• Featured Business
    • Around the House
    • Health Care
    • Restaurants and Pubs
    • Retail Shops
    • Services
    • Women in Business
  • Everyday
  • Sports
    • All
    • Whatcom Sports and Recreation
    • Sports Calendar
  • Food
  • Art
  • LocalTalk
  • Activities
    • Adult
    • Bargain Bellingham
    • Family
    • Indoor
    • Outdoor
    • Kids
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Post an Event
  • Calendar
    • Calendar
    • Add An Event
    • Event Articles
  • Community Channels
    • Book Store
    • Cannabis Education
    • Chamber of Commerce
      • Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce
      • Ferndale Chamber of Commerce
    • Downtown Organizations
      • Lynden Washington Downtown Business Association
    • Film
    • Food and Farming
    • Heating and Air Conditioning
    • Hotel and Lodging
    • Local Government Meetings
    • Movie Showtimes
    • Neighborhood Notes
    • Media Partners
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Port of Bellingham
    • Real Estate Broker
    • Whatcom Sports & Recreation
    • Theatre
  • Non-Profits
Search
Friday, February 15, 2019
  • About
    • Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • Bellingham Advertising
    • Customer Testimonials
    • Company News
WhatcomTalk
  • Featured Business
    • AllAround the HouseHealth CareRestaurants and PubsRetail ShopsServicesWomen in Business

      Treeline Analytics Ensures Your Cannabis is Safe

      Hammers FC Academy Soccer Camps

      Bellingham Sportsplex Offers Active Fun – No Matter Your Age

      An Artist at the Helm: Scott Ward and the Historic Fairhaven…

      Gary’s Giveaway: Helping Protect Your Family

  • Everyday
    • “How to Ride” Training and a Free Bus Pass: Coming Soon…

      Seven Tips to Prepare your Home for Freezing Winter Temperatures

      Ski to Sea: An Extraordinary Community Event

      Laurel Saville Trains Humans to Speak Dog 

      Romance Lives at the Chrysalis

  • Sports
    • All
    • Whatcom Sports and Recreation
    • Sports Calendar
  • Food
    • Food Recovery Initiative: SpringHill Suites Teams With Sustainable Connections to ‘Squatch’…

      Edible Art: Morgan G. Cookies

      Experience a New Winter Menu at Galloway’s Deco-Era Cocktail Bar

      Dimitri Olive Farms Imports Southern Greece to the Bellingham Farmers Market

      Pangea Ferments: Globally Connecting Food and Culture

  • Art
    • The Journey of Squali Times: A Student-Run School Newspaper

      Community Treasure: Former Whatcom Museum Curator Barbara Matilsky

      Meet Jack Lee: Bellingham’s Creative Altruist

      Eryn Elyse McVay: The Sweet Sound of a Local Playwright’s World…

      Guerilla Film Project: High School Students Become Filmmakers

  • LocalTalk
    • Working to clear Chandler Parkway of snow on Tuesday morning in the City of Bellingham.

