Staff Writer

Melissa Ferris decided at age 12 it was time for her first job.

As a Kennebunk pre-teen, Ferris couldn’t apply at the new Hannaford or one of the small beach restaurants. So, she decided to become an illustrator.

Ferris, now 13, sent in a few pictures she had drawn to Stone Soup, a magazine with content written and illustrated by 8- to 13-year-olds, and got the job as a guest illustrator.

“I’ve been drawing ever since I was little, I’ve always loved to draw,” Ferris said. “I love drawing horses.”

For her debut, Ferris was assigned to illustrate a story called “Tear Drop’s Legacy,” which is featured on the front cover of July/August 2010 issue.

In the story, written by Olivia Smit of Canada, a horse named Tear Drop almost drowns at sea only to be rescued by a watchman on one of the ships carrying the horses back to England.

Stone Soup accepts writing and illustration applications from children all over the world. Ferris competed against hundreds of other children when she received the e-mail that the magazine had accepted her illustrations.

For the next six months, Ferris’ artwork sat in a file waiting to be paired with a story until “Tear Drop’s Legacy” came along.

Ferris said editors at Stone Soup magazine were very clear in what they wanted as illustrations for the story. She said she was given the dimensions and the scenes she needed to draw for the story, but still had some creative leeway, like in the patterns of clothing.

Unfortunately, this may be Ferris’ only illustration in the magazine because she will turn 14 in September – the cutoff age for the magazine.

Stone Soup receives hundreds of applicants for the six issues produced each year and approximately 10 illustrated stories per issue.

Ferris’ grandmother knew of her then 8-year-old granddaughter’s love of drawing and writing when she subscribed to the magazine. Last fall was not the only time Ferris tried her hand at being published; she also sent in stories to the magazine, but none were accepted.

“You just have to keep trying, you can’t give up,” Ferris said. “I just had a short story laying around so I just kind of sent it in, but I would have been a little disappointed if my drawings got turned down.”

Ferris said she would eventually like to spend more time focusing on writing, so one day she could become an English teacher or writer. In the meantime, she is focusing on her upcoming first year at Kennebunk High School, where she looks forward to art class.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.