Once upon a time: a year later

This Thanksgiving Weekend there is so much to be thankful for, but today I would like to focus on one item on my list.

You may remember about a year ago, as a senior in college with many reasons to avoid growing up, I traded my crayons and coloring books for a sharpie in my day planner. Thanksgiving weekend, 2011 I told you all I was going to write and illustrate a fairy tale.

So here is my one year check-in. The fairy tale lives on.  Actually, it has its own blog. I would love to share the adventure with you. 

page six: in need of a hero

project storybook: a villain.

"Now, Adeline's shadow was a wretched one indeed. Unlike your shadow, who stays tightly attached to your feet, Adeline's shadow stayed tightly attached to all of her being.

At first, things were fine. Adeline and her shadow shared the day, and her shadow took the night. But soon, Shadow decided she deserved everything- and slowly, Shadow began to take it.

Adeline was drowning in the darkness. She was in dire need of a hero, but I didn't know where to look."

A FAIRY-TALE FORMULA.

snow white > evil witch
repunzel > evil witch
sleeping beauty > evil witch
adeline > shadow witch
peter pan > captain hook
harry potter > voldemort

i realized something today. all the books i read, all the stories i tell, all of the fairy tales i dream about, they follow a basic formula. in the beginning- life is grand. then- life gets hard. next- a bad guy enters the picture. a little magic helps the good guy defeat the bad guy. and in the end- they all live happily ever after.

and, i think, thats how it must be in life. because the bad guys dont come out on top. the good guys do. after a lot of trial, some error, and a little magic. they always do. and that is something magical to have learned.

Page five: everyone has a shadow

"Adeline said it was her shadow.

'I don't know my darling. It just came. Everyone has a shadow. You told me that.'

But it wasnt her shadow. It couldn't have been. One day when I went to meet Adeline in her wooden castle amongst the trees, her face was cloudy & her eyes were dull. She said that over the night her shadow hadn't left."

(sketch inspiration courtesy of igorandandre.blogspot.com)

page four: the bow

It is the busiest time of year- for everyone, especially students. As a college senior I am currently in the midst of my FINAL winter finals. But, with a quick study break, here is page four:

"When we met, Adeline was wearing a bow. She wore that bow everyday that I saw her. She was so pretty. Sometimes I would pinch myself to see if she were real. But every pinch left her there, laughing like the church bells.

Everything was perfect.

& then one day its wasn't."

page three: she was from a dream

A return to my story book, and our couple's fateful meeting.
"We met under a rainbow, or perhaps a shooting star. I can't remember much because the moment that I saw Adeline smile is the moment my life really began. Oh I loved her so. Adeline was my dream, and I think she was from a dream. Her feet didn't touch the ground when she walked. Lights always shined brighter in her midst. Everyone loved her, but Adeline had her hand wrapped around my heart."
(sketch inspiration from igorandandre.blogspot.com)

Page two: I am just a man.

Meet my narrator:

"My name is Benjamin Button. I am not a knight in shining armor. i am no prince charming. I am just a man, a man with a big heart & a hardy laugh. Adeline tells me that my eyes sparkle when I smile - but she always says that kind of thing. I work hard, I help people when I can and I devote my world to making a happy place for my love to live."

page one: this is a story.

And so begins my storybook. The moral I have decided to teach- courage and perseverance, and- love.

"This is a story about a girl & her shadow. Both of their names were Adeline. Adeline was a happy girl, loved by all for her heart of gold & pearly smile. When she looked at you- your world stood still. & when she touched your arm- you were on fire. This is the story about the love of my life."

Once upon a time.

My dream? I have many: to be a businesswoman, a bride, a marathoner, a mother, a painter, an artist and an author. That last one is what this post is about. I've had it in my head for the last couple of months that I am going to let the world know my name by writing and illustrating my own children story books - a fairy tale, if I may. Today, with the rain patting the skylights at my parents house, I begin. Hopefully you guys can watch my story grow. Hopefully- I can watch my story grow.
Anyway, bon voyage, I'm starting my once upon a time.
Lots of love, always; annebelle