Local author draws on passions to promote healthy living
Fruitable Friends
By Eileen Persike
Editor
More than a dozen years ago, Heidi Fralick found herself with some free time and sat down to draw. Quick to point out that she doesn’t consider herself an artist, the mother of three had an inexplicable burst of creativity.
“It was an experience that I have never had since, or maybe never will again,” Fralick said. “I am not necessarily an artist, but these characters just came out of nowhere; I just drew them and all of a sudden I knew their name and their personality and it was kind of a weird experience — one right after the other.”
She drew Granny Grape, Bert Broccoli, Aggie Apple and five other fruit or vegetable people. At the time, Fralick was busy, her children were younger and she just didn’t know where to go with her people. She didn’t plan to write a book, but they eventually became the cast of characters in her children’s book series, The Fruitable Friends.
“My main focus, my passion in life has always been my kids and then nutrition and healthy living,” Fralick explained. “This was my way of combining both of those. I’m hoping we’re hitting a young enough audience so that some of it would stick.”
Getting kids to be content with who they are from a young age is important to Fralick, and helping her promote that are her Fruitable Friends. Wally Melon’s messages, for example, are about “loving and accepting everyone as they are and that includes you!” Bubba Banana’s goal is to “Bring out your unique personality and your confidence.”
“The whole point behind this book is that everyone wants something different, but you are made the way you are uniquely and if everyone looked the same then it wouldn’t be a fun world,” Said Fralick. “Everyone has their preferences of what they like and don’t like.”
Fralick’s books, Love Your Body and Are You a Good Listener? are available in hard copy or e-book at Amazon and she has other books in the works. The next step, she said, is to reach out to local book stores and look into other ways to market her ideas.
“The part to me that would be very satisfying would be to see the little kids really enjoying it and recognizing the characters.”
For more information on Fralick and her books, visit TheFruitableFriends.com.
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