Beloved children's book author and illustrator Will Hillenbrand talks creativity, inspiration and his three latest books.
When I first spoke with Will Hillenbrand for this piece in Cincinnati Magazine, I was truly moved by both his wisdom and the care with which he approached his craft. He has been an inspiration to me ever since.
Will is a rare breed - a true creative in a world that sometimes seems to forget what creativity really is. He grew up watching, listening, dreaming and drawing every chance he could… including on the walls of his childhood home in College Hill. Today, he’s among the nation’s most beloved children’s book authors and illustrators, having illustrated and/or penned 80 books and won awards from the Society of Illustrators, the American Library Association and many others. He has been named Illustrator / Author In Residence at both Kent State University and the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Earlier this month, the town of Frostburg, Maryland even declared December 2 Will Hillenbrand Day and gave him a key to the city.
In this interview, Will reads excerpts from his three most recent books (Little Red; The Voice in the Hollow; and Turtle Turtle and the Wide, Wide River, written by Jane Hillenbrand, release date: March 12, 2024) and discusses how each one grew from dreams or real life events into captivating tales with encouraging messages for young readers.
It’s a fascinating and invaluable look into the mind of a truly gifted artist -
Learn more about Will’s books, background, art (for purchase) and events on his website, willhillenbrand.com.
*to purchase this and more of Will’s art, please visit his website
Merry Christmas / Happy New Year / Happiest of Holidays to all!
See you again on the first Thursday of 2024 -