The dream of writing a children's book about nature and the aspiration to illustrate children's books was a long road for author Elisabeth Hurley and illustrator Erin Sherman, but through the obstacles, both have collaborated on a children's book called “Digging Spring.”
Photo provided
Author Elisabeth Hurley and illustrator Erin Sherman are the local creators behind “Digging Spring.”
Author Elisabeth Hurley and illustrator Erin Sherman are the local creators behind “Digging Spring.”
“Digging Spring” is about a lonely little girl who discovers friends in her own backyard, as spring warms the earth. The book's main character, Ann, is welcomed into the world of flowers, bugs and birds. This weekend, Beth Miller, a story reader and performer for children, will read the book at Creekside Books & Coffee. Also, children can make “Digging Spring” pencil poppers after the book signing, and the pair will hold a question and answer period with the audience.
As a little girl in Germany, Hurley, 65, was greatly influenced by and felt a connection with nature. As a self described shy child, she would walk across the railroad tracks to a large tree by her home and watch butterflies and birds.
“I would write short essays in my mind about nature but I never wrote them down,” Hurley said.
It wouldn't be until retiring from working as the former director of alumni affairs for Cayuga Community College in 2006 that Hurley would have time to write the story that has been percolating in her mind since childhood.
Hurley came to the United States when she was 21. She lived in New York City for 30 years before settling in Skaneateles. “I have been working since I was 14 years old,” Hurley said. “I wasn't able to go to college until later on in my life.”
In 1989, she earned her bachelor's degree in comparative literature and in 1990 a master's in education from Fordham University. She also received an honorary alumna award from the CCC's Alumni Association. Hurley was a non-traditional student going to school and teaching full-time, often working on the weekends.
Hurley's love for reading and writing continued to grow as an adult in New York City. Hurley would read to neighborhood children.
“I love children, and I knew that I wanted to write for them,” she said. “I collected children's books from the 18th and 19th centuries and would give them away to children I knew as presents.”
Hurley was further inspired by her family consisting of her husband, three children and grandchild to finally write “Digging Spring.”
Hurley met Sherman through Nancy Kramer, an art professor at CCC, when she was looking to collaborate with an illustrator for her book idea. She called Sherman and the two women hit it off right away. Hurley sent Sherman the story, and Sherman sent Hurley some of her illustrations.
“Erin put into pictures exactly what I was saying,” Hurley said.
In her spare time Hurley loves to listen to the Saturday afternoon opera, learn about history and historical buildings, write poems and essays and work out at the gym.
Twenty-seven year old Sherman, of Weedsport, found it easy to illustrate for Hurley.
“It was easy to visualize her story,” she said.
Sherman graduated in 2001 from Cayuga Community College with a degree in studio art and design, and in 2003, she received a bachelor of arts degree in illustration from Rochester Institute of Technology. With the support of a Daniel C. Labeille Grant in 2004, 2006 and 2007, she was able to return to her former alma mater - CCC.
The grant allowed Sherman to show her work to students, answer their questions and give tips hoping to inspire them in their own work.
“I visited art classes and motivated students entering the art world,” Sherman said.
Her work is greatly influenced by textures courtesy of her mother, who was a quilter, allowing Sherman to grow up looking at and studying patterns.
Her interest in textures and incorporating them into her work is due to the advice she was given in college by art professionals.
“I was told that you have to have something in each illustration that you really enjoy to keep you going,” she said.
Her work in “Digging Spring” is also influenced from water colors. Sherman used to paint and study the look of this medium. She later moved on to doing things digitally thanks to the advancement of technology.
Sherman still works as a freelance graphic designer, usually working with local businesses designing business cards. Her professional dream and ambition is to continue working as an illustrator with children's books.
Her main priority in life is being a mother to her two daughters who are 5 and 2.
“I am a mommy first and an illustrator second,” she said proudly.
In her spare time Sherman loves to make jewelry as well as hiking and snowboarding with her husband, John, and two daughters.
If you go
What: “Digging Spring”
reading and book signing
Where: Creekside Books
& Coffee, 35 Fennell St., Skaneateles
When: 1 p.m. Saturday,
March 14
Cost: Free
For more information: Call 685-0379
As a little girl in Germany, Hurley, 65, was greatly influenced by and felt a connection with nature. As a self described shy child, she would walk across the railroad tracks to a large tree by her home and watch butterflies and birds.
“I would write short essays in my mind about nature but I never wrote them down,” Hurley said.
It wouldn't be until retiring from working as the former director of alumni affairs for Cayuga Community College in 2006 that Hurley would have time to write the story that has been percolating in her mind since childhood.
Hurley came to the United States when she was 21. She lived in New York City for 30 years before settling in Skaneateles. “I have been working since I was 14 years old,” Hurley said. “I wasn't able to go to college until later on in my life.”
In 1989, she earned her bachelor's degree in comparative literature and in 1990 a master's in education from Fordham University. She also received an honorary alumna award from the CCC's Alumni Association. Hurley was a non-traditional student going to school and teaching full-time, often working on the weekends.
Hurley's love for reading and writing continued to grow as an adult in New York City. Hurley would read to neighborhood children.
“I love children, and I knew that I wanted to write for them,” she said. “I collected children's books from the 18th and 19th centuries and would give them away to children I knew as presents.”
Hurley was further inspired by her family consisting of her husband, three children and grandchild to finally write “Digging Spring.”
Hurley met Sherman through Nancy Kramer, an art professor at CCC, when she was looking to collaborate with an illustrator for her book idea. She called Sherman and the two women hit it off right away. Hurley sent Sherman the story, and Sherman sent Hurley some of her illustrations.
“Erin put into pictures exactly what I was saying,” Hurley said.
In her spare time Hurley loves to listen to the Saturday afternoon opera, learn about history and historical buildings, write poems and essays and work out at the gym.
Twenty-seven year old Sherman, of Weedsport, found it easy to illustrate for Hurley.
“It was easy to visualize her story,” she said.
Sherman graduated in 2001 from Cayuga Community College with a degree in studio art and design, and in 2003, she received a bachelor of arts degree in illustration from Rochester Institute of Technology. With the support of a Daniel C. Labeille Grant in 2004, 2006 and 2007, she was able to return to her former alma mater - CCC.
The grant allowed Sherman to show her work to students, answer their questions and give tips hoping to inspire them in their own work.
“I visited art classes and motivated students entering the art world,” Sherman said.
Her work is greatly influenced by textures courtesy of her mother, who was a quilter, allowing Sherman to grow up looking at and studying patterns.
Her interest in textures and incorporating them into her work is due to the advice she was given in college by art professionals.
“I was told that you have to have something in each illustration that you really enjoy to keep you going,” she said.
Her work in “Digging Spring” is also influenced from water colors. Sherman used to paint and study the look of this medium. She later moved on to doing things digitally thanks to the advancement of technology.
Sherman still works as a freelance graphic designer, usually working with local businesses designing business cards. Her professional dream and ambition is to continue working as an illustrator with children's books.
Her main priority in life is being a mother to her two daughters who are 5 and 2.
“I am a mommy first and an illustrator second,” she said proudly.
In her spare time Sherman loves to make jewelry as well as hiking and snowboarding with her husband, John, and two daughters.
If you go
What: “Digging Spring”
reading and book signing
Where: Creekside Books
& Coffee, 35 Fennell St., Skaneateles
When: 1 p.m. Saturday,
March 14
Cost: Free
For more information: Call 685-0379
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