We recently connected with Brandy Hurst and have shared our conversation below.

What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on? Tell us the backstory so we understand circumstances/context and why it’s meaningful to you.

I only have a couple of projects under my belt, but my very first project is definitely the most meaningful thus far. When my youngest granddaughter, Everleigh, turned one, I wanted to get her a book about all the changes and growth she had made during that first year. When I couldn’t find a book even close to what I was looking for, I made her one out of card stock, stickers, and ribbon. My daughter told me that I needed to publish it. So, I learned how to do just that and made it happen; however, I could not have done it without my amazing illustrator whom I found on Upwork!!

The first book is called, “I am ONE today!” and features illustrations of my husband and I and all of our children and grandchildren. In this book, I mention Everleigh’s favorite toy, “bun bun” and my Illustrator, who is SO creative and very thoughtful in her work, had me write a personal message on paper, then she drew bun bun holding that message in my handwriting, to my grandchildren on a dedication page. When I saw that for the first time, it had me in joyful tears! It is the sweetest thing!

The rest of the books in the series of four will include children of all backgrounds, but the first one is dedicated to my family because that’s where it all began.

About You, Your Art/Creative Works, Inspirations/Focus/Mission/etc

For most of my life, my Gram and my late great Uncle Jack, have been my pen pals. They taught me the value of a handwritten letter, that when someone takes the time to sit down and write to you, it’s a form of love, especially in today’s world. The many, many years of back-and-forth correspondence has greatly impacted me in many ways, but especially in my writing. Both my Mom and Dad are gifted writers as well. I often seek advice from my Mom when working on a project. If I can’t figure out how I want to say something, we will go back and forth until it is just right. I truly credit all of them for my love of writing. Writing to me is an art, putting words together on a page in a particular way and order so it makes sense and flows as you read, editing and proofreading until you’re sure it’s right. It’s a puzzle that I thoroughly enjoy putting together time and time again!

As I said, I only have the series of birthday books released so far, but I am working on some new projects for the future. It is my heart’s desire for children to know that they are valued and have a purpose. I feel that I am able to communicate that to them through my writing.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative?

The most rewarding thing for me is when people enjoy my work. When someone says, “We have your book and we love it, we read it all the time!”, there’s no better feeling than that. To know that all the work you put into something brings joy to others, that’s the reward!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes! I recently started the Alison J Prince $0-100K Program and it has been an absolute blessing! This program walks creatives through the process of building their online business step-by-step and makes the journey fun! Everything you need to know to build a successful business is in this course, you have so much support, and it is amazing! My dream of starting a business for twins is on the horizon and I couldn’t be more grateful and excited about it!!

Check out our online store where you’ll find lots of gifts for twins (and their parents) at ByTwinsForTwins.com and follow us on instagram at Rose Twins!!

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandyhurstauthor
• Other: [email protected] https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09ZTGH6XM