Sedrick
Every story starts with the spark of an idea, and this is how Sedrick came into being.
Sedrick is a fun-loving 7-year-old boy with a heart of gold. He’s also a figment of my imagination. Writing Sedrick has taught me so much about myself.
In December 2022, I finally allowed myself to relax and wind down for a while. I hadn’t been very good at “me” time or sitting back and allowing myself to just “be.” I was always chasing something—money, love, work—anything and everything—until that day.
I was in my favourite tearoom, (coffee shop but I’m using poetic licence here,) with my parents, drinking green tea when I had a flash of inspiration. I’m writing this almost two years later, but I remember it as if it were yesterday.
The cup I was drinking out of had a wide top. When I tipped it back to capture the last drops of liquid, it almost covered my face. It was in that instant that the idea came to me. I told my parents then that there must be an idea for a children’s story here. After I said that I almost lost myself in the cup, (a bit like Sedrick does.)
I walked home from the coffee shop, which took me about 20 minutes, and I started writing as soon as I got in. Within 2 days I had 6000 words and the beginning of a book of short stories (or two! Or three.) I didn’t plan any of it. I just wrote. And I carried on writing. Taking everyday occurrences and observations and writing about them. All of Sedrick’s stories are taken from the world as I see it. I don’t know where I’m right or wrong in my observations I just know that I enjoy writing. And I loved writing Sedrick’s stories. In fact, I’m still writing them.
Letting Go
It took me a little over a year to write the stories I wanted to enable me to turn the scribbling into the first book. Then began my search for an illustrator. I posted on social media, added it to my newsletter for a few weeks and spoke to illustrators. It wasn’t coming together at all. I had to let go. I had to stop my search and move on to writing something else; hence the publication of Falling in Love at 40. (My first romance novella,) and wait for the right person to come along. You can probably tell that patience is not my strongest trait!
I’ve said for many years life is strange. Many people have told me to relax and things will happen. So, I relaxed. And things happened.
I arranged a call with a friend. We hadn’t spoken for months and both agreed it was time for a catch-up. Towards the end of the call, Steph, my friend, showed me some of the artwork she wanted to post on social media. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I didn’t know she could draw, never mind that it was one of her favourite hobbies. In that instant, I knew I had to ask her to illustrate Sedrick. I sent her the first book of short stories. That day she read through it and started sending me doodles. Again, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was so excited. She had drawn him just how I imagined him. When she sent me a message to say she wanted to work with me to bring the book to life I danced around the room. It was the perfect answer. The universe had our backs, and it all happened in divine timing.
How I met Steph
Steph and I met through work. We both worked in corporate businesses and the one I worked for was brought out by the one Steph worked for. As part of my job, I needed a lot of legal documents for my clients. I was told to speak to Steph, so I did. She sent me an amazing amount of information and I’m so grateful to her as it saved me so much time and heartache.
I was made redundant in 2017, and we lost contact for a while. We reconnected in 2021 and have become great friends. Our life journeys are very similar, and I’m so glad we are working together to bring Sedrick to life.
Almost two years after the initial idea, Sedrick is here!
I hope our readers enjoy Sedrick’s Adventures as much as we have enjoyed writing and illustrating him.
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