…we started a new year: Twenty Ten! Yay!

In honor of 20th day of the new year, here are twenty news bits and random observations. (Um, that four month gap since my last post was well worth the wait, right? ;-))

1. My geeky self is thrilled at the speed and beauty of Snow Leopard on my new Mac Mini.

2. Donated to Haiti which suffered a 7.0 quake that caused ten times more devastation than our 7.1 Loma Prieta quake.

3. Purging old stuff from my studio including books.  Making room for more.

4. Went to an amazing SCBWI Cyber Promotions retreat in Santa Barbara. (More to come~cross my heart…)

5. Started up Hula again.

6. Tackling my To Do list with some friendly help.

7. Shifting priorities with a smile.

8. Pleased that Project Runway is back in the Big Apple.

(more…)

Aloha!

I’m thrilled to share that I received an early copy of my picture book, CAN YOU CATCH A COQUI FROG (BeachHouse Publishing), written by Vera Arita, and illustrated by yours truly.

Here’s a little taste of the book (from the cover copy):

Can you catch a coqui frog as he’s sitting on a log?
Can you hear him in the night with a croak so high and bright?
Can you see him hop all day in his happy little way?
Can you catch a frog?

These questions and more are posed in a sing-song rhyme that introduces children to some of Hawai‘i’s unique animals—from the tiny yet notorious coqui frog to monk seals to the friendly household gecko.

(more…)

Early August, I attended the Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Summer Conference in LA. All the fun and excitement took place at the Century Plaza Hyatt hotel. Below, and in the next few posts, I’ll share the highlights of my trip, a few observations and then some..:-)

I decided to modify a version of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus around the time I quit pursuing publishing. That was close to ten years ago. I spent several years prior with a very strong focus on picture books but that gradually gave way to frustration.

The industry was changing. While I was repped at the time, I had a hard time with the change. Externally, things looked all right. Internally, I was at odds with myself. I painted my heart out—pouring all my feelings onto canvas. I took three years off. When I returned, I was able to look at the painting with a “fresh” set of eyes.

Finding Your Path in Kid Lit

Sometimes I’m approached by people who want to write and/or illustrate children’s and YA books. I might sound like a broken record but I always utter the initials: S C B W I. It stands for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

One  thing I did upon returning to children’s books was join the SCBWI. It has been instrumental in helping me reach my goals. I do the work, stay focused, yada, yada. However, the SCBWI provides a ton of resources and helps me make important connections—even now that I’m published. I can’t speak highly enough of it.

Check out the SCBWI here.

Edited to Add: I’m attending the national SCBWI Summer Conference in LA in a few days. Can’t wait! Perhaps I’ll see some of you there? Cheers!

Here’s a picture book written by Vera Arita and illustrated by yours truly. This 24-page PB features a fun romp with animals in the Hawaiian islands. It’s due for release in Fall ‘09.

Oh, happy spring! After a three month break, I’m back. I’ve run with springtime revelers. chomped on chocolate bunnies and now I’m clearing dust bunnies, literally and figuratively.

I’ll bring this blog up to date by interspersing stories from the past few months with current news and happenings. I might post pics from my trip to the Winter SCBWI conference in NYC in the morning, then later in the day post about a booksigning. It’s a random yet goal-oriented game plan. Inspired by soccer, of course!

So, stay tuned for more ramblings cuz I’m springing forward!

About the photo: Wildflower garden bursting with color at Giverny, the home and garden of French Artist, Claude Monet. Photo taken by my son on a French club excursion last month.