Illustration Friday - Star gazing

An illustration from my picture book, DANCING DREAMS, to be released next month by Accord/Andrews McMeel.

WriteOnCon

There's a free online writer's conference focused on picture books, middle grade, and YA going on right now at http://writeoncon.com.

You can see videos, read about editor and agent preferences, etc. Here are just some of the topics:

Questions to Ask Yourself Before a Revision by editor Kendra Levin
Illustrating Children's Books by author/illustrator J.H. Everett and Studio 5
Plot and Pacing Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, by author/literary agent Weronika Janczuk
Myths and Misconceptions by literary agent Holly Root, and editors Molly O'Neill and Martha Mihalick
Do's and Don't's of Querying by literary agent Kate Testerman

Enjoy!

Illustration Friday - Paisley

Cora in her paisley dress from my award-winning picture book, Cora Cooks Pancit. In a week I'll receive the APALA picture book award for this book at the ALA conference in Washington DC!

Illustration Friday - Slither

Another illustration from my picture book, DANCING DREAMS, to be published by Accord Publishing in Sept 2010.

Illustration Friday - Early

This is an early peek at a picture book I have coming out in Sept 2010. The title is DANCING DREAMS, to be published by Accord Publishing. In this story, Gracie dreams of dancing everything from ballet to hula to flamenco to country.

Illustration Friday - Fearless

Oliver the puppy isn't afraid to join in and sing out loud. He obviously agrees with Buddy the Elf who taught us, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."

I illustrated these for the picture book Oliver's First Christmas, to be released in October, 2010, by Accord Publishing.

Illustration Friday - Ahead

I just finished this cover illustration for a picture book I have coming out this fall called Oliver's First Christmas, to be published by Accord Publishing. The snowflakes in the snow globe will actually be animated with an animotion window.

What's ahead for this little puppy? Lots of mischief!

3 months old

My squeaker is 3 months old today, and she's been a dream baby - sleeping 11 hours at night, playing so nicely next to me as I work, giving me lots of her adorable smiles, and just being a joyful blessing!

Happy Easter

"He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less." — C.S. Lewis

We had a beautiful Easter day celebrating Jesus' gift to us. Hope your Easter was just as lovely.

Illustration Friday - Rescue

From the picture book, CORA COOKS PANCIT.