FULL PORTFOLIO: Please click on “illustration” and “design” above. May 15, 2013 A recent experiment-piece I call “Tail of Regret.” I don’t know if it means anything to anyone besides me. April 18, 2013 I was invited to the Next Big Thing Blog Tour by my colleague Emma Virjan (check her out). This “Tag—you’re it!” chain-blog guides you through exciting new works and works-in-progress by book authors and illustrators around the globe. Each blogger answers the following ten questions, and then tosses the ball to others! 1) What is the working title of your next book? “Toad Song.” I've completed a sketched-out dummy, and am working on the first final illustration. 2) Where did the idea come from for the book? I love sitting outside in the Texas night and listening to the critters; especially the enthusiastic toads, who seem to clam up whenever I go looking for them! 3) What genre does your book fall under? Picture book 4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition? Kids, for sure. Chipmunk would be a good voice role for “Sally” from Mad Men, Kiernan Shipka. And Toad seems right for “Finn” from Army Wives, John White Jr. 5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? A chipmunk living under a house porch step can’t sleep because of the constant croaking of the toads. He complains, but then starts listening to their song. The verses take him on a nature tour of the mysteries of the night, and he finds something special in it just for him. (...I know, that’s three sentences.) 6) Who is publishing your book? I’m accepting offers... 7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript? About a week 8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? The closest I can think of is “Little Owl’s Night,” by my friend Divya Srinivasan. 9) Who or what inspired you to write this book? I suppose I could trace it back to my dad, who has taken me camping and on night nature walks since I was a kid. 10) What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest? The illustrations will be a sort of fabric collage, stitched together with embroidery and dotted with little embellishments like beads and such. Sort of a crazy quilt. In my next regular blog entry, I’ll show you my other, very different picture book dummy for a story called “Not All Fluff.” And now I volley to two very talented and accomplished colleagues: Sheree Boyd (check her out)... ...and Marti Major (check her out). February 8, 2013 This weekend is the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference in Austin—woo hoo! For the occasion, I made new promo cards with a recipe for my famous Cheesy Corn Muffins. And introducing my new characters, Little Bat and Becka. (To see image larger, just click on the image.) For earlier blog entries, go to 2012. Follow on Facebook Follow on Twitter The Girllustrators Amy Farrier Marsha Riti Shelley Ann Jackson Emma Virjan Patrice Barton Caitlin Alexander Luz Marie Iturbe Alicia Traveria Tiffanny Varga Don Tate C. S. Jennings Jeff Crosby Divya Srinivasan Frances Yansky Mary Sullivan Diandra Mae Erik Kuntz Dean Hsieh Astrid Riemer Marti Major Sheree Boyd Illustration Friday