      City of Bellingham, County Public Works Continue to Work on Snow…

      Register Now for “Guys and Guts” and “Girls Go Tech” Workshops…

      Dementia Adult Day Services Returning To Whatcom County

      Hotel Bellwether’s Premier Wine Tasting Social Announces Fabulous Line Up of…

      Port of Bellingham and Lummi Nation Work to Strengthen Relationship

  • Activities
    • AllAdultBargain BellinghamFamilyIndoorOutdoorKids

      Exploring Space with the Whatcom Association of Celestial Observers

      Why Winter is the Best Time to Birdwatch in Whatcom County 

      Embark: Experience Four Fall Hikes in Whatcom County

      Weekend Trip: Get Away and Experience the Yelm-Tenino Trail

  • Events
    • What To Do In and Around Bellingham February 15—17

      What To Do In and Around Bellingham February 8—10

      Take a ‘Bite’ Out of Blaine

      Bellingham February 1---3

      What To Do In and Around Bellingham February 1—3

      Bellingham Spring Break Camps: Providing Fun and Physical Learning for Children

    • Calendar
    • Post an Event
  • Calendar
    • Calendar
    • Add An Event
    • Event Articles
  • Community Channels
    • Book Store
    • Cannabis Education
    • Chamber of Commerce
      • Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce
      • Ferndale Chamber of Commerce
    • Downtown Organizations
      • Lynden Washington Downtown Business Association
    • Film
    • Food and Farming
    • Heating and Air Conditioning
    • Hotel and Lodging
    • Local Government Meetings
    • Movie Showtimes
    • Neighborhood Notes
    • Media Partners
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Port of Bellingham
    • Real Estate Broker
    • Whatcom Sports & Recreation
    • Theatre
  • Non-Profits
    • Lighthouse Mission: Bringing New Hope to the Hopeless

      Why Judd & Black Gives Back and How You Can Help

      Feed the Need Helps Whatcom County Families

      Lemon Club: Changing the Lives of Children Battling Cancer

      Community Access to Civil Legal Assistance Made Possible by Law Advocates

Home Art Bellingham Children’s Author Sheryl Hershey Brings Local Writers and Book Lovers Together

Bellingham Children’s Author Sheryl Hershey Brings Local Writers and Book Lovers Together

By
Lorraine Wilde
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest
WhatsApp
    "Lila" series author, Sheryl Hershey. Photo courtesy: Sheryl Hershey.

     

    By Lorraine Wilde

    village booksBellingham children’s book author and businesswoman Sheryl Hershey is continuing to raise awareness and spread compassion through her “Lila” series of picture books for children age 8 and under. “They’re the first books I’m aware of where the main character is deaf, but the book isn’t about her being deaf,” notes Hershey. “The whole point is to show that you don’t have to be perfect to be important to the world. The world is better just because you’re in it.”

    Hershey’s first book, “Lila and the Dandelion,” was released in January 2015. The main character, Lila, is named after Hershey’s grandmother, Lila Ahlsten, who spent her life teaching at the Washington State School for the Blind. “My grandmother taught students who were both blind and deaf,” explains Hershey. “In her day, if she couldn’t help them, they would be institutionalized. But she knew those children had something to give to the world.”

    "Lila" series author, Sheryl Hershey. Photo courtesy: Sheryl Hershey.
    “Lila” series author, Sheryl Hershey. Photo courtesy: Sheryl Hershey.

    Hershey didn’t set out to become a famous children’s book author. “When I found out that my daughter was going to have a baby girl, I just wanted to write a book for her to let her know what kind of women she came from,” notes Hershey. “I wrote it about four years ago and had just planned to make a few copies as gifts for family and friends.”

    In “Lila and the Dandelion,” Lila meets a dandelion that is sad because he just wants to be a flower. Lila communicates in sign language and Dandelion understands. “She tells Dandelion that he is important to the world because dandelions are used for medicine, they’re beautiful like the sun, and bugs like them. Dandelion feels better and realizes that the world is a better place just because he’s in it.”

    What started as a gift to her granddaughter soon blossomed into something Hershey could share with the world. “A couple of years ago a good friend, Yvonne Cartwright, suggested Michael James Marshall as an illustrator for the book. He does incredible work and once he came on board, it became a much bigger deal,” emphasizes Hershey. Lila is drawn to resemble Hershey’s granddaughter. “Online, I found and presented the work to Naren Aryal, CEO of Mascot Books. He loved it and the whole thing just snowballed after that.”

    Hershey is pleased with the modern publishing model used by Mascot, a sort of hybrid between self and traditional publishing called assisted publishing. “You pay for the help you receive with editing and printing and they manage distribution,” explains Hershey. “Your books appear in all the major stores around the country, but you still retain all publishing rights to your own work. They keep a smaller percent of the profit than a traditional publishing house.”

