Bringing Words to Life: Author E. C. Sherman's Collaborative Path to Illustrated Books

Introduction

Close your eyes for a moment. Can you imagine the pure joy of a child captivated by your story? See your carefully chosen words dancing with vibrant illustrations. A whole new world comes alive right before their eyes. This is the magic I love to see and I’m sure you do too.

E. C. Sherman knows this journey well. She just launched her enchanting children's book, Zeus and Ziggy: First Friends. Working on this picture book, E. C. Sherman understood that the right illustrations were absolutely everything.

One thing I'd love to share about E. C. Sherman: she is a life coach and avid horse rider, and she knows a lot about collaboration. She nurtured a lifelong dream of writing a children's book. Through the Publishing Mastermind program, she didn't just fulfill that dream, she created a book that inspires wonder. 

E. C. Sherman’s book, Zeus and Ziggy First Friends, tells a heartwarming tale. Young Ziggy is eager to ride her magnificent Friesian horse, Zeus, but first, Ziggy must learn patience and partnership from her mentor. Bringing this story to life, E. C. Sherman discovered how pivotal illustrations truly are. Working with Victor McLindon, she found what I like to call the 'collaborative canvas.' It’s where two incredible artists—you, the storyteller, and your illustrator—get to build a whole new world together. It’s a journey I've seen transform so many dreams into real life treasures.

You can see all that first hand in E. C. Sherman’s book launch interview here.

For a children’s picture book, illustrations aren't merely decorative. They are the very heart of your narrative. They transport young readers into vibrant worlds. They reveal character development. They amplify the emotional impact of every word. It sounds so inspiring, but maybe you’re asking can I actually do that? Yes, you can! 

When you embrace this collaborative spirit, success becomes a vibrant reality. 

1. The Visionary Partnership: Finding Your Artistic Partner

Before you even begin the exciting quest for your illustrator, take a moment to pause. Truly see your story. How do you envision your tale unfolding on the page? What style truly matches the book in your mind’s eye? Whimsical? Realistic? Or something entirely unique to you? Do you dream of meeting your artist in person? Or are you open to the magic of remote collaboration?

Knowing your story this way is a powerful first step. It empowers you to articulate your creative needs with clarity when that perfect artist comes along.

Look at E. C. Sherman, the brilliant author of Zeus and Ziggy: First Friends. She knew she was drawn to her illustrator, Victor McLindon. She felt he was a great artistic fit. But there was one small hurdle: Vic lives in the UK, while she is in Wisconsin! She admits to having hesitations about working with someone "thousands of miles away."

Yet, what she discovered was truly inspiring. Despite the vast distance, their communication was abundant and incredibly clear. This open dialogue allowed her message of bravery with animals to not just survive, but to truly flourish. Zeus and Ziggy: First Friends came to life in a way that exceeded her dreams.

This journey highlights a wonderful truth. Finding your ideal illustrator is about so much more than just talent. It's about finding someone you can genuinely connect with. Someone with whom you can communicate effectively. That’s half the goal right there! Through the Publishing Mastermind program, E. C. Sherman found exactly who she was looking for.

So What Can You Do?

• Dream Big & Get Specific: Write down the artists and styles that inspire you. Then, look for an artist whose unique touch resonates with your story.
• Reach Out & Connect: Don't be afraid to reach out to potential partners. Consider how you communicate best. Find an artist who matches your style.
• Know Your Non-Negotiables: What are your must-haves versus your deal-breakers? Are you open to remote collaboration? Do they need to know about a specific subject, or be willing to learn?

2. Clear Communication is Key: Painting with Words and Pictures

You and your illustrator are both artists. But, their visual medium relies on the clarity of your words. It’s up to you to bridge the gap of expectation. Your illustrator will truly rely on your guidance. Share your intended mood and vision. Paint a picture with your words for them to then bring to life with their brushstrokes.

Consider the Mustache Case Study: While writing her picture book, one of E. C. Sherman’s main characters is the horse Zeus. She told me all about how he is based on her real-life Friesian horse. He has a very distinct mustache that she knew had to be captured! There was a challenge, however. McLindon admitted, “He’s not a horse person.” E. C. Sherman took the opportunity to collaborate and guide him. 

