FAQ

What materials do you use?

I use HB pencils (usually Faber-Castell or a mechanical pencil), a dip pen with FW acrylic ink, 140lb hotpress watercolor paper (most recently I’ve been using Dick Blick Premier), the occasional colored pencil, and Holbein or Winsor/Newton watercolors.  

I'd like to have illustrations for my manuscript so I can submit it to a publisher.  Will you illustrate my story?

You actually don't need illustrations with your manuscript in order to submit it.  It's the job of an editor or art director to find just the right illustrator for your story and they prefer to see your manuscript on it's own.  

I'm going to self publish my story.  Will you do the illustrations?

Thank you for thinking of me, but I'm not able to take on self published projects at this time.  

Do you have any advice for aspiring children's book authors and illustrators?  

Join the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and attend their conferences.  Read as many kid's books as you can.  Be patient.  Do your research.  Draw/write as often as possible.  Read through a current edition of the Children's Writers and Illustrators Market.

What are some of your favorite books?

As a kid some of my favorite books were The Little Moon Theater by Irene Haas, The Clown of God by Tomie DePaola, Where's Wallace by Hilary Knight, Come Follow Me by Gyo Fujikawa, and Busy Town by Richard Scarry.  These days a few of my favorites are Toot and Puddle by Holly Hobbie, Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, Boats for Papa by Jessixa Bagley, All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee, The Farmer and The Clown by Marla Frazee, and My Heart by Corinna Luyken.