Porter the Hoarder and Rebecca Swift vBy Brandi Bue Rebecca Swift, who now lives in Bridgewater, is a makeup artist, social media director for independent films, performs in her band Trabecca, and is a mom to three, but she is also the creator and illustrator for a series of children’s books called Porter the Hoarder. She works with Sean Covel, most notably the producer of the movie Napoleon Dynamite, to put these fun “read-and-find” books into small hands. Sean and Rebecca have worked with elementary schools across the state of South Dakota to put their first book, Porter the Hoarder and the Ransacked Room, in all the schools. “Porter is a great learning tool for children.” With Porter, you learn counting, finding, how to sort, how to channel big emotions and that those emotions are okay. “She’s such a unique character and is adored by everyone whose path she crosses.” Rebecca has been drawing since she was a kid. Her aunt Alice is cited as a huge inspiration for Rebecca. “She taught me how to draw faces, always had drawings, illustrations, and sculptures in her studio. I was fascinated by it.” However, she also cites her love of Disney and animated movies as a source of inspiration. And of course, Rebecca finds inspiration in her children; Logan, Quinn, and Tommy. Rebecca also remembers doodling and drawing every day. She also remembers coming up with new characters all the time. Rebecca’s favorite book while growing up was the Little House on the Prairie series. “I never thought when I was a little girl living in Tennessee and Ohio that I would end up on the same plains of South Dakota, living in a little house in a small town being involved in the book world myself. Some full circle stuff right there!” Porter the Hoarder is a Look-and-Find and counting book series that follows a little girl with a huge personality through different tasks and places - in her bedroom, through nature, in a grotesque grocery store, through a monster neighborhood - all in the hopes of helping her tidy up while she sorts through a wide variety of some questionable but also some really cool items. “Look-and-finds were my personal favorite when I was a kid. I had a huge collection. I was always more intrigued by pictures and illustrations and the color schemes than the words.” The character of Porter came to be once Rebecca was in her 20s and after she had children. Porter the Hoarder began while Rebecca was cleaning her daughter Logan’s room when Logan was a toddler. Call or Stop By For All Your Heating and Cooling Needs! 2018 Broadway, Yankton 605-665-4348 M-F 8am-5pm Saturday 8am-Noon We Stock Filters 14vHERVOICEvSEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 Chris Rederick, Service Technician