ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — “Jubilee”.

When that word is spoken along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay in late summer, every native Alabamian knows they will be eating good for the next few days.

Occurring naturally on the shores of Mobile Bay and dating back to the 1600’s, this phenomenon brings different kinds of crab, shrimp, flounder and eel to the shallow waters of the bay and residents fill up coolers and buckets to the brim, usually in the predawn hours of the morning. The first use of the word “jubilee” dates back to 1912 when the Mobile Daily Register reported on it.

According to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), low levels of dissolved oxygen cause lethargy and these animals seek oxygen in the shallow water along the shore. This usually happens at least once a year but could occur a few times if conditions are right and could be big or small depending on the amount of animals in the water at the time.

And because of her knowledge of jubilees and love for creating sealife-themed art, author and artist Angela Erwin, a Fairhope native, decided to bring those experiences to life through words when she wrote “Jumpin’ Jubilee” in 2003.

Erwin entertained the students at Robertsdale Elementary School on Thursday, February 24 by reading her book and giving a mini-art lesson on how to draw sea creatures to the different classes throughout the day.

And although Erwin wrote the book in 2003, she didn’t get a publishing contract until 2004 and wasn’t published until 2005.

“This book was originally written in 2003 but my first book ’Crabby’ was in the works and the publisher wouldn’t take another submission until a year after the first was published. ‘Jumpin Jubilee’ has a copyright of 2009, (published by Pine Hill Books in Pine Hill, Alabama) but it took a year to a year and half to complete the edits and new illustrations, Erwin said.

A graduate of Spring Hill College in Mobile, Erwin has worked in marketing and held jobs with the YMCA, Association for Retarded Citizens, and the chamber of commerce. She also molds and paints porcelain for a local pottery shop.

“Getting started writing was sort of an accident. I went to a painting class while in school and just had little stories pop in my head. I’d write them down, and sealife being the center of my art at the time, they fit together nicely, and I ended up with an illustrated story,” Erwin said.

If it hadn’t been for her mother pushing her to become published, Erwin said her writing career would have never happened.

“They would only be drawings and a cute story I would have kept for my grandchildren one day,” Erwin explained.

There will be a re-release of “Crabby” by the new publisher and a third book in the works in the coming months, Erwin said.

Books can be purchased for $17.34 (tax included) online at jumpinjubileebook.com or at Page and Palette in Fairhope.