A Cover Page & A Big Step Forward

Sometimes the smallest moments lead to the biggest breakthroughs.

Not too long ago, I was scrolling through a Facebook group I’m a part of for children’s book authors when I came across another author sharing her finished book. I couldn’t stop looking at the illustrations. The style, the warmth, the way the artwork brought her story to life — it instantly stuck with me. I remember thinking, That’s it. That’s the feeling I want for my book.

So, I did a little digging and I discovered Dileema Medonza, a children’s book illustrator from Sri Lanka. I reached out, and crossed my fingers. I’m so happy (and still a little amazed) that it worked out — I found the illustrator, connected with her, and she will officially be starting the illustrations for my entire project in March.

Dileema’s path to illustration is such a beautiful reminder that it’s never too late to follow what truly lights you up. Although she holds a degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from the University of Ruhuna and began her career working as a director in her family’s company, art has always been her true passion. Since childhood, she spent her free time mastering pencil portraits and oil paintings, quietly nurturing the creative path she would one day fully step into.

In 2023, Dileema made the courageous decision to pursue her love for art full-time. Through discovering digital illustration, she found a way to blend her creativity with her career goals, ultimately specializing in children’s book illustrations. Since then, she has collaborated with authors from all over the world, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland. Her work is known for its emotional expressions, attention to detail, and vibrant color palettes that truly bring stories to life.

I feel incredibly grateful to be partnering with Dileema on "On the Way Back: A Discovery of Nature". Knowing how much heart she pours into her work makes me even more excited to see these pages come alive for the children who will one day hold this book in their hands.

Seeing the cover page illustration come together has been such a special moment and makes this whole dream feel even more real.

Check out her portfolio https://dmedonza.com/portfolio/ I can't wait for mine to be listed on her website someday soon.

At this point, the editing for the story itself is complete. Once the illustrations are underway and the words are placed into the spreads, I’ll be sending the full book back to my editor for one final look-over before we move into the next phase. It feels really good to be reaching this stage of the process and seeing all the pieces slowly come together.

I’ve continued reading my little prototype copy to all of my different Sprout & Blossom enrichment classes, and the kids have absolutely loved it — especially the interactive flaps with extra information and learning sprinkled throughout the book. I’ve asked them follow-up questions after reading, and it’s been so encouraging to see how clearly they understand the message the book is trying to convey. Those moments remind me exactly why I wanted to create this book in the first place.

I’ve also had several of my educator friends read through the story, and their feedback has been incredibly helpful and affirming. Having thoughtful, honest eyes on the project has helped me feel confident about the direction the book is going.

As I look ahead, I can’t help but dream a little bigger. I imagine school visits as a children’s book author, sharing this story with students, and hopefully seeing the book find a home in nature centers, gift shops, local bookstores, and toy stores that carry books. I would love to get this into the hands of educators as a way to encourage more outdoor time, curiosity about nature, and maybe even develop some simple lesson plans to go along with it. There are a lot of big dreams swirling around in my head right now — and while I know each step takes time, I’m feeling really excited about the path ahead.

Thank you for being here and following along on this journey.