SCBWI Don Freeman Work In Progress Grant here I come!

Once again a long absence since my last post. I’ve been busy. Sometimes I think I should just hang up this blog. But I like my blog, it’s like an old friend. There’s been a lot happening since my last posting. I won’t bore you with all the details. Although I will say one of my wishes has come true. I was promoted to Head of Circulation at my library this past October. Along with that my hours and thankfully my income have increased! 

Throughout much of the summer I worked on my book of poems in preparation for the Don Freeman Work in Progress grant (SBCWI). By the end of August I got side-tracked. In September a friend and I teamed up to meet once a month to work on our individual projects, brainstorm and do creative outings. In October I did Inktober.

The holidays came and went, I didn’t work on my book. As January rolled around I promised myself I would get busy...I did, but not on my book. Instead I prepped my studio and now have space for artist friends to stop by and get creative.

Milo has taken ownership of my comfy chair

Extra work space

Co-op picture, a work in progress.

My friend Laura came over for our monthly 

get-together and she created this really cool window piece for me. It's been an inspiration and will keep me motivated!
It's a path to my goal!

It's now February and my deadline for the work in progress grant is at the end of March. I will need 2 finished illustrations and a bunch of rough drawings to make up a book dummy complete with text in place. Fortunately it will be a digital format so I don't have to make an actual book dummy! I've been working on my book for about two weeks. I decided not to go with the book of poems. It's too big of a project and I don't want to rush it. I've also learn it's very difficult to get a children's book of poems published when you are an unknown. So instead I will be illustrating only one of the poems that is more story-like. I was mixed from the beginning on this particular poem. I wasn't sure I wanted it to be in the book of poems since it was wordy enough to hold up on its own, with more than enough images that I could work with.

My deadline is in sight, yet I have always worked well under pressure. I sure hope I haven't lost my touch!