Hi! I'm Leigh Ann Lemire, also known as ILIA and Pretty Penny - pen names of mine.

I've been writing since I was fifteen years old on a fateful day when I scribbled out a prose (like a poem but doesn't rhyme).

Of course, I didn't know what I did so when my Aunt Marie came up to me and asked if I knew what I did, I thought I was in some sort of trouble.

So, quaking in my shoes, I said "nooo" rather timidly - my Aunt said you wrote a prose!
Then I only looked dumbfounded because I had no idea what a "prose" was!

My Aunt must've seen my blank look and understood right away that I had no idea what she was talking about because she instantly told me a simple definition: A prose is like a poem but it doesn't rhyme.

I beamed! I was a poet and didn't know it! ahahahahaaa!

I soon found out that I had two uncles besides my Aunt Marie that were writers/poets and I was 'taken under wing'. My first step as a writer was to decide on a Pen Name and that is where ILIA came from.

Later in life, at the age of 30, my dear friend and mentor Ralph E. Grimes, encouraged me to pick up the paint brush to see what I could do as he saw my doodles and drawings. I did so and have been painting since!

I started with oil on canvas, was soon after introduced to acrylics and have been using acrylics ever since because I haven't run out of ways to create with the acrylics paints.

I must mention that my mentors as a writer and artist have used encouragements and pointed out the things that I did that were correct. This is just the opposite of the modern method of teaching by invalidation and criticism intended to "get rid of" the artists that cannot take it.

Therefore, I am paying it forward by helping creative and talented people worldwide online since 1999 with inspiration, tips, how-to’s instructions and services that enable an artist to not only find the muse but also make a living.

I have made public appearances including 3 guest appearances on the Hollywood Television Show “Journey to the Cosmos”.

My poetry, along with other poets, has been published in the book “Bamboo Souls – Poetic Visions for a Better World”.

I'm also the author of three websites - designing and writing most of the content.

Plus I run two online forums and contribute opportunities and information to the Artists for a Better World website.

You can view my artistic creations and literary works at: Ilia's Fine Art Gallery

If you’re a creative person, you are welcome to join the community at Help 2 Succeed to get advice, how-to's, free downloads, free advertising, join the forum and much more: Help 2 Succeed H2S Your Formula for Success in The Arts.

If you need advertising/marketing help, would like to make more money, join a friendly community forum where you can advertise for free and much more, you are welcome to join the community at Value House: Value House

At Value House, I write a free newsletter and author a blog called Penny Pages and use the pen name Pretty Penny. I write lessons on advertising and marketing that take a person from simple basics to gain understanding through the gradient steps to creating advertising and marketing campaigns with tips, tricks and proven resources. Follow along on the journey by clicking here.

At Help 2 Succeed, I also author a free newsletter and run a blog using my pen name ILIA. In this blog, I give resources for artists and post my latest paintings ("Hot Off the Brush") and literary works ("Hot Off the Pen"). You can visit this blog by clicking here.

My two office assistants, Mr. Max A. Million and Mr. Opie Taylor, (as you can see here) - also author a blog called a Cats Eye View. Max is the better typer and gives his a-mew-sing stories. You can visit this blog by clicking here.





Thanks for stopping by!
Leigh Ann Lemire



logo & graphic illustrations by Ilia

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