A Belmont writer has teamed up with a Castlemaine artist to release their debut children’s picture book just in time for Christmas.
Writer Terri Walls and artist Miranda Scherger launched Margo the Magpie’s Wish on 29 November, featuring a story of self-acceptance and uniqueness.
Ms Walls said she started writing the book so her daughter could have something to keep and potentially “pass down to her own children one day”.
“I’ve always loved writing, but as life got busy, I stopped doing it for myself,” she said.
“It’s a message adults connect with just as much as kids, and, as creatives, it’s easy to compare your art or writing with others and feel like it isn’t good enough to share.
“But one of the best things about getting older is becoming more comfortable in your own skin and actually appreciating the things that make you different.”
Ms Scherger painted each double-page spread by hand, with the book taking almost a year to complete, and said she hoped that readers loved Margo the Magpie as much as she did.
“It feels surreal to hold the finished copy and…I wanted the illustrations to feel warm, textured and distinctly Australian,” she said.
“In a world where AI can create images instantly, it’s important to acknowledge the time and care that goes into creating traditional art.”
Ms Walls and Ms Scherger are longtime friends who first met as teenagers in Ararat and have lived abroad together before settling back in Victoria while remaining close throughout the years.
