By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
For decades, Cesili Williams has been a popular and respected actress, singer and voiceover artist.
Over the years, she has garnered notable reviews for her various roles.
She’s hoping the positive accolades will continue with her latest role as the author of a children’s book, “Umi Rainbow River’s Great Inventor.”
While the term “author” is new to her resumé, Williams calls her latest role, “the most meaningful yet.”
Her debut book reflects her passion for inspiring kids to celebrate their individuality.
“Creating and making up stories is something I was into and have done for a long time,” Williams said. “My initial goal was to start as a children’s book and eventually pitch it as a series. That’s my ultimate goal.”
Williams said she wanted to create a story that would not only entertain but also educate and inspire young readers.
“I wanted a unicorn that looks like you can hug it,” she said. “I wanted to create a series. I was doing voiceover for a big company. I needed to find something else to do.”
Williams, who has appeared on countless TV shows, television commercials, animation, video games and stage productions, has found a new stage in the form of a tome, which invites children to use their imagination to the fullest.
In “Umi,” when a young unicorn decides she is perfect the way she is, a whole new world of science and creativity opens up for her.
The book tells the enchanting story of a unicorn living in the magical land of Rainbow River. A creative inventor who is constantly coming up with inventions to prove herself, Umi is overshadowed by her family and its successful pie shop.
She soon embraces their differences and follows her dream of being a great inventor. After a few hiccups along the way, a whole new world filled with magic, science and endless creativity opens for her as she surpasses even her expectations.
“I was inspired to write this book by my daughter Weslyn, who is 7,” said Williams, a Chicago native who received her master’s in fine arts degree from CalArts and a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University, both with a focus in acting. “I’m an actress. I’m always auditioning. My agent also sent me stuff for my daughter, who wasn’t having it.
“My daughter would tell me she is a scientist. One night after voice-over auditions, I just started typing. What developed was the story of a unicorn that was an inventor.”
Williams said “the story came about organically.”
“I was a theater teacher for young kids,” she said. “I used to get a stuffed animal and make up a story about the animal and everyone had to add to the story. Although ‘Umi’ is my first book, creating and making up stories is something I was into and have done for a long time. It was inspired by Weslyn. Rainbow River just fell out of me.”
Williams began writing the book in 2022. A self-described night owl, she would work on the book in the middle of the night after her daughter went to sleep.
“It worked out great,” Williams. “I have a sound booth at my home, so I was able to do my voiceovers there. When working on camera, I worked one or two days a week. I learned to balance my schedule. I was determined to get this done.”
To complement the story of Umi, Williams hired illustrator Nadia Ronquillo.
“I liked her work,” she said. “It was detailed but joyful. The brightness of the eyes. I didn’t want the book to look like I created it with AI. The illustrations needed to look like they could be on screen.
“Her work looks like it can jump off the page,” Williams added. “You have to surround yourself with people who know more than you so they can elevate what you bring to the table. She is in Ecuador. I’ve never met her in person, but she understood exactly what I needed. She illustrates and does book formatting and cover set-up. She’s really good.”
Williams self-published the book because she wanted it to sound like she speaks.
“When you have someone editing your book, they want it to sound how they speak,” she said. “I didn’t want that. I had to fight for that.”
Although it’s listed under the “children’s book” category, Williams said the book is actually for everybody.
“Everybody can relate to this story,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how old you are. It has something for everybody. You never stop learning.”
Although she’s using this creative literature muscle for the first time, Williams said she is happy with the results. When she finished the book, she said there was a moment of “Sheer excitement and pride.”
“When I thought about the dream of what it can be and turn into, it was pure excitement,” she said. “It felt amazing to add something else to my repertoire. As an entertainer, you have to diversify. I do everything.
“If you focus on one thing, all you think about is what you’re not getting. Do everything. Nothing will feel slow. Now that the book is out, I’m feeling more of what I am.”
With the publishing of “Umi,” Williams said she feels like she can throw her shoulders back.
“It’s a level of sophistication,” she said. “It feels like it’s the next step. This is the next level of who I am. I’m a true storyteller. I’ve always enjoyed writing. I’ve been journaling since I was 20. This feels like I’ve reached who I am completely.”
“Umi, Rainbow River’s Great Inventor,” illustrated by Nadia Ronquillo, and published through Ingram Spark, can be found on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble, Walmart, Culver City Library, Sol Baby bookstore, and Village Well Bookstore in Culver City. It is available for $15 in paperback, $24.99 in hardcover.
Authors wanting to be featured in Book Corner can send a request to newsroom@wavepublication.com.Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
