Meeting My Illustrator: How a Chance Connection Brought Yabbit the Rabbit to Life
After sharing parts of the story and my vision for future books, he looked at me and said,
“I can see this being an animated series and a movie.”
At that moment, I knew I had found my illustrator.
Yesterday, my friend, the barista who initially connected us, arranged a meeting at Cineteca Nacional de México with her friend, a digital artist. It turned out to be the perfect setting to view his portfolio and share more about Yabbit the Rabbit.
From the moment he walked in, I had a good feeling. I’ve been around creative people before, and there’s an energy you can sense when someone truly listens. He took the time to understand everything, from my mother’s original idea of Yabbit, to my own failed attempts at writing, to the latest draft I finally felt proud of. He read the text thoughtfully, asked insightful questions, and smiled throughout.
Why We Clicked
What struck me most was his openness. He has zero experience illustrating a children’s book, which, in my opinion, is perfect, I have zero experience writing one.
We’ve both read and loved picture books as children. We understand the rhythm, emotion, and structure that make them timeless. Now, as outsiders, we want to bring fresh perspectives to the genre to experiment, to take creative risks, and to tell a story that feels different.
Watch the YouTube Video: Meeting My Illustrator
🎥 I talk about our meeting and creative chemistry in my latest YouTube video. You can watch it here:
In the video, I share my first impressions, discuss how we aligned on Yabbit’s emotional tone, and reveal how one conversation can change the entire trajectory of a project.
Why Creating in Mexico Feels Right
One of the most meaningful aspects of this collaboration is that it’s happening here in Mexico, a country my mother dearly loved. My illustrator lives nearby, which means we can meet in person, brainstorm together, and let the creative energy of Mexico City influence the artwork.
There’s something beautiful about Yabbit the Rabbit, a story born from my mother’s imagination, being illustrated in a place that was close to her heart.
Now that we’ve agreed to work together, the next step is to finalize a legal agreement outlining rights, royalties, and creative responsibilities. Once that’s signed, we’ll officially enter the illustration phase.
What I Learned: Ask for Help
If there’s one takeaway from this experience, it’s this: never be afraid to ask your network for help. You never know who knows someone who might be perfect for your project.
This collaboration came from a simple conversation at a café, a reminder that opportunities often appear when you least expect them. Creativity thrives on connection.
For Aspiring Authors Searching for an Illustrator
If you’re writing a book and haven’t found your illustrator yet, here are a few lessons I’ve learned along the way:
Talk about your project often. Word-of-mouth connections can be more powerful than online searches.
Trust your instincts. The right creative partner will share your excitement and understand your story.
Don’t fixate on experience. Sometimes a fresh perspective brings the most original results.
Document your process. Whether through journaling or video, share your journey, it helps others and keeps you motivated.
Closing Thoughts
This meeting reaffirmed everything Yabbit the Rabbit stands for: courage, openness, and curiosity.
Finding the right illustrator isn’t just a business decision, it’s a creative partnership. And for me, that partnership began with a smile, a conversation, and the courage to share my story out loud.
Stay tuned, I’ll be sharing illustration updates soon, both here and on YouTube.
