My First Book Signings!

Hi Everyone! The time has finally come - I will be flying out to California in just a few short days to attend two book signings for my new illustrated children's book "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids". One of the signings is at 6:30 Friday evening at Village Books in Pacific Palisades. They will be hosting a kids' pajama party and author Teresa Power and I will be demonstrating yoga poses with the kids and reading from the book. This event is open to the public, so come on out! I would love to meet you!

Sorry I have not bee around much in Boggerland lately. I am so busy with my books - I guess we all have been through this. I want to especially thank Bron Smith for his willingness to tell me what he knows about school visits and all of the other wonderful wisdom he imparted on me. He is truly one of the nicest people I have "met" while blogging!

Congrats to everyone on your latest successes. I do not always have time to comment, but I do read each post via my email.

The Way Out West Puppeteers performed Burro's Tortillas

The Way Out West Puppeteers performed Burro's Tortillas at Terri Fields, the authors, large Barnes and Noble yesterday. I thought you might enjoy seeing a few photos of it. Terri is such a fun author. She is so great at promotion. She is in the bottom photo second from the left. This made me so happy to see the photos! Burro's came to life! Opps maybe I should mention that Burro's Tortillas is a book I illustrated.

Are those puppets cute or what?

Spring Mailer and decisions

I had already sent out Spring postcards, but decided I needed to send out a flyer to key prospects. The mailer is two sided. One side has a brief resume and book and client list, and the other is a composite image from many illustrations. I decided to add some interest to the envelope as well.

I've been working for quite some time now at moving in the art workshop direction, so that I can mingle with other art people face to face, plus get paid to travel to exotic places. Today my first online ad was posted at: http://www.artshow.com/workshops/

Now I sit and wait for workshop participants to flock to my workshop in the Cook Islands. I hope.

If you ever want to teach a workshop, this site is one of the best for promoting it, according to Kristy Kutch, a colored pencil artist who has been doing workshops for 20 years. She told me that it has worked very well for her. It costs only $45 for three months on the front page. What a bargain. I bought six months for $85.

If you know anyone who loves the South Seas and enjoys mingling with fellow artists, our flight leaves next January 10, returning January 16. Details at: http://bronsmith.googlepages.com

Time for some reading of the old Tales.....

©Ginger Nielson 2009

Our astoundingly talented local theater group just performed an hilarious variety of VERY GRIMM Fairy tales, for which I did the set painting. Out of that experience grew this little drawing.

Kersplatypus is up for the Charlotte Award

The 2010 Charlotte Committee has finalized the ballot for their suggested reading lists for the next award. They will present the ballot on March 31, 2009 at the annual NYSRA Conference.

Kersplatypus, written by Susan Mitchell published by Sylvan Dell and illustrated by ME is on the reading list finals and up for an Charlotte award. Only ten books made the ballot in each category for the 2010 ballot so I am honored and very excited! Wahoo for us!

The award was named for the main character in E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web



The purpose of the Charlotte Award is to encourage students to read outstanding literature and ultimately become life-long readers. Additionally, the award recognizes the authors and illustrators of such literature. Students in New York State will read titles on the ballot and vote for their favorites. Votes were tallied, and the winners received their awards at the Annual NYSRA Statewide Conference.

Keep your fingers crossed!

The Voting Has Begun!

The Voting Has Begun!

Sorry I haven't been around much. My Father has been in the hospital for a little over a week with major heart trouble. . .and other miscellaneous health things and I have been spending all my waking and sleeping time in his room.



One of the books I illustrated is up for an award. It's called the "Children's Choice awards."

The finalists were determined by close to 15,000 children and teens. I would so appreciate if you own or like the book you would click the link I am providing below and vote for my book.

http://www.bookweekonline.com/kidsvote_page.aspx

Hope all is well with everyone!

Truly Busy!

©KathleenRietz
Hi Bookies! Just checking in...wanted to show my face here and let you know I have been reading the post alerts that come in my email inbox...just having a hard time blogging these days. Here is a photo I took tonite...I am now at the halfway point with the ant book.

I also wanted to thank Bron for his advice and encouragement. I have my first school visit and book signings set up for "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids" in CA later this month, and I am trying to get some things rolling back here in IL. You can read the latest press right here.

The ADVENTURE Continues...

Go to Winston's Story Center to see the next chapter in his adventures and catch up on all the previous events.

DISASTER AFTERMATH

Thank you for your kind thoughts regarding my digital disaster the other day. Rather than to start a whole new idea from scratch, I returned to my original sketch and decided to finish it in detail, then "tint" the sketch (set the brush at 50%) rather than to do the unusual time-consuming painting. The only part of the original painting that survived is the Illustration Friday thumbnail. That's what Jacquie was working on when the disaster occurred. www.bronsmith.com/trowbridge

There have been worse disasters. I have 72ed more than one entire map for a client before. That always sets me back emotionally for a while. Those are the times when I question having ever entered the digital realm.