By LISA BICKNELL
CV&T News Editor
Alicia King Broaddus has published her first children’s book.
Estill County native Alicia King Broaddus has branched out from her career in graphic design, technical illustrating and technical writing to follow her passion.
Her first children’s book, Penny Pig Takes a Bath, tells the charming story of a pig who loved to wallow in the mud with her buddies.
The seeds for Alicia’s first children’s book were planted in her childhood. It was then that she learned to love a good book, and it was then that she also learned to appreciate pigs, because she lived between two farms that raised them.
The book began as a bubble-bath story-time ritual with her grandkids after they would come in from a day of playing outside.
Alicia told the story over and over, as well as several others. She eventually put Penny Pig to paper and decided to make it available outside the circle of her own family.
Over the course of the last six years, she spent her spare time working on the colorful illustrations that would go into the book.
“I’ve used a variety of styles and mediums for my illustrations, from pastels, watercolor, acrylics, and ink, to computer graphics. Sometimes I combine them,” Alicia wrote on her website. “I’ve even discovered the joys of drawing on my tablet, although I still relish the opportunity for hands-on art.”
Alicia has a background in sales, marketing, and web design, so the entire publishing process was a natural leap for her. She decided to become her own publishing company, which she named Heart One.
Penny Pink was released in December of 2016, and has already been sold in 14 states, Washington, DC, and Guyana, South America.
“It’s on my radar to find other means of making it available,” said Alicia, who is in the process of reaching out to bookstores. She also enjoys readings and signings and working with parent and church groups.
The book is also available at www.aliciabroaddus.com. A portion of book sales will be donated to the International Celebration Organization. Sixty-one copies of Penny Pink have already been donated to village libraries in Guyana through that organization.
“Anyone who would like to send a book directly to Guyana can do so through my website,” said Alicia, who will also be supporting other charitable projects through her book sales.
Alicia has written an additional two dozen stories, and she is working on illustrations for a Christmas story.
The only art classes she ever had were the standard ones offered in the Estill County schools she attended growing up, she said.
Alicia is the daughter of Tish and Jim King and a member of the class of 1978 at Estill County High School. She married Tom Broaddus, also an Estill native. He is the son of Billy and Isazel Broaddus.
“We have roots in Irvine that run deep,” said Alicia, who comes home frequently and is currently in for an extended visit to help care for her mother who is recovering from a major heart procedure.
Alicia and her husband have lived in Indian Trail, North Carolina for the past three years. Before that, they were long-time Kentuckians, living in Lexington for 22 years and in Richmond for 11 years.
They have two daughters and five grandchildren whose ages range from three to eighteen.
Alicia will read her book to the preschool Story Hour group at the Estill County Public library on Wednesday, April 5, at 10:30 a.m.
Alicia has loved writing and sharing Penny Pink with her grandchildren but says, “it’s really fun when someone else enjoys it.