The sister act shares their process, inspiration, and how being twins helps them create incredible kid’s books
Twins Ashley and Breanna Bolliger have soared to literary success with their debut children’s book, “Carrie Can Fly Too.” This heartwarming tale of ambition and resilience reached #1 on Canadian hot new release charts, and the twins are now set to take it on an exciting blog tour arranged by Tellwell and Goddess Fish.
“Carrie Can Fly Too” is a charming story that instills the powerful message that being different should never stand in the way of achieving one’s dreams. The book introduces us to Carrie, a determined yellow bird with a dream to fly, despite the doubts of her fellow blue birds. This rhyming narrative is a source of inspiration for the entire family, emphasizing the importance of self-confidence and the boundless possibilities of imagination.
They took the time to sit down and chat with Kiddable about creating the book and how different artists and authors inspired them, join us for this insightful interview below.
Can you both share the inspiration behind “Carrie Can Fly Too” and how the idea for the story came about?
“Carrie Can Fly Too” was born out of our personal experiences and reflections during the
pandemic. It all started when we had just completed our first year of university, and the abrupt
transition from in-person to fully online learning left us feeling burnt out and lacking confidence
in various aspects of our lives, including academics and personal life. The sudden shift in our
education format presented a unique challenge, one that made us keenly aware of the impact
on our mental health.
As we navigated this new reality, we began to realize the toll it was taking on our overall wellbeing and our outlook on life. It was at this point that we recognized the incredible power of
offering each other positive encouragement, something that was particularly effective due to
our close bond as twins. This experience marked the first time we truly understood the
significance of prioritizing mental health, not only for ourselves but for others who might be
facing similar challenges as university students during the pandemic.
With this newfound awareness, we decided to take action. We launched a wellness blog, called
twinlife where we shared our personal stories and experiences about the various ways we
actively engage in self-care and maintain our wellness during these challenging times. While our
initial focus was on young adults, we soon realized that our message could also be valuable for a younger audience, specifically students still in a school setting. One of the concerns that deeply resonated with us was the insufficient focus on nurturing selfconfidence and embracing individuality within the educational system. When we taught ukulele at a local school, it was disheartening to see many students constantly compared themselves to others and losing motivation to explore their unique qualities and talents. We recognized firsthand that confidence is a critical factor in a child’s success and self-discovery.
These themes, centered around self-confidence and celebrating one’s unique qualities,
seamlessly translated into the creation of our book, “Carrie Can Fly Too.” In the book, we
wanted to impart the lesson of self-confidence to young readers in a subtle yet impactful way.
By crafting a relatable character and employing unique rhyme and colorful illustrations, we
aimed to inspire children to embrace their own individuality, recognize their potential, and
believe in themselves.
“Carrie Can Fly Too” encapsulates our journey of self-discovery, the importance of mental wellbeing, and our commitment to empowering young minds to find their confidence and be their
true, unique selves. It’s a story that embodies our passion for promoting positive change in the
lives of children and young adults.
What was the collaborative process like between the two of you, working on both the writing and illustrating aspects of the book?
The collaborative process of writing and illustrating our children’s book was indeed a timely yet
immensely rewarding experience. Much like any endeavor we’ve tackled together throughout
our lives, we found that we could effectively balance each other’s ideas, ensuring that all
possibilities were considered. Growing up, we’ve always felt that we work best as a team, as our
individual talents naturally complement one another.
Our collaborative dynamic was marked by our ability to articulate ideas together. One of us
would voice the ideas, while the other transcribed them. This approach allowed us to ensure
that all our ideas were explored and laid out on the table, creating a comprehensive foundation
for our creative process.
The writing process, which spanned several months, was a significant undertaking, especially
while juggling our demanding academic workload. It began with a thorough brainstorming
session, where we collectively defined the type of story we wished to create and identified the
transformative themes we wanted to convey at different points in the story. There came a
moment when we decided to explore our individual creativity by crafting separate storylines to
see how different our ideas might be. Surprisingly, we found that our thinking was remarkably
aligned, and both storylines shared more similarities than expected.
After shaping the broad points of the story, the fun part began – turning those ideas into
condensed, rhyming sentences. It was an enjoyable process, involving constant writing and
revision including speaking the words outload to ensure that our sentences maintained the
desired rhyming rhythm. The result was a 42-page book, where every word and sentence
carried profound meaning.
Supplementing our words with captivating illustrations, much like the writing process, spanned
several months due to our academic commitments. It required extensive thought to determine
the illustration style and color scheme for each image. This was the most challenging part:
learning how to draw and illustrate our images on our iPads. We relied on YouTube tutorials to
master techniques like incorporating layers into the images. As twins, we both took on roles in
illustrating the scenes, ensuring that our illustration styles uniquely matched. Our collaborative
process extended even further as we worked on executing the illustrations – one of us would be
responsible for creating the large-scale drawings, while the other would implement the small,
intricate details.
Overall, this entire journey was an extensive learning process, after countless revisions we
managed to complete our book, with dedication and love. This experience truly highlights the
synergy between our unique talents and the power of teamwork in bringing “Carrie Can Fly Too”
to life.
Writing and illustrating a children’s book can be a long and detailed process. Can you share
any memorable or humorous experiences you had while working on the book together?
During our journey of writing and illustrating our children’s book, we encountered a mix of
memorable and humorous experiences that added a unique charm to the process. One of the
amusing moments occurred when we were working on the page that emphasized our main
character’s ability to fly. In a lighthearted decision, we both agreed to draw a superhero cape on
our character. It was a spontaneous choice that brought us a good laugh, showcasing the
creative freedom and partnership shared between us as twin sisters that made the project so
Enjoyable.
