30 Oct 2024 Author of the Month: Faye Hedera

By Susan L. Peterson

“The Lovely Fruit Fairies” is a children’s poetry book by Faye Hedera and Zelie Minette that was published this spring. The years-long road and back story that brought about its release is nothing but extraordinary.

Following an accident more than four years ago, Hedera was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND), which caused changes in how her brain’s network functioned. The disorder caused immense physical challenges, and for a time period, she was unable to sit upright or walk. She found that painting was a good distraction during these times, and she had a proclivity for it. She set up a special area where she could paint while reclining since other positions were impossible.

One day, on a whim, she painted a fairy on an orange tree. The image delighted her so much she decided to paint another and another and another.

The artist realized she was reflecting her own disability in what she was creating. “As I began to accept my own disability, the vision for a series developed into fairies experiencing various disabilities and facial differences that would potentially delight children and adults who could recognize themselves in the illustrations.”

The bright, cheerful illustrations normalize children with disabilities, both visible and invisible. Readers may observe a fairy who is seated in a wheelchair with toadstool wheels, and another without hair is intently reading, but these are subtle and nuanced, not the focal point. She realized her work could bring joy to others, especially those with disabilities who seldom see themselves represented in literature. She had a new purpose.

When it came time to put words to the drawings, she turned to her then 12-year-old daughter, Zelie, for help. The mother/daughter team inspired each other, and together they constructed upbeat, cheerful poems that emphasize friendship and fun.

Following the release of their book in March, Hedera and Minette visited libraries, bookstores and other locations. The two have developed their own sensory-friendly program with activities that include the children, making it a magical experience for them. Some little ones arrive dressed as a fairy, which brings a smile to everyone.

Hedera and her family relocated to Conway from Florida in 2022, and since her arrival, she has made quite a positive impact on her new community. Like a fairy sprinkling her dust, she has created networks and friendships through her many projects. In addition to her book publication, she initiated the “100 Faces of Conway” art project, is president of The Central Arkansas Collective in Conway, hosts “Meet the Conwegians,” a monthly TV series on Channel 5, is directing a national feature-length documentary film about FND, which will be produced in association with The Center For Independent Documentaries, and is curating a historical collection of Arkansas artwork created by her great-grandmother Lenis Bevill, who lived in Center Hill.

“The Lovely Fruit Fairies” is available on Amazon and from other online bookstores. For more information about Hedera, her book and her many other projects, visit her at FayeHedera.com.