Archie and Pip’s Next Book
Hello friends!
It’s finally June and my favorite season: summer!
I think it’s going to pull me along like the speediest summer bike ride, packed with sunny plans and travel. But I have just enough time to celebrate a new picture book first...
Archie and Pip Make a New Friend debuts June 16 with Cottage Door Press! It’s full of summery vibes and goofy games in Archie and Pip’s neighborhood, where they invite their new neighbor, Miles, to join in all the excitement.
I can’t wait to see this out in bookstores, and I’m really hoping to find all three books on one shelf. If you find them together out in the wild - please, please, send me a photo!
Above is the cover reveal from my Instagram (with some sketches too) and there will be a couple more videos and behind-the-scenes posts to come. But let’s see a few of my favorite illustrations right now, shall we?
I really loved exploring twilight, and picking a palette that could show the colorful intensity of a summer evening.
Pre-order Archie and Pip Make A New Friend now!
In Other News…
My Mentor Series Fellowship with The Loft Literary Center finally ended after a year and a half of seminars, cohorts, mentors, and inspiration. Each of us also presented in one of the program’s public readings, and I think I’ve actually soothed some of my nerves about the speaking process. I’ll miss all of the generative writing time and new knowledge, but I’m hoping to find more time to write on my own. It’s definitely helped me feel comfortable saying that I’m a writer, and not just an artist who dabbles in books. Still, I know I have much more to explore as a writer, and never enough time to do both.
And I’m traveling to Italy! I won a giveaway with Slow Travel Co., and I cannot wait to slow down, read some books, and relax in a castle and winery in Sienna, Italy. I’m hoping to do some daily sketching, and share some travel bits on Instagram. Stay tuned!
In the Studio
Each month I try to create a new illustration for my portfolio, focusing on picture books. Sometimes that happens at the very last moment, but it’s still a goal I find really helpful. Here is May’s newest artwork, a cozy twilight greenhouse tea party with friends.
I’m happily designing lots of toys as a freelance designer, which keeps me drawing daily and constantly researching random things like “How many toes does a polar bear have?” Yesterday I was looking at animal books at the library, another great inspiration spot. I wish I could show you more of what I’m creating, but like publishing, it’s another industry full of secrecy and long wait times. I’m proud of the work I do, and it’s hard not to share it. But you can always see a few of my designs on my website.
I’m also revising and sketching some new stories, which is both exciting and overwhelming. The plus side: when I feel stuck or indecisive about one idea, I’l switch to another to keep me moving. Sometimes in this stage it all feels unbearably slow! I’ll say it here for accountability, I hope to have a new dummy finished by the end of the summer. There. Wish me luck, I’m going to need it.
Thanks for reading and have a glorious summer!
