and it was there that I took every course that I could on writing,
and it was there that I wrote a story about a giant orange slug
who wanted to be friends with this kid.
The kid had no patience for him.
And I sent this book out to a dozen publishers
and it was rejected every single time,
but I was also involved with the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp,
an amazing camp for kids with all sorts of critical illnesses,
and it's those kids at the camp that read my stories,
and I read to them, and I saw that they responded to my work.
I graduated from RISD. My grandparents were very proud,
and I moved to Boston, and I set up shop.
I set up a studio and I tried to get published.
I would send out my books. I would send out hundreds of postcards
to editors and art directors,
but they would go unanswered.
And my grandfather would call me every week,
and he would say, "Jarrett, how's it going? Do you have a job yet?"
Because he had just invested a significant amount of money
in my college education.
And I said, "Yes, I have a job. I write and illustrate children's books."