Art & Soul

The Birdhouse

In addition to writing and illustrating, my soul also loves to sing!

I recently acquired an old (100+ year old) building in Covington, TX that I'm using for all my artistic passions. One part of it is my studio away from home. It's very, very quiet here. very condusive to work. The other part of the building is for music (kind of music -- old style, traditional music) and puppets.

Here are a few pictures of the birdhouse, and if you want to know more, visit the birdhouse blog. If you're in Texas and play old-time music, come on out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chickies on the Road

The Chickies are going on a Texas sized tour next week. They will cheep for joy if you can make it to one of our storytimes!

Date	City, State	Venue	Event
Feb 1, 2014 12:00 PM	Frisco, TX	Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Stonebriar Mall	Chickies Storytime! Books, music, puppet show and a craft!
Feb 2, 2014  2:00 PM	Grapevine, TX	Books-A-Million	Chickies Storytime! Books, music, puppet show and a craft!
Feb 4, 2014  10:30 AM	Austin, Texas	Book People	Chickies Storytime! Books, music, puppet show and a craft!
Feb 5, 2014  11:00 AM	Austin, TX	Barnes & Noble #2536	Chickies Storytime! Books, music, puppet show and a craft!
Feb 6, 2014  11:00 AM	San Antonio, Texas	Books A Million	Chickies Storytime! Books, music, puppet show and a craft!

 

Feb 8, 2014  11:30 AM	The Woodlands, Texas	Barnes & Noble Booksellers	Chickies Storytime! Books, music, puppet show and a craft!
Feb 9, 2014  2:00 PM	Katy, TX	Books-A-Million #515	Chickies Storytime! Books, music, puppet show and a craft!
Feb 12, 2014  11:00 AM	SAN ANTONIO, TX	Barnes & Noble La Cantera	Chickies Storytime! Books, music, puppet show and a craft!
Feb 13, 2014  10:00 AM	Houston, TX	Blue Willow Bookstore	Chickies Storytime! Books, music, puppet show and a craft!
Feb 15, 2014  11:00 AM	Grapevine, TX	Grapevine Public Library	Chickies Storytime! Books, music, puppet show and a craft!
Feb 27, 2014  6:00 PM	Hurst, TX	Barnes & Noble Shops at North East Mall	Chickies Storytime! Books, music, puppet show and a craft!

BIG ol' Boxes of Books!

One of my favorite parts of the publishing process...opening that big box of pre-release author's copies!!

Chickies will hatch one week from today!

Starry Eyed Chickies

BEDTIME FOR CHICKIES got a lovely starred review from Publisher's Weekly!

The chickies and I have a lot to be thankful for this year!

Covers for Chickies!

  

A random Google search (because I'm not obsessive about it or anything) reveals that the first two Chickies books have covers up at the various on-line retailers! 

They're not due to publish until January, but there is something about seeing those covers up there that makes an impending book somehow seem more real. Know what I mean?

Bedtime for Chickies

Pottytime for Chickies

 

 

PBJeebies - The Waiting Game

The PBJeebies and guest Jeebie, Leslie Muir, discuss the waiting part of the submission process.

As I mention over there, I like the wait because I can free my mind (and desk) of the project and move on to something else. I feel the same way about that period of time when I'm waiting to hear back on sketches. It's like a little vacation right in the middle of a project.

If you have a chance, stop by the Jeebie blog or our Facebook page and let us know how you cope with the waiting game!

 

 

PBJeebies - Art Notes

Ever wonder when and how to use art notes in your picture book manuscripts?

My critique group, the PBJeebies, tackle this question today. Find out how each of the Jeebies, plus honorary Jeebie Ame Dyckman, use and abuse them on the PBJeebie blog.

And join us on Facebook to see what else we've been up to!

Zeke

I made my very first, non-sock, puppet - Zeke.

Did I mention that I haven't sewn anything since I was 16?

Puppet Show!

The last week of every month is puppet show week at the Grapevine Library. This week, I've not only been performing in the show, but even more exciting, I wrote the script!

So if you're in the area, stop by the library at 7:00 this evening for the family story time and The Magic Rattlesnake puppet show.

Illustration Friday - Intention

I think there may be two very different intentions at work here.