Photo: Kim Tunnicliffe (WBZ NewsRadio)
BELLINGHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Renée Kurilla has been illustrating ever since she was a little girl.
"I never stopped drawing from when I was a kid," Kurilla told WBZ NewsRadio Friday. "I loved watching cartoons. I wanted to be a Disney animator. I went to Leslie University College of Art and Design."
Kurilla, who lives in Bellingham with her husband and daughter, has illustrated a new children's book written by actor Matthew McConaughey called "Just Because." The book is described as "a soulful and irreverent collection of life lessons that empowers readers, big and small, to celebrate how we are all full of possibility."
"It was an absolute honor. It was one of the highlights of my career so far, and it continues to be," Kurilla said.
In addition to illustrating 17 books for other authors, Kurilla has written and illustrated four of her own, including "A Springy, Singy Day," which was inspired by her daughter Zoey.
"I think she was about one-and-a-half to two when I wrote it," Kurilla said. "But it was the easiest book I ever sat down to write, and it happened so fast and I was shocked, actually, because I had been writing books for years and nothing ever really worked out. So she's my biggest inspiration."
"Just Because" will be released on Sept. 12. Meanwhile Kurilla is working on her latest book which is due this summer.
WBZ's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App