By JENNIFER SUMMER
summer@hcnonline.com 03/24/2008 ©Houston Community Newspapers Online 2008
Emmie seemed to come to her as vision. As she moved her art marker to color Emmie’s brown hair, Adele Bower knew this was not just another character.
Emmie’s adventures are featured in the recently published book “Emmie’s Birthday Party,” written and illustrated by Bower and published by Tate Publishing.
A Kingwood resident, Bower first started her career learning how to illustrate and draw from her father, who supported the family with his creations.
Adele Bower at a book signing
“I have been an illustrator for as long as I can remember and have done just about every kind of illustration there is,” she said. “I studied illustrations and fine art from my father but he tended to draw furniture while I enjoyed drawing humans.”
Bower got her first start with fashion and art, illustrating a variety of different things until she decided to go back to school to get a degree in oil painting.
Bower first majored in art at the University of Texas, later moving back to the Kingwood area and attending the University of Houston.
During her first semester at the University of Houston, she toured an exhibit at the Art Institute of Houston and was amazed by the works. She transferred the next semester.
“I graduated from the Art Institute and at this time, whenever someone saw my portfolio they would say, ‘You are an illustrator,’” Bower said.
While playing around in her studio/office at home, the artist drew the Emmie character and used her own greeting cards and began to formulate a character for the girl.
“Emmie came with her own persona; she just off jumped the page at me. I became attached to the character so I began to write a story about her and her adventures,” Bower said.
To enhance her writing skills and learn how to be a better public speaker, Bower attended a seminar called “Christian Leaders, Authors and Speakers” and fell in love with the seminars.
”I always deep down wanted to be a public speaker. After three intense days you are a CLAS grad but you are encouraged to write. They claim that if you can write, you can speak, which is what I believe in,” Bower said.
While at the CLAS seminar, Bower brought her Emmie manuscript, though critics at the seminar said the book needed more work as did publishers.
“I was rejected many times but when you believe in your book and your characters, you should never give up; stick to what you stand for. They wanted Emmie to be introduced in another way than the first manuscript so that is how ‘Emmie’s First Birthday’ was published,” the author said.
Though this is the first book, it will not be last readers will see of Emmie. The author has many different future activities for Emmie to join in, including a camping trip and taking ballet lessons.
The book is a composite of Bower’s two granddaughters, her daughter and experiences she herself has had throughout her life.
“The main motivation of me for writing the Emmie books is to show that little girls can have a simple life and a close relationship with God. They do not have to grow up so fast and they can enjoy their innocence,” Bower said.
The second installment, “Emmie’s First Journal,” will be published in April and is a follow-up to the current book soon to be on book stands in Christian book stores.
“It was hard work to write and illustrate the books but it was all worth it. I encourage people to write and stay true to their values and their characters,” Bower said.
“I feel so blessed that I have been able to have my book published and invite everyone to get to know Emmie and my writing.”
Learn more about “Emmie’s Birthday Party“
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