Drawn In received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Jillian Her.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The book title is Drawn In, and it was published March 19th 2020.
What’s the book’s first line?
The first line of the book is, “If daydreaming were a sport, Violet would be an Olympian.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Drawn In follows the story of Violet, a young girl who moves into her mother’s childhood home. After a long day of unpacking her room, she becomes happily distracted when she stumbles upon a rather unusual box of crayons on the floor. Compelled by her love for art, she draws her first picture in her new room and tapes it to her wall. Soon Violet drifts off to sleep but later wakes to find an unbelievable adventure waiting for her just beyond her wall.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
The inspiration for this book came from a dream I had one night, with a similar plot line, over ten years ago! I was determined to write it as a children’s book one day, but fear kept me from pursuing that dream for a long time. Now that it’s published, I’m so excited to share it with the world.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Drawn In is for anyone who wants their imaginations ignited. The bright and vivid illustrations keep you excited for what’s coming on each new page. Not only will it inspire readers to rekindle their love for creativity and imagination, but highlights the opportunity to use them to overcome obstacles and challenges.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
The most distinctive thing about Violet is her boundless imagination. No matter where she is, or what she is doing, she finds a way to create, play, or discover opportunities for adventure. Her character most reminds me of Alice, from Alice in Wonderland, or June, from Wonder Park. Violet, Alice and June are all wonder-filled, imagination-led girls. They share that same curiosity and bravery to explore and immerse themselves in a seemingly, unbelievable new world. In June and Violet’s cases, it’s one they’ve created on their own.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
If Drawn In was made into a movie, I would like to see either Maya Le Clark, Kate Moyer or Ella Gross play Violet.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I’m not sure exactly when I knew I wanted to become an author, but I did find an old journal from Grade 7, where I had included on a ‘Bucket List’ that I wanted to write a children’s book one day!
Is this the first book you’ve written?
This is the first book I’ve published, but I have a handful of other stories in various stages of development – including the sequel to Drawn In!
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
When I’m not writing, I also work as an Independent Sales Consultant for a company called Norwex. I am also an Ambulance Dispatcher/911 Call-Taker, but am currently on leave.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part of being an indie author is the ability to maintain 100% creative control over my work! The hardest part is the huge learning curve of the publishing process and marketing.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
My best advice for other indie authors would be to reach out to other indie authors in your genre to ask questions and get recommendations for editors and other helpful resources. This way you can bypass making some of the mistakes that other authors have made along the way and also feel a lot more confident in your decisions and research.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
I love Robert Munsch! His endless imagination and inherent silliness is so inspiring!