Another standout memory was when we decided to illustrate a vibrant community of birds of
all colors, sizes, each with their unique wings and beaks. This was a powerful moment for us as
it reflected how far we had come in writing and illustrating our book. It was a testament to our
ability to transform a simple brainstorming idea into a fully realized children’s book. The vision
behind this illustration, which revolved around themes of self-acceptance, diversity, and
inclusion, made it particularly special.
In addition to the humorous and memorable experiences, we carefully considered the color
palette we chose as background accents for the pages featuring our main character. What made this aspect particularly special was that the colours we selected were not arbitrary; they
coincided with the character’s mood in each scene. This attention to detail added depth to the visual storytelling and made the illustration process all the more engaging and meaningful.
Are there any specific children’s authors or illustrators who you admire and who influenced your work?
In the enchanting world of children’s literature, we’ve found profound inspiration in the works
of various authors and illustrators, some of whom have left a mark on our lives long before our
own creative journey began. Among these cherished figures, Phoebe Gilman stands out as one
of our greatest sources of admiration. She not only authored but also beautifully illustrated our
beloved childhood books, “Jillian Jiggs.” Her writing was marked by a sense of playfulness and
wit that proved to be a significant motivator for us to cultivate our love for reading during our
early years. We have always been captivated by her detailed and one-of-a-kind illustrations,
which often bore the personal imprints of her life. This multi-faceted approach to storytelling,
intertwining narrative, and art with a personal twist, has had a profound influence on our own
creative process.
As we’ve delved deeper into our creative journey within the realm of children’s literature, we’ve
encountered renewed inspiration in the creations of modern authors. Notably, Emily Winfield
Martin, the author of “The Wonderful Things You Will Be,” and Alexandra Penfold, the creative
force behind “All Are Welcome,” have deeply impacted our own work. These authors capture
the pure optimism and joy of embracing uniqueness and the importance of inclusivity, values
that we are determined to convey through our own book. Their stories, with their uplifting
messages of acceptance and diversity, have served as an inspiration as we endeavour to craft
narratives that celebrate similar themes.
In addition to the writers who have shaped our approach to storytelling, we have also drawn
inspiration from captivating illustration styles that enhance the visual appeal of children’s books.
“The Smart Cookie” by Jory John and Pete Oswald caught our attention with its endearing use of simple cartoon expressions and vibrant, eye-catching colors. This approach has influenced our unique illustration style, which we have developed to engage and captivate younger audiences.
The lessons we have learned from the power of engaging illustrations to complement and
enhance storytelling has been paramount in shaping our own work, thanks to the inspiration
drawn from such well-crafted children’s books.
As a team, what do you believe are the strengths and advantages of being twins when it
comes to creating a children’s book?
Being twins provides us with a unique set of strengths and advantages when it comes to
creating a children’s book. One of the most significant advantages is our inherent synergy and
strong sense of collaboration. We have an almost intuitive understanding of each other’s
thoughts and ideas, which makes the creative process remarkably smooth and efficient. This
allows us to brainstorm, write, and illustrate our story, allowing both of us to balance and
complement each other’s skills.
Our shared experiences and upbringing as twins also play a crucial role in our creative process.
Growing up together, we developed a similar outlook on life and shared many common
experiences. This shared awareness throughout childhood allows us to create such story and
illustrations that resonate with our target audience. Even further, our shared history and mutual
understanding of childhood have allowed us to approach children’s literature with a sense of
empathy. We can step into the shoes of the young readers and consider their feelings, hopes,
and fears. This perspective enables us to create characters that reflect the diverse range of
emotions children go through and address the issues and challenges they encounter with
sensitivity and understanding.
Twins also have a distinct advantage when it comes to working on both the writing and
illustrating aspects of a children’s book. In our case, we were lucky enough to divide tasks
effectively, even taking on different aspects of the illustrations. This division of labour
streamlines the process and ensures that both the narrative and visual elements of the book
showcase both our talents, resulting in a cohesive and engaging final product.
Finally, as twins, we have a unique bond that fosters a sense of trust and creative freedom. We
feel comfortable bouncing off wild and imaginative ideas with each other, knowing that we will
both understand and support each other’s the vision. This trust and shared vision empowered
us to take creative risks and push the boundaries of storytelling and illustration, ultimately
benefiting the quality and uniqueness of our children’s book.
Finally, what can readers expect from you in the future? Do you have plans for more
children’s books, or do you have other creative projects in mind?
In the near future, readers can expect a continuation of our commitment to empowering young
minds. Presently, we are actively engaged in sharing our story by hosting events in schools,
where we lead and facilitate self-confidence activities for children. Our primary aim is to
encourage children to embrace their individuality and recognize the importance of self confidence. We’re passionate about instilling these values and nurturing the self-esteem of
young readers, and we intend to expand our outreach through more school events and
activities that promote self-assurance.
Moreover, our aspiration to publish more children’s books remains a central focus. We believe
that storytelling is a powerful tool for instilling positive values and life lessons in young readers.
Our upcoming books will continue to explore themes of self-confidence, diversity, and inclusion,
with the goal of providing children with stories that resonate with their experiences and
Emotions.
Beyond our creative literature endeavours, our commitment to health advocacy in the field of
dentistry will continue. Three years ago, we created and founded The Healthy Smiles Club, an
initiative that strives to provide oral health hygiene kits to those who lack access to these
essential resources. We remain dedicated to this cause and will work to expand its impact,
ensuring that oral health awareness and hygiene are accessible to all. Our future endeavours
are a reflection of our unwavering dedication to both the literary and health advocacy realms,
aimed at making a positive impact in the lives of young readers and those in need of essential
dental care
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