Baldwin
Wallace
University
alumnae
and
Pittsburgh
natives
Grace
McConnell
'15
and
Samantha
Harris
'15
recently
published
their
new
children's
book,
"The
Adventures
of
Emma
and
Ollie,"
a
story
about
the
adventures
and
friendship
of
the
titular
characters,
a
teddy
bear
named
Emma
and
a
stuffed
penguin
named
Ollie.
Harris, an actor and acting coach in Los Angeles, wrote the book's heartwarming story. McConnell, a freelance photographer, illustrator and fine artist based in Cleveland, contributed the wonderful illustrations in her first time working on a project like this. Together, they were able to publish their book and sell it on Amazon.
Harris,
who
earned
a
Bachelor
of
Arts
in
theatre
acting
and
directing
at
BW,
penned
the
book
during
the
pandemic.
She
says,
"Without
being
able
to
perform
(or
even
really
audition)
for
crowds
of
people
together
in
one
room,
I
used
writing
and
collaborating
with
Grace
on
this
book
as
a
creative
outlet
in
a
time
with
so
much
uncertainty."
About her inspiration, Harris notes, "I wrote the book based on my childhood stuffed animals," but she credits her theatre and dance professors for helping her "find the innovation in little things and bring them to life in this way."
McConnell, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in studio art at BW, also expressed gratitude for her professors, calling them "incredibly encouraging, during school and after."
