Meet Reina Martinez | Children’s book author & illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Reina Martinez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Reina, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Music, nature, movement, time well spent with friends, creating art and being mindful of all the little things. Staying positive is very important to me. Your circumstances may change, actually, they WILL change. That is the constant in our life; change. But your reaction to the ebbs and flows of life are way more important than the circumstances themselves. So breaking away from monotonous airplane mode life and looking around with fresh eyes brings me that joy and happiness that we need in this life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am so proud that I will be releasing my first children’s book “Quailvis” this year! I fell in love with writing stores when I was in third grade. My teacher, Mrs. Hamilton always started the day with us writing and drawing in our journals and there were many assignments fostering creativity and the love of books. I always had a wild imagination and being able to mold that into words and pictures brought me so much joy. Writing children’s books was the first thing I wanted to do, just out of the joy it brought me and not by the pressures of this world. Quailvis launches on Kickstarter February seventh and I am so proud (and scared) that he will be flying into this world. I have written and Illustrated “Quailvis” and young me is screaming for joy at the thought if it being in the hands of other little ones. Daydreaming about this book was easy, but writing, deciding to do the illustrations myself and the research into self publishing has not been so easy. I really didn’t know how I was going to market my book and get Quailvis out into the world. Instead of just showing up on social media with what I do on a day to day and sprinkling in that I wrote a book I got my main character made into a plush animal and take him with me on my adventures! It’s a fun way to post about my life and get the conversation started. Through it all I’ve learned a lot about myself and the way my mind works and can accomplish goals. Publishing this book was a struggle because I had absolutely no idea where to start but thank God for YouTube and Facebook groups of other independent authors supporting one another. I’ve chosen to focus one day at a time, set mini goals and realize that time goes by whether you are working toward your dreams or not. I HAVE to put in the work. I want the world to know that you CAN do it. You can balance the things you need to do and the things you want to do. Although “Quailvis” is a children’s book with its fun rhymes and vivid illustrations, I hope it speaks to adults with its message to remain young at heart and never dim your light, find joy in the little things; make art, laugh, be silly! This is the premise of my book and the way I want to live every day of my life; mindful and joyous.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living on the Central Coast there are so many beautiful places! I am nestled right in between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Some of my favorite places are The natural history museum in Santa Barbara, especially in September when they have their Butterflies Alive exhibit. The Santa Barbara trapeze company is something i think everyone should try! A day flying in the air then lunch at Pascuccis! We would spend a day at El Capitan state beach and enjoy a hike up the the wind caves. I would take her for breakfast at Capulin in Lompoc with the best coffee and agua fresca then make her sweat it out at an all women’s kickboxing gym in town (can’t let her slack off on vacation!) Lompoc has a bunch of tiny shops that support local artists so we would walk along old town Lompoc and find one of a kind goodies. I would check if there were any shows going on at the Fremont or Palm theatre in SLO and catch another hike on Avila ridge trail followed by a nice soak on a mountain top hot spring at Sycamore hot springs.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Terri Lajda, my friend, amazing lady base and formatter of my first children’s book. I couldn’t have done this without you. Kelly LaMar for your never ending encouragement and my daughter Alina for making me laugh every day.

Website: Reinamartinezauthor.com

Instagram: @reinamartinezauthor

Facebook: Facebook.com/reinamartinezauthor