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Eric Drachman
Author of Leo the Lightning Bug
Eric Drachman is the author and publisher of the award winning Leo the Lightning Bug. His is an unusual path to publishing.
One December, Eric was in the market for a holiday present for his niece.
Browsing, the idea to make a book-on-tape came to him. Unlike most people with ideas of this sort, he took a microphone in hand and created a tape. His homemade present was a hit. Subsequent recordings became a family tradition. Eventually, Eric made a recording which used the kids' voices as characters in the story. After editing it all together with sound effects and page turns, this present was an even bigger hit. He was encouraged, to say the least.
Eric then took a break from the acting world (where he worked) and entered the children's book world. He wrote a few stories, including Leo the Lightning Bug. This story is about a lightning bug who can't yet make light. The other lightning bugs tease him, but with determination and a little motherly encouragement,he finds himself out in a thunderstorm, practicing. Fooled by the weather, he suddenly has no problem making light on his own. Eric's entertaining tale conveys to children and adults alike the importance of believing in yourself.
Rather than handing over creative development of the illustration and recording to a potential publisher, Eric started Kidwick Books. Leo the Lightning Bug, his first title, has met with a great deal of success. After distributing the first print run of 3000 books himself, Eric connected with Publishers Group West, and happily embarked on a relationship with them.
Leo the Lightning Bug has gone on to be #2 on the Los Angeles Times Children's Bestsellers List, a Book Sense 76 Children's Pick, a ForeWord Magazine "Book of the Year Award" Honorable Mention, and a Benjamin Franklin Award Winner!
Eric and illustrator James Muscarello have three more books in the works. Two are already in production and are expected to be released by PGW in the Fall of 2004. Look for Ellington the Elephant and It's Me! You can see sample pages and hear some of the sound at the Kidwick Books website: http://www.kidwick.com.
Rather than handing over creative development of the illustration and recording to a potential publisher, Eric started Kidwick Books. Leo the Lightning Bug, his first title, has met with a great deal of success. After distributing the first print run of 3000 books himself, Eric connected with Publishers Group West, and happily embarked on a relationship with them.
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