Please check out my newest blog, The Art of Picture Books! I'm hoping it will be a good source for new writers and illustrators!

It wasn't all that long ago when I was in a jam...a real pickle if you know what I mean.

As most of my friends know, I was REALLY sick. I didn't know what to do. I had mounting bills and I couldn't work. With no medical insurance, there wasn't a doctor on the planet who would touch me. I fell between the cracks of society...not enough income to afford insurance, but I made $50 a month too much for government assistance. I was in what is considered the poverty bracket, but that didn't matter. I have no children, and I am not a minority, so I qualified for...

If you are an SCBWI member, then you know my friend, Alison Davis Lyne. 

1. ) What is the working title of your next book?

This book is a loving tribute to Karen's daughter, with the hope that it will bring her peace, gentle reminders of their mutual admiration, acceptance of that which is out of our hands, and most of all, JOY! 

5.) In what genre does your book fall? 

Karen often considered the many other people (with small children) who might be going through a similar experience.

She thought a gently narrated (in first-person) picture book might be just the ticket for parents who are attempting to explain the passing of a loved one and the feelings associated with terminal illness. This book falls within the category of Juvenile Fiction Picture Books.

7.) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript? 

Since I'm the illustrator I'll take that question by substituting it with; "How long did it take to produce the sketches and finalize the line art?" 

 My first meeting with the editor was on April 11th, 2013. We discussed how the project came about, the time-line, payment options, the proposed layout, and how I had been chosen to produce the illustrations. I was given until May 30th to complete the ready-for-color line art. Then life got in the way (as it always does) and the struggle to meet my deadline began! 

 Editor's have a job to do that does not include babysitting illustrators.  I learned long ago that they don't have time to worry or even think about how we go about our jobs...or the fact that we take on more than we can handle as a means of financial survival. Such was the case for me when this project began, but there was NO WAY that I was going to turn down a traditional publishing opportunity, and the chance to work with a professional editor! Everything else had to be put on a back burner, and I got to work on this project immediately. 

 Since then, I have been astounded by the differences between professionals and the self-publishing world. Although I love to help self-publishers achieve their dreams, it simply can't compare to the freedom found in a trusting, compassionate, creative editor. Finally, the dreams being achieved are my own! 

 8. ) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? 

 "Personally, I'm not sure that it compares to anything already published. This is a subject that has been avoided by most publishers, because of it's delicate nature. Illness is something we all experience at some point in our lives, but as parents we attempt to shield our children from the harsh realities until they simply must be addressed. The author envisioned "When Mommy Got Cancer" as a tool to help parents approach this rapidly growing issue of death by cancer, and I believe she managed to do it with dignity, honesty, and love. In my humble opinion, we are past due for a book like this and it should be applauded. 

 9.) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? 

 Well, we'd have to ask the editor what she thinks on that one, but being a writer myself, I have an idea that it would go something like this; This picture book depicts a mother's struggle with terminal cancer and her determination to teach her child how to express all of the feelings and emotions that such an ordeal creates... at the same time, she explains that reaching for JOY is the answer, and through sharing it, we discover the key to true happiness and ever-lasting life. 

 




























10.) What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?

Kenny Loggins - Underneath The Same Sky (Music Video)

If you're somehow involved in the publishing business, and you're not aware of the social media website known as "Linked in", you're missing out on a great thing. Linked in allows you to

So, now that "Alphey Loves Letters" is a reality, I find myself looking to the future at last. I'm happy to say, there are now more options opening up than ever before. What an exciting time for illustrators and authors who aren't afraid to expand their brains in order to keep up with technology!

There are some who would argue with me regarding my tech skills (or lack there of), but I know my limitations.

Yes, I built my own website, while others were paying someone else to build theirs.

So what, I had a blog before many of my colleagues understood what a blog was for.

Okay, I "tweeted" while other's sent me e-mails asking, "What the heck is a Twitter?"

These were not great accomplishments, but I felt they were necessary if I was to keep up with the world at large.

