Synopsis:

Growing up isn’t easy. Our clothes don’t fit right, our old toys seem dull, and everything changes around us. But what stays the same?

Amika is a young, creative girl navigating the world of growing up alongside her imaginary best friend, Flicker. Throughout the story, Amika learns to be creative with her imagination when facing obstacles in her life. When it’s raining, Flicker shows her the day can still be fun! While getting rid of old toys or items may feel sad, Amika finds the fond memories they hold can forever be cherished. When Amika is nervous on one of the biggest days of her life, she can overcome those feelings by remembering who she is and how she got there through her most powerful tool: her imagination.

Author

Stacey Lance

A writer living in Ottawa, Canada. She believes in enjoying life’s simple pleasures: a hot cup of coffee, a bed with fresh sheets, the first green buds of spring. She feels that the modern world is too fast-paced and that it’s important to slow down.

Stacey grew up on a beautiful farm in the Ottawa Valley. She spent her days swimming in lakes, riding horses, and reading books. She was awarded the title of “Most Likely to Read 10,000 Books in Her Lifetime” at her Grade Eight graduation (she’s working on fulfilling her title).

Stacey graduated from Algonquin College’s Professional Writing program with honours in 2023. She has published several articles on wellness blogs, a feature story in a community magazine, and two short stories in books.

No matter what she accomplishes in her life, Stacey will always be most grateful for her family. She hopes her presence in the world will help make it a little better.

Illustrator

Abby Ferguson

A Canadian illustrator from Ottawa who loves drawing characters and colourful scenes. Art has always been a big part of who she is and how she expresses herself. For this project, she wanted to create a story that encapsulates the raw beauty of Stacey Lance’s poems while appealing to all ages.

Abby’s illustrations tell the story of growing up. It’s something we all deal with; it isn’t easy, and the feelings that come with it aren’t always pretty. But that doesn’t mean we have to lose our imaginations along the way. Our creativity is always with us, even if it flickers in and out.

You can find Abby Ferguson online at @ocreoart or write to her at ocreoart@gmail.com

Gallery Samples