Darn those quizzes...

A book quiz from Blue Pyramid, courtesy of Christy Evers gave me this result on my book/personality test.

I don't know what to think. I guess this is right. Yeah, maybe...

You're Siddhartha! by Hermann Hesse

You simply don't know what to believe, but you're willing to try anything once. Western values, Eastern values, hedonism and minimalism, you've spent some time in every camp. But you still don't have any idea what camp you belong in.This makes you an individualist of the highest order, but also really lonely. It's time to chill out under a tree. And realize that at least you believe in ferries (my note: I do most frevently believe in ferries - it's faeries I have a difficult time with)

Two Things...

First - my writing and all around talented pal Christy Evers has invited me to share my books at her Chick Fil A Kids Night on September 21st 5 - 9. Come join us and eat more chikin!

Second - Registration is open for the SCBWI Carolinas 15th Annual Fall Conference. This is an extraordinary chapter and we are hosting an extraordinary event Sept 28 - 3oth in Durham NC.


Featured speakers include:
LIN OLIVER, a Co-Founder of SCBWI and a sensational speaker, is joining us for the weekend and will kick off the conference with an Opening Talk on Saturday morning. Lin will also lead a workshop on dialogue.
Julie Strauss-Gabel, Dutton Children’s Books, Sr. Editor (just announced Assistant Editorial Director)
Caitlyn Dlouhy, Simon and Schuster, Associate Editorial Director
Joy Neaves, Front Street Books, Sr. Editor
Molly O’Neill, HarperCollins, School and Library Marketing Associate (just announced moving to editorial side!)
Carole Boston Weatherford, author of many books, but most recently, MOSES, a Caldecott Honor Book, New York Times Best Seller List
Frances O’Roark Dowell, author of Chicken Boy, Dovey Coe, and Where I’d Like to Be, among other middle grade novels

Special Events include:
*Friday Editors’ Evening. This new and exciting addition to our fall conference will allow attendees to meet and mingle with all of the guest speakers on Friday evening while enjoying hors d’oeuvres, and then listen to Julie Strauss-Gabel, Joy Neaves, and Caitlyn Dloughy talk about what they think makes a good book, and why, plus read from their favorite book or work-in-progress.
*The Saturday Night Crystal Ball. All conference attendees are invited to get together for two-hours of a light dinner buffet and lots more, to help celebrate our 15th anniversary.

...and much, much more!
Download registration form here.

My Half Day

Next in the series, or sequence, or whatever... This is the cover art for My Half Day which follows the fractured events of our hero and his friend to infinity and beyond (Sylvan Dell Publishing 2008).

My Even Day (number 2 in the...whatever) is now available! (although not Officially released)

The Best Job Ever

NC Wildlife Commission cover

I finished the best job I've ever had. It is also the best painting I've ever done and to have that happen in the same project is phenomenal - I hope not a once in a life time thing.

It could have gone all wrong. The client is the state wildlife commission. Not that that is wrong - they put together a gorgeous magazine every month and use amazing art. But they didn't originally ask for me - this was another "my husband's too busy to do it so he passes my name to them" jobs (not that I'm complaining). So right away I was second string. Then they point out another artist's work that they really love. It's my brother in law's work. I think it's great that they are all into the family but - well, you know, he's someone else. Then they ask that I use a limited palette. Okay, I'd love to. And they'd like it more stylized. Sure.

Was I mad? Heck no! This is art direction done by talented professionals. This is someone pushing me to try harder. And boy howdy did I. I love, love, love doing animals. I do all kinds of more animated art and this was going to be more stylized and designy.


The sketches flowed! The painting process was rapturous. Seriously, I welled up a few times. I worked much later in the evening than I normally would - because I couldn't make myself stop. I was sad to deliver it and let it go. The good news - they loved it and they are going to do wonderful things with it!

The purpose of the larger piece is to promote and then be the cover for the North Carolina Wildlife Commission's kids art calendar contest for 2009 and will go out to every school in our state. They are partnering with the art museum and a paper company so production on the whole thing will be done first class, elegant, and totally green to boot. They've even asked me to be a judge for the entries.

Sigh.

So here it is - the cover (at the top) is what the brochure/poster will show when all folded up. The poster is on the opposite side.

NC Wildlife Commission Kids Calendar Poster 16" x 24"