Annie Herzig, an illustrator, author, and alumna of ±«Óãtv, is proof that childhood dreams can come full circle. A former student of Bauder Elementary School, Blevins Junior High (before it became a middle school), and Rocky Mountain High School, Herzig worked as a designer and art director before returning to her passion for illustration and storytelling. Now, she inspires the next generation by visiting ±«Óãtv classrooms to share her debut book, ¡°Wonder & Awe.¡±
Returning to the same library where her love for storytelling began, as well as other schools in the district, Herzig hopes to encourage students to dream big¡ªjust as she did.
Q: What inspired you to become an author and an illustrator?
I wanted to make books from day one. When I was a little kid, I loved books, and I remember sitting in the library at Bauder watching Mr. Martin reading books. He was wonderful. He was a legit ventriloquist, and he would read books to us with the puppets. So, I remember sitting there, hearing those books being read to me and thinking, I want to do that. I want to make the pictures in those books. That stuck with me my whole life.
Q: How has ±«Óãtv been part of your story?
I went to Bauder Elementary, then Blevins Junior High before it became a middle school, and then I went to Rocky Mountain. Also, my mom was a teacher at Bauder for many years. She taught fourth grade, then second grade, and eventually worked with advanced readers. Besides all the fantastic teachers that I had myself, I also have a huge appreciation for teachers because my mom was one... the best one. And I was constantly surrounded by her community of teachers.
Q: How did your experiences in school prepare you for stepping into a career as an author and illustrator?
My time in ±«Óãtv prepared me to go off to Colorado State (University), and my art teachers, especially at Rocky, were huge in helping me to see and believe that I could be a working artist.
Missy Wolf and Rick Takahashi made a huge impact on me. Oddly enough, I almost majored in zoology because I also loved science, but then, at the last minute, I changed my major to art because I couldn't imagine not doing that every day. My degree was in fine art with a concentration in graphic design and illustration. I went on to work as a designer and art director, always continuing to draw and make art both as part of the job and on the side for myself. I turned to freelance at one point and when the pandemic hit, I lost all of my contracts for the year. I decided it was time to follow the dream of making picture books (one I was avoiding because I wanted it so badly). So, after learning all about the industry, I have now come full circle, back to that childhood moment of longing to make books. Now I am actually doing it!
Q: What is it like returning to read your book to students?
It's amazing. It's just been surreal because I worked towards this for so long. Especially reading at Bauder, my school, where this dream took shape so many years ago. And reading in other schools as well... ±«Óãtv schools all seem to have a similar feel, so it's very heartwarming to be in these elementary school library spaces, where learning and dreaming happen every day.
