January 6th is the "Feast of the Epiphany" an Italian folklore, an old woman who delivers gifts to children if they are good.
2012,Italy highway A22: a reckless driver passes at high speed transforming the 2 drive lane into a 3 drive lane. I lose control of our car. We end up against a truck, frontal collision.
I think we must have behaved well because we received the biggest gift: Life.
Some say everything happens with a purpose. I have all my heart can wish for but found out with the help of my psychologist that the secret of real happiness lies in a smile. A smile you share with others. Children.
2012,Italy highway A22: a reckless driver passes at high speed transforming the 2 drive lane into a 3 drive lane. I lose control of our car. We end up against a truck, frontal collision.
I think we must have behaved well because we received the biggest gift: Life.
Some say everything happens with a purpose. I have all my heart can wish for but found out with the help of my psychologist that the secret of real happiness lies in a smile. A smile you share with others. Children.
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With a happy feeling and a bright inner smile, I started to write stories for children. My first story Kye from Galloway was released as audio and self reading book in the App store in December 2013. Mrs Cottoncandy and The Balloon followed in 2014. My stories and illustrations are inspired by our cat Kye and Butterfly, an imaginary little girl I wish I had. My husband is my greatest support. Any help I need, he never says no. Next to his daily job, he is sales manager, he helped selecting the music, adding and adjusting the audio recordings and updating the website. I’ve created all illustrations. Putting together hundreds and hundreds of layers. |
Kye & Butterfly (own illustration)
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Last year I started to read my stories, manuscripts in public at the central library in Rotterdam. I love the interaction with the children. To hear what they liked about the story and to answer their questions. Some very unexpected like: “How old are you?" When I reveal them my age, you see them… (non only) thinking. "Wow that old!"
“What happened to the Queen?"
To the Queen??Oops good question. The story had a happy ending but apparently they thought the story wasn’t yet finished for the Queen. So more re-writing works to do.
“What happened to the Queen?"
To the Queen??Oops good question. The story had a happy ending but apparently they thought the story wasn’t yet finished for the Queen. So more re-writing works to do.
Queen Chatty (own illustration)
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My most recent adventure has been the set up of the Kye4Kids Foundation.
With the proceeds we receive from the Stories of Kye Apps and future books we want to invest in projects for less fortunate children. Sure we need to start small. But if we are able to change the life even of 1 child and give him/her a brighter future, my smile will have multiplied. We are going to move to Italy, Garfagnana, the green heart of Italy. Fresh air, hiking, fills my head with new ideas. Trying to help the locals to increase awareness abroad in green tourism. (My compensation; a smile) 
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