As a child, Niles children’s author Cheri Hallwood relied on a vivid imagination to keep her from getting bored.
With just a stick, Hallwood could turn a patch of dirt into a blank canvas, and when that got tiring she could always write a play script. When she got older, Hallwood preserved her imagination by writing down her ideas and keeping them in a shoebox, a hideaway she referred to as her “treasure box.” Today, Hallwood has taken those ideas and transformed them into beloved characters like “Frogwilla” and “Winifred Witch,” who star in her popular children’s books.
But Hallwood said she could not have become a successful children’s author without the Niles community.
“[The community] was so kind and so supportive, the library, the schools the teachers, the locally owned stores that put up my book,” Hallwood said. “I could have never done [it] without community support.”
To thank her neighbors, Hallwood will host an open house with the theme “Chasing A Dream” from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Niles District Library. The open house marks the 10th anniversary of her self-published award-winning book “Winter’s First Snowflake,” recipient of the 2007 Mom’s Choice Award in the Holiday Category.
Those who attend will get a chance to meet Hallwood, look over her books and see a presentation from Eastside Connections School. Cake and snowflake cookies will be available as refreshments.
Hallwood said she will also share the hallmarks of becoming an author, while inspiring others to follow their dreams.
For the author, the dream to become a children’s writer may have started with her imagination, but it was encouraged by her desire to engage children in reading.
“It is important to get children interested in reading from a young age,” Hallwood said.
Hallwood often read to her three daughters, and carried on the tradition with her grandchildren.
Hallwood said she feels her works help hook children into reading by using lyrical rhyme that is easily memorized.
Additionally, Hallwood often shares her stories with Niles school students and frequently visits classrooms to talk with students.
While she said she loves all her books equally, “Winter’s First Snowflake” will always have a special place in her heart, as the first book she published in 2006.
The book idea came to her one winter night when Hallwood was up free writing. Hallwood said she looked out the window and saw a snowflake float across the glass, almost as in slow motion.
“The words just started coming to me,” Hallwood said.
In 15 to 20 minutes, Hallwood had written a draft for what would later be her award-winning children’s book “Winter’s First Snowflake.”
After writing up her story, the soon to be published children’s author needed to find an artist who could capture the whimsical tone of her story.
Hallwood recalls the cold winter day in 2005 when she met with Niles artist Patricia Rose at the Riverfront Cafe. Rose showed her a portfolio and Hallwood was sold.
“I knew as soon as I saw some of her work this is what I wanted,” Hallwood said.
Rose would illustrate Hallwood’s other books, “The Curious Polka-Dot Present,” “Winter’s First Snowflake” and “One Wish for Winifred Witch.”
After seeking to inspire the joy of reading in her children and grandchildren, Hallwood’s granddaughter, Aubrey Curl, would illustrate her book “Frogwilla, A Tree Frog’s Story.” The book would receive a Mom’s Choice Award in the Gold Category.
Hallwood is now working on her fifth book, which will be a sequel to “Frogwilla, A Tree Frog’s Story.”
Those who look closely can spot the influence of Niles in every book, including one of the books with a cat bowl that reads “Niles” and other little hints that suggest the author’s home.
Additionally, Hallwood said a pond near her Niles home inspired the setting for “Frogwilla.”
Hallwood encouraged residents to stop by during the open house, and to jot down ideas they find noteworthy.
“There is a lot of work to making your dream come true,” Hallwood said. “But if you have the passion and the want, it will happen.”