    A sneak peak of an illustration by Michael James Marshall from Hershey’s new book, "Lila and the Stink Bug." Photo courtesy: Sheryl Hershey.
    A sneak peak of an illustration by Michael James Marshall from Hershey’s new book, “Lila and the Stink Bug.” Photo courtesy: Sheryl Hershey.

    When thinking about how she would present the second book in the series — due to be released this winter — Hershey brainstormed her options. “It’s really hard for authors to get a chance to sell their books. So I thought, why not create an opportunity not just for me, but one that would also help writers from across the Pacific Northwest,” beams Hershey. At that moment, the Bellingham Holiday Book Festival was born. With the help of her husband, friends, other authors and volunteers, the festival is slated to take place on Thursday, December 10 from noon to 8:00 p.m. on the second floor of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. “We have at least 17 authors across a variety of genres sharing their work directly with the public,” says Hershey. Attendees can do some holiday shopping while directly supporting local authors and artists. “It’s going to be a big party really, with cake and cookies early in the day and happy hour with donated wine and hors d’oeuvres beginning at 5:00 p.m.”

    A highlight of the event will include another author represented by Mascot, Nick Baker, from Edmonds, who graduated from the Washington School for the Blind. “Nick is blind and autistic and an unbelievably talented musician,” shares Hershey. “He’ll provide the holiday music for the festival on his keyboard and also plans to share a song that he wrote about my book called “The Lila Theme.” Ferndale author Barbara Gene Hicks will also be in attendance with her books commissioned by the Walt Disney Company, based on the characters in the movie “Frozen.”

    Much of the hard work and inspiration behind the Lila series and the Bellingham Holiday Book Festival happened in Hershey’s writer’s cottage. Photo courtesy: Sheryl Hershey.
    Much of the hard work and inspiration behind the Lila series and the Bellingham Holiday Book Festival happened in Hershey’s writer’s cottage. Photo courtesy: Sheryl Hershey.

    Mascot Books’ Naren Aryal will be on hand throughout the day to speak with authors about how they can bring their book ideas to fruition. “I also really have to thank the Port of Bellingham for their support of this event,” says Hershey. “They granted us economic development status for use of the space because we’re connecting local authors directly with the public.”

    Hershey and Marshall will be signing copies of their books at the festival and debuting the second of the series. “‘Lila and the Stink Bug’ is funnier than the first book,” explains Hershey. “The stink bug’s stinker gets stuck. Lila helps him solve the mystery of how it got that way and how they’ll fix it.” This book also has other characters that didn’t appear in the first book. “Carl is a little more edgy. He and a butterfly are very nearly blind and wear thick glasses. They all learn from each other that when you do something naughty, bad things start to happen.”

    Hershey is hopeful that the festival will bring local authors closer to their reading public. “If this festival goes well, we’ll absolutely do it again next year.” Hershey and Marshall also have big plans after the festival, when they’ll begin working on book three of their series, “Lila and the Dust Bunny.”

     

    Bellingham Holiday Book Festival
    Bellingham Cruise Terminal
    355 Harris Avenue
    Bellingham, WA 98225

    December 10, 2015
    Noon to 8:00 p.m.

     

    Print Friendly
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Google+
    Pinterest
    WhatsApp
      Previous articleWeSNiP Celebrating 15,000 Spay/Neuter Surgeries with Party for the Paws
      Next articleTake a Breather — Restorative Yoga with Summer Cushman
      Lorraine Wilde

      RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

      The Journey of Squali Times: A Student-Run School Newspaper

      Community Treasure: Former Whatcom Museum Curator Barbara Matilsky

      Meet Jack Lee: Bellingham’s Creative Altruist

      Upcoming Events

      Feb
      16
      Sat
      10:00 am Computer Science Club: Winter @ Western Washington University
      Computer Science Club: Winter @ Western Washington University
      Feb 16 @ 10:00 am
      Computer Science Club: Winter @ Western Washington University
      Discover the FUN-damentals of technology in a creative, student-driven and social club environment. Students will develop digital literacy skills and experience being on a college campus as they explore hands-on learning in specialized computer labs[...]
      11:30 am Make a Fusion Shoji Lamp @ Bellingham Makerspace
      Make a Fusion Shoji Lamp @ Bellingham Makerspace
      Feb 16 @ 11:30 am
      Make a Fusion Shoji Lamp @ Bellingham Makerspace
      Learn traditional Japanese hand tool techniques with modern woodworking methods. Take home your own hand crafted shoji lamp. Two hours a day, two days a week for two weeks. Price of $266.85 includes use of[...]
      12:00 pm Free Knee Pain Workshop @ Bellingham Training & Tennis Club
      Free Knee Pain Workshop @ Bellingham Training & Tennis Club
      Feb 16 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
      Free Knee Pain Workshop @ Bellingham Training & Tennis Club
      Kiss knee pain goodbye with Healthy Knees! In this free workshop, learn from Healthy Knees Coach and Best Selling Author Robin Robertson about how to protect your knees and reduce your pain! Get the secrets[...]
      12:00 pm Free Performance Cycling Workshop @ Bellingham Training & Tennis Club
      Free Performance Cycling Workshop @ Bellingham Training & Tennis Club
      Feb 16 @ 12:00 pm
      Free Performance Cycling Workshop @ Bellingham Training & Tennis Club
      Whether you’re preparing for Ski to Sea or your long summer adventures, this hour-long workshop will focus on how training in the off-season can really help you avoid burnout and see serious gains during the[...]
      1:00 pm Delving Deeper into Jyotish @ Ayurvedic Health Center
      Delving Deeper into Jyotish @ Ayurvedic Health Center
      Feb 16 @ 1:00 pm
      We’ll delve deeper into the significations of the houses and signs and will explore new territory with the grahas (the planets). We will use color to bring life to our charts as well as to[...]
      View Calendar

      Local Community Sponsors

      Business

      Treeline Analytics Ensures Your Cannabis is Safe

      Have you ever wondered how the quality of cannabis you buy at the retail store is assured for your safety and satisfaction? Treeline Analytics...
      Hammers FC Academy Soccer Camps

      Bellingham Sportsplex Offers Active Fun – No Matter Your Age

      An Artist at the Helm: Scott Ward and the Historic Fairhaven...

      Gary’s Giveaway: Helping Protect Your Family

      CorePhysio Clients Are Increasingly Empowered

      Trending Now

      Treeline Analytics Ensures Your Cannabis is Safe

      An Artist at the Helm: Scott Ward and the Historic Fairhaven...

      What To Do In and Around Bellingham February 15—17

      Editor Picks

      Food Recovery Initiative: SpringHill Suites Teams With Sustainable Connections to ‘Squatch’...

      Register Now for “Guys and Guts” and “Girls Go Tech” Workshops...

      Hotel Bellwether’s Premier Wine Tasting Social Announces Fabulous Line Up of...

      Recent Posts

      • Treeline Analytics Ensures Your Cannabis is Safe
      • Bellingham Sportsplex Offers Active Fun – No Matter Your Age
      • What To Do In and Around Bellingham February 15—17
      • An Artist at the Helm: Scott Ward and the Historic Fairhaven Association
      • City of Bellingham, County Public Works Continue to Work on Snow Routes
      ABOUT US
      WhatcomTalk is a community social network delivering positive stories about what it’s like to live, work and play in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, and the surrounding Whatcom County area. Advertise with WhatcomTalk. Brand your business and tell your story to your target market.
      Contact us: info@whatcomtalk.com
      FOLLOW US
      • About
        • Team
        • Company News
        • Contact
        • Terms of Use
      • Advertise
        • Bellingham Advertising
        • Customer Testimonials
        • Company News
      © WhatcomTalk, Inc.