Stretch Your Imagination

"I've never met a real author before."

Summerland elementary students were buzzing about books and articulating about art mediums, Friday, during a visit by children's book author Bruce Arant.

The Omaha-based writer met with Summerland third- through sixth-grade students for a writing and illustration workshop. Students observed his creative process, watching him doodle designs. They learned how to pair pictures with text, develop facial expressions and, most importantly, stretch their imaginations.

Summerland media specialist Tricia Whiting organized the event. She was "on the lookout" for an author when a promotional email landed in her inbox.

"When I saw he was from Omaha, I jumped on it," Whiting said.

One of Whiting's main goals was to get students excited about meeting an author and illustrator.

"When I read them a book in library class, we talk about who the author is and who illustrated the pictures, so it's exciting to have an author and illustrator in our school."

Arant's artistic flair came to light when he was in elementary school.

"I was always the kid in school who was drawing, in class and in free time." Arant said. "It's how I listen."

He found himself distracted when taking notes. Drawing brings the big picture together. Most instructors, he said, didn't appreciate his dominant style of learning.

One instructor in particular - his 10th-grade English teacher - would ask him daily about what he drew in his notes.

About 10 years after Arant graduated from high school, he reconnected with the teacher and she told him, "I have a big file full of your work. I think you're going to do something with this someday."

Time intervened. Arant worked in sales and architectural publishing before inking a children's book deal. By then, he decided to reconnect with the teacher who encouraged him, only to discover she had recently passed away.

"She would've been so thrilled," he said.

It's not surprising that Arant is drawn to picture books. He reported that it's his favorite section to visit in a book store. To Arant, it is reminiscent of visiting an art gallery.

Years ago, while completing a freelance art project, he thought to himself, "I hope I don't wake up some day, as an old man, and look back on my life and say I wish I would have tried to do children's book illustrating."

The path was there, Arant didn't recognize it ... yet.

"I'm so thankful that it eventually happened. I did have that desire, I just didn't think it would happen," he said.

While designing a blanket for a company, an idea to pair a blanket and book - a perfect baby shower gift - sparked.

He knew the book would need to be about sheep since the blanket was constructed from wool.

"We count them, supposedly, when we're going to sleep."

Then, he wondered what would happen if the sheep were similar to his children, who found every excuse under the moon and stars to stay awake.

"It just sort of downloaded to me," he said.

His agent pitched the idea to several companies. A well-known wool manufacturing company almost bought it, but decided not to venture into publishing.

That's when his agent suggested it be pitched as a children's book. She shopped the project to editors.

"It was rejected nearly 100 times. I had nearly given up," he said.

After devising a presentation about the idea, his agent presented it again.

Success.

Almost a year later, after storyline edits and new illustrations, the book, "Simpson's Sheep Won't Go To Sleep," was printed.

He shares parts of the publishing experience with students before they begin the writing workshop.

Arant relies on "stretching tools," including internal thought, action, "pizzazzy" words, facial expressions and descriptive details.

An attention-catching book begins with creative dialogue.

"When you're a writing and you put in quotation marks, as an author you're able to control what comes out of a character's mouth," Arant told students.

While working through his writing toolbox with students, Arant showed a number of drafts he penned and drew before the final product was sent to the printer.

The process fit into another goal set by Whiting, for students to understand the process of creating and publishing a book.

"I love that Bruce showed them so many drafts he did of the same picture and how he had to experiment with different mediums and angles to get it just right. It is a long process," she said.

During the writing workshop, Arant asked students to write and draw on their own and selected several to share with the large group.

During the illustration workshop, Arant had students fold a sheet of paper to create 16 boxes. Then he - and students - went to work, creating at least 22 facial expressions on paper.

"I hope that the kids continue with some of the things he taught them - both in writing and illustrating," Whiting said.

Arant estimates he has spoken to at least 60,000 students, primarily in Midwest states.

"I love coming to smaller areas. I was thrilled to drive out here today," he said

Whiting hopes students realize anyone, anywhere can share their talents via words and art.

"Someone living in Omaha, a town that many of them have been to, can write and illustrate books. It's not just people living in New York or California," she said.