Watercolor Artist Turned Storyteller: All About Carifa

Hi! I'm Gindy Farmer. You might wonder why a watercolor artist is writing about a children's book she hopes to see published. The answer? I painted a zebra. It was not an ordinary black-and-white zebra, but one with bright, colorful stripes, and that beautiful painting sparked a story and started a journey that couldn't be stopped. That was 15 years ago!

I never sat down with the intention of writing a book. But over days and weeks, bits and pieces of a story kept showing up in my mind, so I wrote them down. Pages became chapters. Ideas turned into story arcs. And after many years, I had something more than just a story for bedtime. I had a meaningful, colorful journey I wanted to share with more children and families.

The Island of Carifa

A Breza of Carifa

My story takes place on the fictional island of Carifa, an anagram for Africa, and the main characters are breza(s), an anagram for zebra(s). Since I wrote the story for my Grand-Darlings, I infused their personalities into their characters. I wanted them to see themselves in the brezas I created for them.

At the time, my four Grand-Darlings were still very young. I began imagining a tale just for them. The breza's colors became a metaphor: vibrant, colorful stripes for good choices, and dull grey ones for not-so-good ones. It seemed like a wonderful way to explore how the choices we make shape who we become.

In its evolution, this story's introduction to the world was delayed because of me! My uncertainty in my ability, the challenges that presented themselves during its creation, and procrastination because of a lack of confidence on my part have all contributed to a very slow start. I've spent the past three years creating illustrations for my stories. They, too, have tested me in ways I couldn't have imagined! I thought I'd have them all done in a year!

"It seemed like a wonderful way to explore how the choices we make shape who we become."

The Next Chapter

In 2024, I partnered with editor Robrt Pela, and together we shaped and polished the manuscript into something I’m truly proud of.

Now, I’m beginning the exciting — and daunting! — search for a literary agent who believes in this story’s message and sees its potential to brighten bookshelves and imaginations.

If you’re an agent or publisher looking for a heartfelt picture book that blends artistry with  meaningful life lessons — or simply someone who loves a good story — I’d love to connect.

Thank you for reading,

Gindy Farmer