Smelly Begins

Interviewing Cindy Lane: Celebrating Love, Joy, and Inclusivity in Children’s Literature

We explored the themes of Love and Joy, delving into the meaningful investments required to nurture these emotions.

Cindy Lane

In a heartwarming interview with author Cindy Lane, we delve into the inspiration behind her delightful children’s book series, “Adventures of Smelly Rogers.” Cindy, a wife and mother with a background in psychology and a career in human resources, has seamlessly woven everyday stories with hidden lessons into a captivating trio of infant, toddler, and children’s tales.

“Smelly Begins,” the first book in the series, is a celebration of love and joy, filled with humor, rhyme, and rhythm. What sets this series apart is not just the engaging narratives but also the remarkable artistic contribution of Mimi Hong, an illustrator on the autism spectrum.

Cindy shares the poignant motivation behind her venture into children’s literature, stemming from the desire to immortalize stories shared with her own children and a heartfelt tribute to a dear friend. The interview touches on the joyous moments during the book creation process, highlighting the collaboration with a special needs illustrator and the pride felt upon seeing the final product.

A unique aspect of “Smelly Begins” is the spotlight on Mimi’s artistic talents, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity. Cindy sheds light on the decision to construct a narrative around Mimi’s abilities, turning the collaboration into a long-term partnership with a vision to inspire others on the autism spectrum.

The interview explores the potential impact of the book on fostering increased inclusivity in the creative process. Cindy expresses her anticipation of ongoing collaborations with Mimi, contributing to the creative evolution of the series and potentially serving as a catalyst for positive change.

What motivated you to author a children’s book?

I always turn everyday situations into fun stories for my kids, weaving in important lessons. I share them at bedtime or when a story can help them with a problem. 

One story I frequently shared was about my high school friend Angie. In August 2020, while shopping with my daughter, I received the sad news of Angie’s passing. As tears welled up, my daughter asked why? When I explained Angie’s death, my daughter recognized her as the hero of one of my stories. In that moment, I realized I should share these stories with all children as a tribute to my friend and to spread the values of Love and Joy that make our world better.

What aspect of the children’s book creation process did you find most enjoyable?

There were two big moments, one for writing and one for illustrations. On the writing side, getting feedback from a professional editor was a highlight. Their comments confirmed that the stories resonated emotionally and were genuinely funny, hitting the right tones I was aiming for. On the illustration side, working with a special needs illustrator was a bit uncertain for me because I had no prior experience. However, the end result turned out to be amazing, and holding the final product made us all proud and defined our success.

Your book showcases the artistic abilities of Mimi Hong, an artist on the autism spectrum. Could you elaborate on the inspiration behind constructing a narrative around her talents?

In promoting this book, I wanted to highlight the talents of individuals on the autism spectrum, especially celebrating Mimi. We connected through a Facebook callout where I was searching for an illustrator. Typically, a writer hires an illustrator, they interpret the manuscript, and the job is done. When Mimi’s Mom expressed that my project could create a job opportunity for her daughter on the spectrum, it resonated with me because my son is also on the spectrum with PDD-NOS. Instead of a typical arrangement, we formed a partnership with a long-term vision. Our goal is not only to help Mimi grow as an illustrator but also to potentially assist others on the spectrum in achieving their goals and dreams by sharing in Mimi’s journey. 

For children on the autism spectrum who are introduced to the Adventures of Smelly Rogers series, they not only relate to the stories but also find inspiration in the fact that the images are created by someone like them.

Do you anticipate that this book will serve as a catalyst for increased inclusivity in the creative process moving forward?

Certainly! We truly appreciate Mimi’s neurodiversity and the incredible talent she brings to the table. Our effective process involves me storyboarding the manuscript, supported by inspirational examples of photos and images. This allows Mimi to quickly grasp my envisioned illustrations, yet she always adds her unique creative touch.

Mimi played a 100% role in developing characters that perfectly fit the stories. Real-life photographs, situational scenarios, and descriptive phrases were essential in achieving the illustrations. I eagerly anticipate ongoing conversations and brainstorming sessions with Mimi to enhance the stories and contribute to the creative evolution of the images.  Having successfully completed the illustrations for the first trilogy within the Smelly Rogers series, we are excitedly looking forward to the second.

“Smelly Begins” comprises a compilation of children’s stories drawn from your family experiences. Given the abundance of special moments in all families, how did you go about selecting the specific ones featured in the book?

In “Smelly Begins,” we explored the themes of Love and Joy, delving into the meaningful investments required to nurture these emotions. The initial three stories that came to mind were the ones I wrote about. Their prominence in my thoughts confirmed the lasting and still-remembered positive emotions of those experiences. Fortunately, these stories catered to three different age ranges organically. Due to this serendipitous occurrence, I plan to replicate this format in all the subsequent books. So thanks to your question, you have helped me define my story selection criteria: it must be memorable, align with a theme, and suit the specific age range required for each trilogy.

Are there any intentions to develop a sequel to the current book?

Absolutely “Run Smelly Run” seamlessly continues the narrative from “Smelly Begins.” The first story in this new trilogy, titled “Kicky Feet,” explores the impatience of brothers Jelly and Welly as they eagerly await their baby sister’s ability to play with them. The subsequent two stories also revolve around the themes of patience and hard work. The second story focuses on Jelly, the older brother, overcoming baseball failures in “Crawl Walk Run,” while the third story is particularly special. It intertwines my high school friend’s experience into Smelly’s narrative, titled “Smelly and the Race.” 

If all goes well, before launching the third trilogy, I aim to release a standalone Christmas book titled “A Very Smelly Christmas.” The story revolves around re-imagining Christmas without a tree due to our mischievous dog, Remy. It’s yet another true story.

As we continue to grow the Adventures Series, my aspiration is to broaden our connection with readers by weaving more stories through shared adventures. The potential for The Adventures of Smelly Rogers is boundless, promising an enjoyable journey ahead as readers tap into universal values that transcend generations.

For more information about Smelly and friends visit the official website!