Daily Inspiration: Meet Gina Stevens

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Stevens.  

Hi Gina, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I have always loved art, so when it came to choosing a major in college there was no doubt that I wanted to major in art. I started out as a painting major then switched over to graphic design 3 years in hopes of finding a better job path. I graduated from WMU in 2010 with my BFA in fine art – Graphic Design. From there I worked in a few different corporate jobs which included marking for a local beer distributer, marketing and design for a large hotel in Kalamazoo (Rasisson Plaza Hotel Kalamazoo) and finally I spent 7 years at Kellogg Company working in corporate communications as a graphic designer. I got married in 2016 and had my son in 2018. I had anticipated to keep working after he was born but decided to quit my corporate job to stay home with him once he was born. I opened my own business called Nine18 Creative LLC, where I continued to do freelance graphic design work part-time while raising my son. After working corporate jobs for so long, I had the itch to get back to something that involved drawing and painting and using those fine art skills. I really missed being the my studio. Staying home with my son gave me that flexibility to get little pockets of time to do that. After reading many many picture books to him, I had the idea of creating my own picture book for him. It initially was just going to be a single copy, printed online quick but eventually evolved into being a self-published book. I did lots of research and decided to self-publish (did all my own writing, illustrating, finding a printer, ISBN and copywriting, marketing, etc.). A Tree Could Be took a little over two years from initial idea to having a final printed copy in my hands. Then in 2018, my daughter was born, so I then began to create a book for her. In 2020 I self-published Color Me Blue for her. That too took almost 2 years to publish start to finish. Since then, I have been selling both books exclusively at craft shows and local in Kalamazoo, MI. Neither of my books are available on Amazon but can be purchased at my website www.nine18creative.com. I have also been doing many school author visits where I read to the kids and explain my writing/illustrating process as well as teaching some watercolor classes. Currently, I am working on book #3 as baby #3 is due here in May 2023. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Because I “work” while also taking care of my two kids (Griffin 4, Greenleigh 2), I have to be very strategic when it comes to my time. I often paint and draw during nap or after they go to bed at night. Also, being “self-published” I make literally EVERY decision when it comes to my books. Sometimes it is tough to know the best direction to take. Because of that, I have been very conservative with my selling and advertising as I know it can get really overwhelming very fast. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For “work,” I am a mom first. My kids have been and will always be my priority. Second, I am a freelance graphic designer. I do all kinds of design from logos to presentations to party invites. Being an author/illustrator, I’m not sure I would call “work,” but it is a great journey I am on and most fulfilling. I think being the author as well as the illustrator for a book is pretty unique. I have used my art schooling, my marketing background, and corporate experience to create a product and sell it all on my own. My favorite part is sharing my stories and artwork around town. The best part is including my kids in the selling of “their” books. My son really loved passing out bookmarks at the holiday craft show this past winter. Too my daughter now recognizes “her” book when she sees me selling it or getting books ready for book signings. I am most proud of being able to make them something that they will be able to cherish for a lifetime that they know was made special just for them. I think what sets me apart is that many people talk about doing things like this, but very few actually follow through. It is easy to make up excuses that you don’t have enough time or resources, but if you put your heart to it and prioritize, you find the time and resources to create what your heart desires. 

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
This day and age you can have a “job” that is non-traditional. While I was going through school, the focus was always to get a great career and be successful. No one ever prepared me that once I had kids, I would take a completely different direction. Your priorities change, and you change your way of working. You really need to look at the big picture and chose which route is best to “fill your bucket.” I was caught completely off guard when I decided to quit my corporate job (that I loved) to stay home with my kids. That being said, it was the best decision I have every made. I never would have had the time to create these two books for them had I not been home. 

Pricing:

• A Tree Could Be – $20
• Color Me Blue – $20

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nine18creative.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nine18creative
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nine18creative.ginastevens