UNIVERSITY OF ALISON CREATIVE

Welcome to the University of Alison Creative!

Where successful creativity is not about perfection, but persistence.

Where imagination and how we use it matters.

This is a place for wonder and the unwavering belief that who we are, and how we dream makes a difference. This world is full of a lot of voices and it is imperative that we each use ours. Creativity is an underestimated voice that without, we may never sing or have a song to dance to. A. A. Milne (author of Winnie the Pooh) once said that the only reason he could find to do anything is that he wanted to do it. Likewise, Beyoncé once said, ‘Who needs a degree when you are schoolin’ life?’ Two statements that I, the president of the University of Alison Creative, whole heartedly stand behind.

I attended college for one semester in 2013 before dropping out to begin a career in writing and illustrating children’s book. (This was the first step in becoming a dreamer extraordinaire.) I began by illustrating a preschool curriculum and continued the year by beginning my own book. By 2015 I finished writing and illustrating my first book. ‘The Legend of the Starfish’ came out in April of 2016, sending all proceeds to help refugees in Iraq and Libya. Since then my adventures and wild schemes have continued. From calling a New York Publishing Director’s home phone to pitch an idea, becoming friends with Dr. Seuss’ wife, to flying to Europe to submit a second book to the world’s top Children’s Director.

Simply put in Lewis Carroll’s book, Alice in Wonderland, “…but Alice had got so much into the way of expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen, that it seemed quite dull and stupid for life to go on in the common way.”

There is no need to live life leaving our dreams in our thoughts, they were meant for more than that. You are meant for more than that.

So, welcome. To the University of Alison Creative, a space where I will be sharing the process of what I do and why. What inspires, challenges, projects to stretch the imagination, along with original stories to spark it.

This is a place for the dreamers.

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...

Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”

-Shel Silverstein