Whitley County artist turned author Joni Walker shares her story at Literacy Council dinner
(Talk of the Town photo by Athena Metzger) Joni Walker, local artist, author and community volunteer, below, shared some of her work and news of her children's book, due out in June.
Athena Metzger
A message of hope for the future through literacy was further advanced local children’s author and illustrator Joni Walker. Walker was the guest speaker for the Literacy Council’s annual dinner Monday night at The Eagle’s Nest Event Center in Columbia City. 
The humble Whitley County author said that she had dreamt of being an artist, not an author and joked at the irony of her speaking at a Literacy Council. "Never assume what you’re going to be,” Walker cautioned her audience, as this might limit one’s opportunities.
Walker has book number thirteen, Jesus Hear Me coming out in June. Reflecting on being an author of so many books and of the ongoing success in an area she never expected to pursue, she says that she is “weirded out by it.”
“I can actually make money at drawing," she said, humbly surprised. "I am put off by being called an author,” Walker said.
Her latest book’s message is that kids can pray from anywhere, not just bed time, she said.
Walker said that she stumbled into writing when she put her career on hold to stay home and raise her children.
“I wrote stories for myself so I would have something to illustrate,” she said.
Remarkably, after years of rejection from the publishing world, her mostly rhyming books aimed at children six months to five years old have caught on.
“I’m hearing kids are wanting my books read to them over and over and over. That’s where it all starts,” said Walker, who always carries in her purse one of more than a dozen of her sketch books. Wherever she goes, she’s ready to capture ideas for future books — she even takes h er sketchbook to church, which is no longer surprising to fellow parishioners. In fact, Walker’s works frequently contain Christian material.
When her own daughter was having trouble understanding her catechism, Walker illustrated the entire lesson to make it clearer. She has also illustrated the Ten Commandments.
As if she’s not busy enough writing and illustrating her books, Walker also paints murals focused for children. She does not paint for individuals, but prefers to work for schools or businesses that serve children. The unassuming artist laughed at the hazards of her work — wobbly ladders — saying that she enlists her husband to help her do some of the monochromatic flat areas.
Walker’s books can be found locally at H & B Book Store in Columbia City, which will also order them for customers, several Christian bookstores in Fort Wayne, and can be ordered through Barnes & Noble.
Other titles by Walker published by Concordia Publishing House include the Follow and Do series, Jesus is With Me, Jesus Knows Me, and Tell Me the Easter Story.