Sounds simple? It took 10 years. Patience really is a virtue!

I am definitely not an illustrator, the person I wanted was someone who, when they read the Rainbow Lorikeet stories, they saw the pictures in their head as I did. Because I had seen the Lorikeets and their antics in real life, I knew I’d have to be patient. I started by asking for a sample of a Lorikeet with attitude. This is the how the search went.

1. The first person I spoke to was my daughter Kelly. She did a fabulous picture in coloured pencil of two lorikeets on a branch waking up. The illustration was exactly what I had imagined, Kelly had other ideas for her career and illustrating wasn’t one of them.
2. The second person I discussed the books with had a demanding job, but agreed to have a go. The draft illustration was good but not as realistic as I had imagined. As it happened, the person’s job changed and there would be no time to commit to the project.
3. The third person was already doing paintings which were very popular, unfortunately, again would have been a challenge to do both.
4. Number four had fantastic ideas for the illustrations, the initial draft was really good, unfortunately she became ill, moved away and was unable to continue.
5. The fifth person did some amazing illustrations and the Lorikeet with attitude was excellent, due to a demanding young child and running a business, the timing wasn’t great.
6. Person six, the illustrations were exactly what I had imagined, unfortunately, again due to time constraints, commitments etc. didn’t work out.
7. Number seven. My dear friend and former employer, Joy Bowers showed me some drawings that were done by the daughter of a person who works where Joy lives. Joy set up a meeting for me to meet the daughter after school. I met Lilly with her mother and discussed the possibility of her doing a draft of a Lorikeet with attitude? Lilly a shy, humble girl agreed to have a go. I will never forget the first picture, how she captured Lawrence. I knew then, Lilly could make my stories into colourful pictures. Because Lilly was still at school, I didn’t want her to neglect her school work to do my project. We agreed to go ahead with the first story at her own pace. The Illustrations for book 1 took 12 months to complete.

I am so grateful to Joy for taking an interest in my stories and introducing me to Lilly.