BYU Writing for Young Readers Conference

I was able to spend the past 5 days at a writing conference. I assisted author, Dandi Mackall, throughout the conference. I learned so much from her and was fairly productive as well. I edited down (with the class's help) one picture book manuscript, and wrote an entirely new picture book manuscript (which still needs revising). I also finished 20 sets of sketches for a chapter book I'm illustrating. I did those as I listened in the classes. Meeting 3 new editors wasn't a bad deal either. I tell you, these conferences are the way to learn AND network. I was also able to see many of my writer friends and meet new ones as well. It was a great (but tiring) week.
Dandi and Me

Janette Rallison

James Dashner

Ann Dee Ellis

Ann Cannon

Claudia Mills

Will Terry

Carol Lynch Williams

Rick Walton

Dandi Mackall

Book Signing at The Purple Cow

For anyone living close to the little town of Toole, come on down...I and the author of "The Happiest Mommy Ever!" will be signing at The Purple Cow Bookstore (992 North Main Street) from 2-4 pm Saturday May 2nd. And they are even having a cake contest. See the flyer below...

Character Doodles

Here are just a few character type sketches...

Book Promotion : Good to See

So I got my Deseret Book Catalog in the mail this month and was pleased to see the mother's day book I illustrated has an entire 1/2 page ad. It's nice to see your books getting promoted. It was a little funny when a young man at church (since this book is with a religious publisher many people I know at my church get the catalog) came up to me and said, "I didn't know you were famous." I replied, "I didn't know I was either." Then he told me he saw the book in the Deseret Book Catalog. Well, at least someone saw it. :-)

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED

My newly designed website went live tonight. I'm so excited. It looks much better than my old site but you do have to have flash installed on your computer to view it. The opening page gives you the option to download it if needed. I bought the template from bludomain.com and customized it to my needs. I still need to add some things in the "fun" section, but the main site is fully functional. Check it out... MY NEW SITE... then let me know what you think...especially if anything bugs you.

Book Signing 1

I did my first book signing for "The Happiest Mommy Ever!" one week ago at Seagull Book in Spanish Fork, UT. I will be doing another signing tonight (April 4th) at Deseret Bookstore in University Mall in Orem, Utah (the mall is on the corner of State Street and University Parkway). I'll be there signing from 6-8pm. The store is having 20% off everything so don't miss out! Here are pics from last week that my husband came and took.

Portrait 1

I don't usually do portraits except for family members as gifts...it's been a while. Portraits are hard, especially when you know the person you are drawing. You know if you haven't captured that glint of mischief in their eye or that smirk they always make. But my hairstylist asked me to do some trade work...she does my hair (multiple times) and I draw portraits of her 2 kids. We worked out the monetary values and we're both excited for the agreement. Here's the first portrait...it's of her oldest daughter. It's done with conte crayon and some pastel pencil on canson paper. The paper was more rough than I remembered but I think the portrait turned out well. I bring it to her today...hope she likes it!

Happiest Mommy Ever! Mother's Day Signings

I just thought I'd let everyone know, I'll be signing my latest book (that I illustrated) "The Happiest Mommy Ever!" (written by Alice Furniss and published by Deseret Book) at many locations in the next month before Mother's Day. It's the perfect gift for any mom out there...young or old. I had so much fun illustrating it and was able to put in a lot of personal things...I used my daughter as a model, a few scrapbook photos of my own were referenced from when I had my first baby and when he graduated preschool, my wedding photo, and there is even one of my little kids' baby footprints in the book. It's a sweet story about finding out what makes mom the happiest mommy ever. I couldn't be happier with the way the art and design turned out.

Here's the schedule of signings...

Saturday, March 28th 12noon-2pm : Seagull Book in Spanish Fork, UT (on Main street)
Saturday, April 4th 6-8 pm; Ladies Night at the Deseret Book at University Mall in Orem, UT
Saturday, April 18th 10 am; Juab County Library
Saturday, May 2nd 2pm: at the Purple Cow bookstore in Toole, UT

I'd love to see you there!!!

Or if you can't make it, go purchase it online here...

School Visits and Literacy Day

As I've said before, part of the job of being a book illustrator, is that you get to go out and present what you do and how you do it to kids, adults, writers, artists. Well this Friday, the 27th, I'm going to speak at Daybreak Elementary School out near Kearns, UT from 2-4pm. So if any of you live close by, feel free to come heckle me.

In addition, I'll be presenting (about illustrating children's books) at the Spanish Fork City Library's Literacy Day on Saturday, February 28th from 2-4pm. It's on Spanish Fork Main Street and Center. Come on by for fun and books! Both events are free!

Book Dummy Redo

Sorry I'm not posting regularly...I've been really busy finishing up stages of jobs. And two minutes ago, I finished the final layout and redo of my book dummy for "Tickle, Tickle! Itch, Twitch!" a book I wrote as well as illustrated. Marshall Cavendish publishing acquired the book last fall and I've been working on revisions with them. But LONG ago I came up with the idea of writing a story about a cute little groundhog who gets an itch on his back he just can't reach to scratch, and all the adventures he goes through to get this itch scratched. Anyway, I'm really pleased with the outcome of the dummy redo. The suggestions of the editor were great and the book is only better now. And I'm glad I got it done on time.