Williams new book to be showcased during Saskatchewan Book Publishing Week
Swift Current author Jessica Williams will be conducting a virtual reading of her latest release Sleeping Brilliant on October 1, one of just three children’s books to be featured during Saskatchewan Book Publishing Week 2020.
Saskatchewan Book Publishing Week 2020, which runs from September 28 to October 2, is holding a number of socially-distanced events during the week in order to share Saskatchewan printed books with a wider audience.
Williams will be connecting with a class of Swift Current school children on October 1 for a reading and a question an answer session about her book Sleeping Brilliant, which was released on June 23 by her own All Write Here Publishing.
Williams is happy to team up with Sask Books for her first ever virtual reading.
“When I first started publishing I discovered them (Sask Books) as a fantastic resource for everything from promotions to marketing to professional development to networking. They are a spectacular organization and they do a ton of great work for Saskatchewan publishers and authors. I really admire all of the work they’ve continued to do through all of the COVID setbacks, continuing to market books for Saskatchewan publishers and authors. They’re a fantastic asset.”
Admittedly she is looking forward to the opportunity as she has not yet had a chance to read her book in front of a group of students for a number of months.
“One of my favourite parts about writing kids books is having the opportunity to read them to the audience. And I haven’t had a chance to do that in a little while so I’m really looking forward to reading to some kids again.”
Sleeping Brilliant is her sixth book, and she released the book to coincide with International Women in Engineering Day on June 23 to dismiss the notion that determined and self-sufficient princesses are not always damsels in distress.
“Sleeping Brilliant is sort of a retake on the old Sleeping Beauty fairytale, but it’s a different approach where the princess doesn’t need to be rescued. I think having a princess who needs to be saved by a handsome prince on his white horse…i think that’s a little tired and its been done. So I wanted to retell the story from a different angle, with a princess who can look after herself.”
She completed the writing and illustrating of the book during the pandemic, but this marks the first time she has done all of her own illustrations.
The release of Sleeping Brilliant also marks a small departure from her previous five books.
“My books tend to focus on things that effect kids lives. So Mama’s Cloud dealt with having a parent or a caregiver in the house who is unwell, with a mental illness or a physical illness, so that’s something that has a big impact on a kid’s life. The Mealtime Monster is your picky eater, and the number of parents that have told me that they have that book to resonate with their own picky eater. Scaredy Cali is about fears, which every kid deals with at some point. I think the books generally approach topics that are challenging for kids in one way or another. Sleeping Brilliant deviates from that a bit. I wrote it more to inspire kids to look after their own futures.”
She has also released My Koala Doesn’t Take Baths, and You Can’t Invite a Fish to a Dance Party.