Merry solstice!

Here’s to long, dark nights! I hope this finds you well and cozy.

In the two plus months since Skywatcher was published, plenty has happened. I gathered some friends on the back shore of Peaks for a star party with Michael Richards, an island neighbor with a ginormous telescope on a new moon evening in early October at 7 pm.

We each got to see the rings of Saturn and moons around Jupiter, a first for my eyes. I read the story and as Mike began to share his wisdom, a shooting star arched through the sky, literally falling right behind his head. This became my inspiration for this year’s holiday card, in the first image here. It was a memorable night of star gazing, and I hope we do it again. Want to join us?

PRINT, my local bookstore in Portland, Maine, hosted a virtual webinar to launch the book on it’s publication day, October 5. I shared a great conversation with Charles Fulco, a middle school science teacher in Delaware, and a NASA Solar System Ambassador, who provided a wonderful blurb for the back of the book:

“Beautifully illuminates the importance of our children experiencing the wonder of a dark sky, and our responsibility to preserve it.”

We talked about our favorite constellations and his hobby, eclipse chasing. I sported one of the star party masks (loon) I created, which can be downloaded HERE for your own festivities.

A few days later, I stopped in at PRINT to sign books, thank you all who have purchased one! I went next door to the Maine Jewish Museum to check out the current exhibits and was delighted to discover the work of PSBL, in Reflectors, Emitters, and Diffusers. Their assemblages of aluminum and digital prints reflected a parallel fascination with deep space. I couldn’t resist a selfie, and bought Trio A on the spot.

A couple of weeks later, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Beth McEvoy on News Center Maine’s 207 show. You can read and/or watch HERE. We met in a park in Portland and I had no idea what I would say!

I’m fairly camera shy, so the publicity for this book has been a stretch for me. But I learned some new Instagram skills when Kirby Larson interviewed me on her Live Story.

She’s an award-winning author who generously spotlights other book creators on a weekly basis, and also my writing coach for the Institute of Children’s Literature about ten years ago. It was the first time we have ever actually spoken, and what fun! She asked if I was a “plotter or a pantser” and I had to say a bit of both. I visually plan my stories on a story board, but then the writing is kinda seat-of-the-pants. You can watch HERE.

I was pleased to see a lovely review in the Portland Press Herald by esteemed children’s book author, Amy MacDonald, who called my writing “sweet and simple” which I take as a high compliment. The full review can be seen HERE. It’s a bit baffling that the first cover illustration I did is what’s floating around on the internet. It was done to meet the fall catalog deadline for W.W.Norton, but I redid the cover to add more drama, with less pink in the sky and added my hand-lettered title. Neither version makes it into the online review. Instead, a very early rough appears, go figure.

A couple of weeks later, Nina MacLaughlin wrote a sweet review for the Boston Globe’s New England Literary News. This was a gratifying full circle, given that I cut my teeth as an illustrator back in the early 1980’s, freelancing for the Globe. It’s also where I met my husband, Marty Braun, who worked as a designer there at the time.

Meanwhile, I sent a copy of Skywatcher to the folks at the International Dark Sky Association, since their work and resources informed my learning about light pollution. When Executive Director Ruskin Hartley sent this photo of him reading my book to his son, Beckett, my heart just exploded.

I was invited to read my book at the new Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine on December 10. Have you been there? It’s a vibrant and dynamic place with a cool labyrinth out front. I made this collage, I was so darn excited.

Reading to a theatre full of families was a thrill. And Marty got into the act, becoming an owl who held up the book while I read. Hoot!

I always bring my materials with me, because kids are curious and can’t resist a piece of pastel. A little boy who looked like Tamen came up and drew the most delicate little moth, it took my breath away. He was soon followed by other little artists eager to make their mark. Reading and drawing with children is the BEST perk of making picture books!

In other news, I worked on an illustration for the Revels back in July that now is all over Boston. This image features a pub, the George & Dragon, where the play unfolds. It took many, many, MANY drawings of dragons which I not once complained about.

The marketing folks sent these photos, as the illustration had to fit many formats, from tall to wide.

And hot off the local press is my third Rabbit Rabbit calendar! Some of you may know I am a believer in good luck, and saying “rabbit! rabbit!” first thing on the first day of the month is our thing.

Do you say it, too? Please let me know. We have no idea where the custom comes from, but I’ve been posting drawings of rabbits on the first day of the month for a few years. OK, so my first calendar in 2020 didn’t bring as much luck as I had hoped, pandemic and all. Here’s to 2022 being brighter and full of good luck, good health, and star gazing for all. Thanks to everyone for their support of my books and my work, I am ever grateful.

Tonight promises to be clear so get outside and wish upon a star. Merry Solstice!