Our Mission Statement

Through CindJoyBooks, author Cindy L. Rodriguez, and illustrator Joyce L. Elliott, strive to bring alive stories and historical events that are important for young readers to understand. The constant goal to impart integrity, vision, and hope to all who open their books creates a firm foundation for all work this team presents.

How We Got Here

The year 2007 was a pretty depressing year. Coming to the end of a trying new career, Cindy had to step out of the mortgage industry. Checking her options, she contacted her previous employer, her local school district, letting them know she was once again available to work should anything open up.

Already feeling pretty low about things, she had a bittersweet opportunity to open up in the school she had worked in previously. She was asked to be available to fill in for a dear friend who was dying from cancer. While she felt honored to be asked to help, it was sad to know the world would be losing one of the most amazing people to have ever lived. Nonetheless, she stepped in and had the blessing of being a part in helping her coworkers through this very difficult time.

On September 11th of that year, two children in the kindergarten classroom were turning six years old. Quick math told her these little ones were born in 2001. While the teacher was teaching, Cindy stepped out to look for materials geared towards that age group. Finding nothing to explain the events of September 11, 2001, to young children, she immediately formulated the manuscript for her first book, I WAS BORN ON 9/11.

Shortly after preparing the manuscript for submission to a publisher, she found her present publisher, Publish America. They wanted to print it as soon as Cindy found an illustrator. Unable to find an illustrator, she shelved the idea for the time. Zoom ahead to 2009. Publish America, emailed her their interest in publishing the book and made an offer for her to hire an illustrator. Unable to pay, she opened up the search for an artist once again. Enter Joyce Elliott.

Upon realizing Joyce was an artist, Cindy immediately explained her situation to her. Joyce was thrilled and as you will see in the books, she has committed herself to telling the story through her wonderful watercolors and expressive symbolism. CindJoyBooks is a collaborative effort between these women who are living their dreams of seeing their work published.

What's CindJoyBook's future?

Joyce and Cindy are truly enjoying their opportunities to be published. Their partnership has been exciting as they have seen four books go to print within the last year and a half. They will soon be working on their fifth and last book in the 9/11 series and shortly after, focusing in on other projects they are passionate about.

As 2011, approaches, we will be seeing the 10th anniversary of 9/11. They are hoping to help spread the word about this event that has so greatly changed the course of a nation.