By day Rebecca is an elementary school art and technology teacher. By night, she's an artist who loves painting traditionally as well as digitally. She is also a children's book author and illustrator. Rebecca has joined our team to create new activities for kids, so make sure to check out our COLORING SHEETS and ACTIVITIES PAGES to see her work.
She has self-published 4 books. You can find out more about her and her books on her WEBSITE:
1. What's your favorite shark and why?
The Great White is by far my favorite shark. To say why, is hard to tell. I have always had a fascination with this shark since I was a little kid; its size, intelligence, and beauty.
2. What is one shark you would like to see/dive/swim with?
It is on my bucket list to see a great white but I'm not sure if I want to swim with it. lol I would love to swim with a whale shark! A nurse shark would be one I would like to dive with.
3. How did you get started in writing and illustration?
Drawing and painting has been a part of who I am since I first learned to hold a pencil. The writing part came much later. An author I know decided to open her own publishing company and was looking for authors. She knew of my artwork and asked if I had ever written a children's book. In fact, I had created a short story for a contest that I did not win. She convinced me to let her read it and she loved it. Which opened up a new world to me. Since we did everything over the computer, I found creating the illustrations digitally was the easiest method. So I had to learn how to be a digital artist! Sadly after a few years, the publishing company closed its doors and self-publishing became by next adventure.
4. What inspired you to write Into the Ocean?
I have had a love and fascination for the ocean as long as I can remember even though I live in the mountains of West Virginia. I knew when I had my first book published, that I needed to create one about sharks since I have had a love for them always. I just wasn't sure how I wanted to do it and I wanted it to be different than other books out there. Two summers ago, inspiration hit and I knew how I wanted to create an educational but yet silly book. Before I knew it, GW, my ocean tour guide, was born.
5. Do you think ocean related books are good for education and conservation?
Definitely! Books can inspire kids and adults alike. It opens up worlds to them they may have never known much about or that they existed at all. They help foster a love that can become into a career, a passion and just maybe they can turn that passion into something that will help change the world for the better.
6. Is artwork important for conservation? How?
Artwork can be very inspiring and emotional. Sometimes words can use a visual to help create the impact that is needed.