I've Been Outed!

For the past few years, I've concentrated on learning the craft and business of writing. I heard so many negative things about trying to submit art and manuscripts together that I set my illustrating aside. I already knew how to do that and could pick it up at any time.

Even in the local chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, I presented myself as a writer. So, when I asked about the notes for the talk on "How to Make a Dummy Book," the leader of our chapter asked, "Are you an illustrator?" I had to confess. And there was a need to fill the Illustrator Coordinator position for the group, which I volunteered for.

So now I'm neck deep in it, and I'm sort of glad. Because now that I think about it, I've been denying an essential part of my creativity. I can write and/or illustrate. And doesn't that make me more marketable?

Thus, I've remade my blog - again, to be used more as a marketing tool. And hopefully, you'll see some of the things I'm working on in both writing and illustrating.

I still haven't given up on A Pumpkin Named Jack. I just know he's destined for publishing. I'm working on drawing up a dummy book that I can send to publishers. See how far Jack has come from prelim sketch to final illustration (right).

Also, my dear friend and former boss, Chuck Sisson has self-published his first novel called Pitch Black! You can find it on Amazon.com. He's asked me to illustrate a book of poetry for him. So you'll see some of those sketches soon.

10 Things I Hate About Manchester

Two days to go and counting. Overall, I've enjoyed being back in England. We got to see old friends and explore a different part of the country. But, we can now say definitively that we are NOT city dwellers. Here are my lists of 10 things I hate and love about Manchester, if I can think of that many.

10 Things I Hate

1. Outdoor smoking

2. Pidgeons

3. People in a hurry

4. Gum on the sidewalk (but thanks for the blog title)

5. Street racing at all hours of the night

6. Noisy drunks turned out of pubs at 3 a.m.

7. Street sweepers cleaning at 4 a.m.

8. Sunrise at 4:30 a.m.

9. Hand-carrying our groceries home (Our arms are at least an inch longer!)

10. British TV programming

10 Things I Love

1. No smoking indoors

2. Falcons adapted to city living

3. Strolling around town, not needing to be anywhere in particular

4. Flake 99 (soft-serve) ice cream sold in street-side stands

5. Odeon movie theater five minutes away from our apartment

6. Wagamamas

7. Street sweepers (that work during the day) cleaning up the cigarette butts

8. Sunset at 10:30 p.m.

9. Using re-usable shopping bags

10. Our clean, well-appointed, central apartment that looks out on the city

Remembering Wayne

Today is my older brother Wayne's birthday. He died at the age of 23 after living with Leukemia for 10 years. I think about him a lot at this time of year - not with sadness, but with sweetness and reverence. His illness shaped our family in so many ways. It made us closer to each and taught us to depend on God for his peace and strength and to wait on his plan for our future. We couldn't have done it any other way.

It was an honor knowing my brother. He grew in godliness throughout his illness and became an inspiration for those who came in contact with him. But I like to remember his as the orny big brother he was before he got sick - Wayne the Pain, we called him. Thank you, God, for his life.