Bee-hind The Scenes

A "light bulb" moment
In relating the history of Ruby Lee, Matheson cites best-selling author Bruce Wilkinson's modern-day parable, The Dream Giver. Paraphrasing Wilkinson, she says, "Everyone has been given a dream, and although we may not be able to describe it, it's there.

"When the idea of Ruby Lee came to me," says Matheson, "I couldn't name it as a 'dream.' To me it was just a powerful idea that wouldn't leave me. Looking back, I now recognize it as what Mr. Wilkinson describes as a dream given to me by The Dream Giver. Here's a tip: if you continuously revisit an idea over and over in your mind, it means you're supposed to do something with it.

"In one of Mr. Wilkinson's speaking engagements, I heard him suggest that once you realize your dream, everything you need to pursue the dream has already been laid out for you, but that your dream lies in the direction of seemingly overwhelming obstacles. Talk about a light bulb moment for me!

"It was so true - once I started moving on pursuing the dream, the obstacles did seem to take care of themselves."

The Team Comes Together
One key obstacle Matheson faced was finding the right illustrator for the project. "I didn't know much about publishing, but one thing I knew for sure was that this element of the project was critical to its success. I thought I had a solid story line, but I knew the artwork had to be fantastic."

Matheson estimates that she reviewed the portfolios of more than 500 illustrators. She recalls the search being more depressing than receiving the rejection letters. "I just couldn't find a solid match. I was looking for an experienced illustrator who had a versatile portfolio and was willing to work with an unproven author."

At the end of another long day of fruitless research, Matheson was frustrated and tired. In an effort to lift her spirits, her husband Scott suggested they go out to a nearby restaurant. At dinner, they discussed the project, Scott listening patiently as Matheson shared her frustration with being blocked at such a critical phase. Scott offered her encouragement to persevere, and Matheson realized she had to recommit herself to the challenge.

After dinner, something remarkable happened. "We were walking out to the parking lot, and a couple pulled their SUV into a space next to ours. I noticed the license plate right away. It was a vanity plate bearing a stylized version of the word Illustrator. I was stunned. As the couple got out of the vehicle, I approached the man and asked if he was an illustrator. He said, 'No, but my wife is,' pointing to his companion.

"We chatted for quite some time right there in the parking lot. I felt a genuine connection with Pam Barcita right away. Plus, she was a very experienced artist who had illustrated numerous children's books and lived less than 10 minutes from me. Scott and I kept looking at each other, thinking: is this really happening? We couldn't believe it. Talk about obstacles being evaporated - this one was blown to smithereens."

The two scheduled a meeting to discuss the project. Matheson was greatly impressed with Pam's diverse portfolio. "She's amazing. She can do anything in any medium and in any style." The two negotiated terms, and the rest is Ruby Lee history.

That one relationship started a domino effect, and other obstacles soon dissolved. "Pam led me to her husband José, a brilliant graphic designer; José led me to Cindy Huffman, our extremely talented editor; and suddenly bam! Two more obstacles down, and Ruby Lee had an incredible creative team behind it."

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