that little tip, changed everything. Once I realized that, my love for drawing bloomed!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
The mid point of writing my first book! Halfway into writing, and this doubt of “this is boring…I’m never going to finish” and “…Is this even good?” started creeping in.
I just had to push through it. Luckily, it didn’t last long. For me, I hit the challenge of looking at how far I have to go. That was very intimidating, rather than taking it one chapter at a time, or one page, one paragraph…even one sentence! As soon as I trained my brain, that I don’t have to crank out an entire book in one day, the writing flowed. It’s ok to step away for a while, and come back later. Refreshed, and ready to write!
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That you have to conform to the trending themes. This is so not true! Art is created from rule breaking, from word of mouth, from that niche enigma that always goes overlooked. It’s the ones that notice, they are your audience. They are the ones that push you forward, that change the narrative, that give you the silent encouragement to keep creating. That’s the real magic.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Of course! It is more important for me to know I gave something my all, than someone else. I always try to give everything I do 1,000% Even if things I do, go unrecognized, I feel good knowing I gave it my all, whatever it may be!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://StarrieSky.com
- Instagram: @starrieskybooks
- Twitter: @starrieskybooks
- Facebook: @starrieskybooks
Image Credits
Ashley Paul
