Conclusion

Action packed week! Since the end of August my senior project was no longer the only thing I did, thought, and dreamt. This was mainly because i did not know where to go for there. I didn't know what I was going to create or even my topic of interest. But now... I see the light. On Sunday afternoon I was called by Erin Geismar to do an interview about what i did in August for the East Hampton Press! This was something I was going to look into anyways because all our hard work needed to be heard about, but she ended up coming to us. After telling her all about the project she asked me what I was going to do next. At that point I was still iffy about writing a children's book on animal behavior and emotion, but it was my best bet so that's what I said. On Monday a photographer from the East Hampton Press came by and took pictures of the scene at the tent and garden. It was then that I realized how much I missed it and learned from all of it. Without any animals there or people it was a depressing and abandoned campsite. I did not want to let die the memories and experiences I had there, especially my interaction with my goats and chickens. Once the article was published later on in the week (http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=237936&town=East%20Hampton&n=Students%20take%20on%20month%2Dlong%20sustainability%20challenge), I got people coming at me from all different places saying what a great idea it was to write a book. I was being supported and helped by everyone and this really helped me sit down and analyze children books to see what type I could do. Its no longer a debatable issue. My biggest worry is not the actual writing or informational aspect of the book. The workshop with Ms. Iden taught us how to begin to put a book together and how to publish it.

My problem is illustrations. I am not a very good artist and I have NO IDEA how children's books have the images they do. Does the illustrator hand draw and then scan? Do they draw on the computer? Is there a program? Is it hard? I am completely clueless about the whole topic of illustration. At the moment, this is what is delaying me from starting to write because I don't know if its going to be a story book or a scientific journal or a personal diary? I could write a story book with illustrations to go along with it but I don't know how to create those images. I have a lot of photographs from the project, which is why I'm leaning towards a scientific journal with pictures and facts. I could also use the pictures i have to create an easy-read personal diary. I went to the library the other day to look at children's books and I was so shocked how amazing they really are and how the actual interacting part of books is the illustration. I wanted to get an idea of different types of illustrated children's books. I did learn that I want the book to be full page spreads with no white.

I met with my mentor to write my rubric and he was very pleased with my work so far and they I finally decided what my product would be. Outside consultant. I have e-mailed a couple local authors about my book to see if they can be my outside consultant and help me with editing and creating an actual book. My mentor then told me i should probably get in touch with ARF, or the wildlife rescue center, or a vet to help me because the content of my book is scientific. Thanks to the article in the press, a lot of people in these fields have already gotten in touch with me. My next step is figuring out what kind of book I want to write and how I'm going to go about illustrating it. I am relieved that i have a clear path now.