She revealed that McLindon “was very, very patient looking at images, pictures I'd sent him of Zeus, and looking at stock photos I'd sent him. I also sent him a bunch of images of my granddaughter, and he did just an incredible job of capturing the both of them.” With this thoughtful guidance, Sherman ensured McLindon understood. He had all the materials he needed to perfectly capture that unique character trait. And what a fun and amazing character McLindon and Sherman created! You can go check him out in Sherman’s picture book on Amazon: Zeus and Ziggy: First Friends. All initial proceeds are going to Sherman’s chosen charities for Friesen horses!

So What Can You Do?

• Offer Clear Ideas: Share your specific ideas throughout and for certain pages.
• Highlight Key Moments: List parts of the narrative you think are most important for illustration.
• Be Descriptive: Paint vivid pictures with your words for the scenes you want to see.
• Provide References: What other picture books do you love the look of? Do you have stock photos for reference? Share them for inspiration!

This can be incredibly fun. And I know you might want to take complete control but try to resist. It’s not about taking control over every stroke. I’ll put it this way instead: you are providing a strong, inspiring foundation for your collaborator to build upon, but they have to work too. This allows their creativity to truly shine.

3. Trusting the Artistic Process: From Concept to Completion

Here’s a hard but vital part: let go.

There’s always that natural inclination to hold on to your project so tightly. You want every single detail to be perfect. But your illustrator needs creative space to do their best work. They need room to truly bring your vision to life.

As E. C. Sherman worked through the Publishing Mastermind program, she understood her community. The illustrators, editors—everyone in that program—were there to help her. They would make the magic of Zeus and Ziggy thrive and shine. She knew and actively practiced “trusting the process” once her illustrator was chosen.

Even as you learn to let go, know you are still very much involved. You absolutely still have the final say. Throughout E. C. Sherman’s journey with McLindon, she saw “the preliminary sketches… the beginning illustrations when they were just sort of being formed… and the final illustrations.” She even shared all of those with her granddaughter as they were being made! Working with Vic was a gradual evolution of images. She had active participation every step of the way. All she had to do was trust the illustrator’s expertise. He poured his best creative work onto every page.

Working with your illustrator is truly a bit of a dance. It unfolds in stages that repeat some steps. First, you see and discuss initial preliminary sketches and character designs. Then, detailed color proofs bring your world to life. You get to see and discuss these again. These designs and approvals continue right up to the final, polished renders. And you will—you got it—get to see, discuss, and approve! This cycle brims with opportunities for your feedback and refinement. It ensures every visual element perfectly complements your story and is how you want it.

So What Can You Do?

• Stay Connected: Always be on the lookout for communications from your illustrator. Be ready to answer their questions to stay involved.
• Trust the Process: Don’t be afraid to step back. Allow the illustrator the space to do their creative thing. 

During her launch E. C. Sherman shared with me she realized she had “to really trust the process…I know I chose well in, in your publishing team and Miriam Laundry Publishing after doing research. Then I just had to let go and trust the process implicitly.”

4. Hybrid-Publishing: Your Partner in Creative Harmony

With the Publishing Mastermind program you get a gift that’s hard to find elsewhere: complete say over your illustrations! Let me tell you what a joy that is. Not all places offer this. Many traditional publishers don’t allow you, the author, to choose an illustrator. They may not give you a large say in the process of sketches, proofs, and finals. But in the Publishing Mastermind program, I make sure to offer all that critical control to you. You get the dream you’ve always envisioned and longed for.

E. C. Sherman gave the powerful insight that “it really does take a village.” When you connect with your artists and fellow authors and my team, they will support you and work with you every step of the way.

So What Can You Do?

• Stay connected: not just to your illustrator but to your fellow authors and artists alike. They all have important insights and encouragements that are worth the world.

Your Story Is Waiting for Its Visual Heart

Creating the visual canvas of your work can feel confusing. It’s okay to feel out of your depth; we’re not all illustrators and writers! That’s why I direct you to visualize your narrative, keep up clear communication with examples and discussions, and let go a little. Be brave and trust the process.

It is that trust in a collaborative canvas that will bring the magic of your vision to life.

E. C. Sherman tells us it’s truly about "not getting discouraged and not giving up." With the right partners in publishing and art, your dream of a beautifully illustrated children's book is absolutely attainable.

Interested to see how E. C. Sherman and McLindon’s illustrations turned out? Check out E. C. Sherman’s picture book Zeus and Ziggy: First Friends. You can also listen to her book launch interview here and hear all about her experience publishing Zeus and Ziggy with us. She truly explains how the collaborative canvas of illustrator and author is a beautiful, achievable thing!