The Journey, Indeed

A new children’s book rooted in farm life near Fallon has brought together two local creatives: author George Albert Morrow, whose short stories draw from real experiences he and his wife, Jean, have had on their farm, and illustrator Brynn A. Turner, a young Churchill County artist whose talent has been nurtured since childhood.

Morrow, a longtime children’s book author, developed “The Journey” from stories he created to entertain his sons during family trips. As the manuscript evolved, he began looking for an illustrator who could bring the characters to life. A family friend, Marion Jonte, suggested his granddaughter, Brynn Turner — a connection that ultimately shaped the book’s visual identity.

Turner said she could draw before she could write, sketching with anything she could find — pencils, crayons, markers. Her grandmother, Clara Jean Turner, encouraged her early talent by introducing her to charcoal pencils and new materials, helping her experiment and grow. Turner later enrolled in Patricia Sammon’s art classes, her only formal training, and contributed to the mural on the side of Momma’s Meats, painting geese, toolies, and ducks. She also entered the Duck Stamp contest three times, earning honorable mention.

Illustrating “The Journey” presented new challenges. The story is based on the biblical account of Noah’s Ark, with animals traveling two by two as a storm approaches. Turner said drawing animals was difficult, especially the main character, Peter the marmot. Having never seen a marmot, she and her mother visited a colony in Reno to study their movements and features. She sketched repeatedly until she felt she had captured them accurately. The final artwork was outlined in India ink and painted in watercolor.

When Morrow submitted the manuscript and illustrations, the publisher initially cautioned that they “don’t accept a few words and some pictures.” Two days after receiving the materials, the book was approved for publication.