Skibby camp
A week ago I traveled with author Lyn Smith to Rockywold-Deep Haven Camps in Holderness, New Hampshire for the NESCBWI Squam Lake Writer’s Retreat. My little picture book dummy taking shape over many months was ready for review! We checked into our rustic room, giddy as campers. After mingling a bit and meeting our gracious event coordinator/Co-Regional Advisor Denise Ortakales we headed to the dining hall. The warren of lodges and cabins has lined the northern shores of Squam Lake since 1897, nestled beneath birches and pines. Such a treat to meet simpatico folks and find out what...
Read MoreBaby Bear’s Picnic
Do you feel that crisp air? Some of you may be mourning the passing of summer, but I am jazzed for fall, my favorite season. August flew by while I’ve been working on an illustration project that is not quite ready to share. So meanwhile, here’s a commission done recently, an illustrated gift for an expectant couple. The buyer first requested a pride of lions, but this changed to a family of bears because of the baby’s room theme. I sent these rough sketches first, of a baby bear at a campfire with Mama and Papa Bear. I also tried a bear family with a full moon. And a...
Read MoreJumpin’ July
A friend recently called July the “ADHD of months” and I agree. So. Much. Going. ON. Normally I make blog posts about individual events, but they have been coming at me too dang fast. Here is the whole jam of July: kids books, talks, classes, travels, friends, family. A bounty of sun and color and amazing humans. I was off to the Friends School for their Story in the Forest program on July 9. I read Ana and the Sea Star and then eager campers played a lively game of Ocean Locomotion. They tried moving like sea stars! They also drew sea creatures in pastel, with gusto. I’m...
Read MorePeaks Festing
Peaks Fest is the Peaks Island celebration of community that happens annually around the solstice. Marvelous Marty Braun has been the whiz behind years and years of Peaks Fest t-shirts. Last year he passed the torch to our daughter, Daisy. This year, both of them were too busy to tackle the annual challenge, so I offered to create a t-shirt design. But what hasn’t already been done so superbly?? I found it mighty daunting. My solution? Keep it simple. I settled on a signature island creature, the cormorant. Who hasn’t seen one drying it’s wings on a rocky perch? I included...
Read MorePeaks Island Book Celebration
My beloved library invited author Lyn Smith and me to present our latest book this past Saturday, What Makes an Opossum Tick? How delightful to see my books lining the front window. Thank you, Peaks Island Library! Lyn brought cookies from the 1690 House in Wells. Someone else got a photo before me! These tasty cuties were a big hit. Kids snacked on gummy worms, too, getting into the opossum spirit. Lyn talked about her writing process, based on real events at her family’s nearby summer cottage in Moody Point. As Literacy Specialist/Instructional Strategist for Kennebunk Elementary...
Read MoreKidlit Con Providence
A week ago today I was in the thick of children’s books everything at Kidlit Con Providence, and I’m still unpacking all the goodness. I checked into the Hotel Providence with my travel mates, Lyn Smith and Kirsten Cappy. Author and illustrator Jarrett Lerner joined us in the hotel bar for dinner. He got our robot groove going. This year’s organizer, Charlotte Taylor, gave welcoming remarks and thankful applause to author and blogger, Mia Wenjen, who gathered the panel participants last fall. I learned about the conference via her @Pragmatic Mom. LeUyen Pham gave a stellar...
Read MoreVisit JamieHogan.com
