My new 2-book deal with Harpercollins, gratitude, and I'M BORED press

I'm pleased to announce that I'm going to be illustrating the new RUBY ROSE series by Rob Sanders for Harpercollins. The first is titled RUBY ROSE ON HER TOES, and is tentatively scheduled to come out in 2014.

I'm feeling so grateful to the people who have supported and encouraged me during my publication journey. I'll be writing more about many of them but right now, I'd like to once again thank Justin Chanda and Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers. Justin was the first editor/publisher to believe in me enough to offer me a book contract (I'M BORED), and other exciting opportunities have come my way as a result.

You can read what the press has been saying about I'M BORED.

Cottage Morning

I took these photos this morning, at the cottage. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly light and air can change a scene completely.

Wish that I could bottle up these moments and take them out whenever I crave serenity.

I'M BORED was reviewed in The New York Times today!!!!

Read David Small's article in The New York Times Sunday Book Review today.

Woohoo! I'M BORED launches in bookstores TODAY!!

Can't believe the day is finally here! It's been two years since a rejection turned into a book contract with Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers to illustrate Michael Ian Black's I'M BORED.

I've updated the I'M BORED In The Wild photo gallery with more reader photos. I invite you all to send in your own photos: here are the guidelines and info about how to submit. Here's a recent photo that my sister-in-law Larkin sent in:

You can find more info about the book, related resources for teachers and librarians, photos, sketches of the book in progress, tips for young writers and illustrators, an I'M BORED In The Wild photo challenge, comics and much more: I'M BORED Scrapbook.

Book trailer music video for I'M BORED

I'm Bored Music Video (inspired by the new picture book from Simon & Schuster BFYR) from debsanderrol on Vimeo.

Thanks SO much for Errol Elumir and his 7-year-old daughter Zoe for all their help in making the video above possible! Find out more about how the video was created in the I'M BORED Scrapbook. Only 11 days until my very first picture book is available in the stores, yaaaaaaaay!!!