Erik Wieder, a Florida native, grew up in Homestead and experienced the life-changing effects of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. From a young age, Erik was immersed in the arts, attending art schools starting at the age of 11. Originally fascinated by architecture and spatial design, he shifted his focus to film, where he built a successful career as a documentary filmmaker. Erik went on to start his own production company, producing award-winning films that garnered international recognition. His professional journey took him around the world, but it was after the COVID-19 pandemic—and a personal journey through separation and divorce—that Erik rediscovered his love for storytelling and illustration.
It was during this period of reflection that The Chameleon Who Forgot His Colors was born, a story that blends Erik’s passion for visual storytelling with a message of self-acceptance and emotional growth. Today, Erik has channeled his experience into a new venture: Story Launch Publishing, a company dedicated to helping fellow author/illustrators bring their visions to life in the publishing world. Now based in Orlando, Florida, Erik continues to inspire both children and adults with his creative work, while raising two of his four children and building a community for visual storytellers.