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I HAVE SO MUCH FUN IN MY HEAD!
Started writing children's books when I became a grandmother - age 57 - sixteen years ago. Oil painting has been a big part of my life for years. Wondered what would happen if...I could write a fairy tale - a NON-threatening fairy tale for my granddaughter. Knew I could paint the illustrations. With the help of my friend and Editor Reta Spears-Stewart my first book "The Secret of Ricena's Pond" was published in 1991. It was to be the ONLY book. Never dreamed how much fun I would have and found I could not quit with just the one book (try eating only one potato chip from the new bag...)
The ideas keep flowing and the images cluttering my head. For me the idea for the story arrives, next the paintings then the words. Works for me!
Want to know what the very best part about being a kid's author is? Being invited to schools to talk to the kids about being creative. Encouraging them to create because - it's coming from their head, their hearts and their hands. and NOBODY else in the whole wide world can do what they can do the same way the can do it and that makes it so special.
"The Secret of Ricena's Pond" is a fairy tale based on memories of living on grandmother's farm in the Forties. When I was three years old mother
dressed me in hollyhocks and I'm standing by a pond - you can view this photo in my picture gallery.
I decided that is where the waterfairy lives. My name is Ricena and I decided if I'm going to use my unusual name my sister Marceia and nieces Ceny and Vinka will also be in the story. This first book
was the beginning of a whole new career for granny.
Second book - "The Mystery at Ricena's Pond" is - THINKING GREEN. The pond is having problems. The kids, working together, find the problem, fix the problem and discover - a whole lot of little bits can become a whole lot of LITTER bits.
Next came "Color at Ricena's Pond." First half from "Secret" second half from "Mystery"coloring book.
"Sooty" is more memories of grandmother's farm. The old wood burning cook stoves were the heart of the homes in the good old days. Taking an inanimate object, giving it a face, giving it a name and giving it a story was much fun.
While visiting schools teachers have ask me if I could put into writing what I talk to the kids about.
Didn't know but thought I'm gonna try. "Wonder What Would Happen If..." is my creative encouraging how-to book for ages 8 to 88. And teachers are my heroes...
"Hanging With Yum-Yum and Yuck" is my latest about a little gray squirrel who drops into a crayon colored back yard where everybody and everything is so colorful and beautiful and he is so - well—drab and gray. After painting himself with Easter egg coloring and rolling in strawberries he finally gets the message. He is lovely and Wonderfully Made.
Yes indeed Granny Rik is blessed to be having so much fun in her head.

I HAVE SO MUCH FUN IN MY HEAD!Started writing children's books when I became a grandmother - age 57 - sixteen years ago. Oil painting has been a big part of my life for years. Wondered what would happen if...I could write a fairy tale - a NON-threatening fairy tale for my granddaughter. Knew I could paint the illustrations. With the help of my friend and Editor Reta Spears-Stewart my first book "... More