🎨 Hello!
How do we keep going…in our creativity, in our relationships with others, in our relationship with ourself?
I recently made an important decision about the direction of my creative work. I’ve dedicated myself to launching Autism Brothers Books and creating stories about my two Autistic sons on travel adventures around the world. This project is so close to my heart. But in order to focus in on this series, I’ve had to give up other projects…other dreams. It’s a risk to put all my artwork eggs in this book series basket - a creative risk and a financial risk and a risk to my ego.
I’m willing to take this risk because this Kickstarter project makes me feel like I am moving forward with my Autism awareness advocacy in a way that’s uniquely me. I feel like Autism Brothers Books is the cumulating of my lifetime of creative gathering, up to now. I’ve been planting seeds and nurturing those seeds for so many years. Now is the time to give everything I have to the harvest.
It can get overwhelming to know so much is riding on this one project. In times like these, the way to keep going is simply one step at a time. One step forward toward your beautiful future is a worthy goal.
Whatever season you find yourself in with your creative work…the sun is shining or the rain is pouring or the snow is drifting - I’m sending love to you.
Good journey,
~Emily Lupita
🌸 Dance All Night
There are times in life when we simply need to dance all night. We need to let go of the difficult parts of life for a few hours and just smile - beam with love in celebration. I was honored to be invited to my friend Ezgi’s wedding this weekend. It was the biggest, most fabulous, energetic party I’ve ever been to. The food! The music! The dresses!
I attended with a group of women neighbors - we have low-key picnics together once a week outside the apartment building where we all live. On this night, we were glamorous and dressed to the nines. It was a welcomed respite from feeling like a foreigner for me. On this night, I was one of the girls. I had a place at the table reserved with my name.
There’s so much power in being yourself and being welcomed into a group as that unmasked self. I love this Brene Brown quote:
“The opposite of belonging is fitting in.”
As I move forward with my creativity journey, I’ve promised myself I’ll show up as my authentic self, each and every time. It’s not an easy promise to make. But I don’t want to just fit in anymore. I want to belong.
🌈 Autism Brothers Books - Kickstarter Live
A little about my big project launch, happening now…
Charlie and Archie are real-life Turkish-American brothers. They are both diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, although they are on very different places on the Spectrum. I’m the Brothers’ mom. I’m an American Latina author & illustrator from Iowa, USA. I’ve launched a Kickstarter project to help me create the book series.
This is a page from the first book in the Autism Brothers Book Series. It’s about Charlie & Archie visiting Cappadocia, Turkiye.
🦋 My Mission
I am creating the Autism Brothers Book Series because I want my sons to see themselves in the books we read. Representation matters. I want Charlie & Archie to see themselves going around the world on travel adventures…if not in real life due to their specific exceptional needs, then in these stories and paintings made with love by their mom.
I want this for others, too…for all the Autistic individuals and their families out there who deserve representation in children’s books (and everywhere else, too).
💙 Thank you!
Thank you for your encouragement and support of this very special project. It’s so close to my heart. Please consider sharing with your family & friends & local Autism awareness organization.
I have a goal to post my new portraits and videos up on my Instagram account as they flow out. I hope to connect with you there as well. @EmilyLupitaSeries
🙏🏼 A Prayer
❤️🔥