Right, Sylvia Zellner displays a copy of “Potato Bug Race,” the children’s book she illustrated for Statesboro author, Verdery Boyd Kennedy. Sylvia Zellner of Millen has joined the ranks of those who have turned a hobby into an official career. Mrs. Zellner recently provided illustrations for a children’s book written by Verdery Boyd Kennedy of Statesboro.

“Potato Bug Race” is a delightful story about Randy the rabbit who decides to grow his own potato bugs to enter in a race being held in the community of Hopulikit because he wants to win the prize, a pair of skates. Randy’s endeavors, along with the cover for the book, are beautifully illustrated by Mrs. Zellner who says she met the author, Mrs. Kennedy, through her longtime hobby, creating personal greeting cards.

“I had placed several of my greeting cards at The Daily Grind, a little coffee shop in Statesboro. Verdery saw them there, gave me a copy of her manuscript and asked me to submit three illustrations. She liked what I did, and we began to work on the book,” explained Mrs. Zellner.

Mrs. Zellner also designs and makes greeting/note cards, below, using colored pencils and Scherenschnitte, German paper cutting. (Staff photos by Deborah Bennett) Although Mrs. Zellner has been creating personal greeting cards for family and friends for years, she never expected that her drawings would lead her to the field of book illustration.

“I just saw the greeting cards as a ministry. I have always been artistic and interested in crafts, but never expected to do this,” said Mrs. Zellner.

The project, however, was something she enjoyed thoroughly, she said.

Mrs. Zellner lives with her husband Dan, a Baptist minister. She enjoys drama, sewing, crossstitching and painting in oil, acrylic and watercolor. She also designs and makes greeting/note cards using colored pencils and Scherenschnitte, German paper cutting.

Mrs. Kennedy is a retired Assistant Professor of Learning- Support Reading from Georgia Southern University. She currently resides in Statesboro with her husband Mike.

A book signing is planned for some time this month at the Book and Crannie in Statesboro, where “Potato Bug Race” may be purchased. Locally, the book may purchased from Mrs. Zellner by calling 982-5533.