Developing an anthology picture book!
In The Spirit Of A Dream
I love anthology books! It’s refreshing and inspiring to see how different writers or illustrators interpret the same theme from their unique experiences and visions. Each person’s take on a common subject gives us a glimpse into different human experiences with fresh insight and perspectives.
When I first had the chance to work on an anthology, I was super excited! From a business perspective, some creators might not prefer anthology gigs since most anthologies involve work-for-hire contracts without royalties. Depending on the budget and scale of the project, the compensation for each creator tends to be a fixed rate, so most anthologies are more of a passion project. For me, I love the collaboration and creative energy in anthology projects! Even though we creators rarely meet in person, I adore the lively, creative energy that flows through the pages and the connectedness through each person's creation.
When I first thought about creating a book that shares the stories of first-generation American immigrants, I realized that it would require a collaborative effort to bring this idea to life. This idea came to me during the Trump administration when messages of hatred and discrimination against people of color and immigrants filled the air. At that time, I had just become an American citizen after a long, complicated path filled with insecurities and heartaches. For decades, before becoming a citizen, I didn't feel safe and didn't have the right to voice my opinion. As an "alien" (which was a legal term at the time to identify a non-US citizen), despite having a job and the right documents, even a small misstep could lead to deportation. And my story is not unique.
When I got my citizenship, I felt strongly about creating a book to empower and represent immigrants and people of color like myself. However, I knew I could not do this alone.
I arrived in the US in my early twenties, so my knowledge of American sociology and history is limited, and my life experiences are confined to my little bubble.
To bring the book I envision to life, I wanted a team of artists who could share their stories and experiences on the pages and a writer with empathy, compassion, a strong vision, and passion for the topic. I was thrilled when we found Aida Salazar!
Her activism and powerful voice set the tone for the stories. Her contribution to the selection of figures featured in the book is invaluable. We carefully selected stories of people with diverse representations, some of whom are famous, while others are less well-known, such as local leaders, mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons who quietly contribute and bring hope and change to their communities.
With each completed poem, the book slowly took shape. "In The Spirit Of A Dream" is an anthology of celebrated stories of American immigrants of color, created and illustrated by immigrants of color or descendants of immigrants of color. Every story in the book and each contributing creator paints a contemporary tapestry of today's American history. I feel grateful and blessed to have developed this very special book with them.