So it's no great surprise that I now find myself, (an aging, not so tech-savvy picture book illustrator) embarking on an exciting journey into the production of loop animated, interactive e-book applications. That's right, you read it correctly. I'm taking the plunge. But this time, it's not just for survival.

I'm sure you've all heard it by now, those doom and gloom predictions about the end of the publishing world.

I'm not so sure I'm buying into all of it. But like it or not, things are changing.

Among the illustrators my age, I'm not seeing a lot of movement out there. It's like everyone is hanging on and holding their breath. It's "business as usual", despite the fact that publishers are over-wrought with enough picture book manuscripts to carry them through for several years to come, mid-grades continue to be on the rise, and small publishing companies are dropping like flies in a smokehouse!

I could wait, like so many others seem to be doing. I could hold out, continuing to submit samples to publishers with the hope that I might get that elusive "traditional" illustration assignment. I could turn to illustrating for low-paying self-publishing authors again, but . . .

Seeing myself as a children's book illustrator, I've always found writing to be a real challenge. Who'd ever imagine that someone so long winded would have a problem finding words, right? Well it's true. I struggle with it.

I know what I want to say when I sit down to write. It's usually something I've been mulling over for days, and then about two lines into it, I draw a blank (no pun intended).  I shlump back to my sketchbook with my head hung low. I curse my mother for teasing me all my life over my inability to spell, yet making no attempt to correct the situation. It's HER fault that I freeze up before the words can escape the confines of my tortured brain, if only she'd been . . . S--SU--SUPPORTIVE!!!!

The only time this doesn't happen, is when I'm really, I mean really ticked off about something. Thoughts flow down through my fingers and spill over my keyboard so fast that this hunt-and-pecker, spell-check freak turns into something that resembles a real typist!

I have to say, being in great writers groups and blogging has helped. You want to talk about support? My crit group members have more than made up for the mental abuse I received as a child. God bless everyone of them!   If I could only remember half the advice that I've dished out while critiquing their manuscripts, I might someday find writing success for myself.

You know the old saying, "Those who can't, teach." I've been at it for so long that I was beginning to think that it's true.

So imagine my surprise when Stephen Mooser's (editor for the SCBWI Bulletin Magazine) e-mail arrived, informing me that my submitted article had been accepted for the March-April edition. Eureka! I could feel the rush. Once more, I'm a published writer! Stick THAT in your ear Mom, I've proven you wrong again!

Now, it's time to dust off those picture book manuscripts and get back to work.

P.S., "Shlump" is not misspelled, I made it up. Get over it. (Lol!)

If you know much about me, then you know about a little project I started a while back, called "The Visual Storytellers Studio"@www.TheVSS.org.  It was born out of my frustration over the high cost of online promotions for children's book illustrators. I wanted to create an ever-changing (never stagnant and boring)  forum in which my fellow colleagues could display their work, free of charge.

My vision of The VSS was a child, parent and teacher friendly website, that was the equivalent of a walk through a fine illustration gallery. I didn't want any distractions for visitors, like annoying elevator music or pesky pop-up advertisements. I hoped to create a pleasant environment, one that visitors would want to return to, bringing their friends along. Ultimately, I hoped that industry leaders would do the same and discover our "secret" treasure trove of talent.

Along came Jill Bergman, my illustration critique group moderator. She loved the idea, and helped me in putting together The VSS. We stocked it with talented artists and began promoting it. The first few months, it moved along at a break-neck pace. Wonderful illustrators clambered to come on board, and we welcomed them with open arms. Everybody posted regularly, and the excitement began to grow.

Our list of "followers"started to expand, so Jill designed the first VSS promotional post cards. They were really impressive! We were The Little Engine that Could for quite some time, but then we began to run out of steam.

During 2010, The VSS quietly chugged along, holding it's own among the many clone sites that have popped up all over the internet. We have maintained our followers by giving them a steady diet of interesting illustrator and artist interviews and most importantly, incredible new illustrations to view daily.
However, in this ever-changing industry we've come to realize that it's not enough!