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Debbie’s Blog

Welcome to my new blog, which now includes content from many of the blogs I’ve created over the years. You can now also access content via category from this one page instead of having to search for my individual blogs, which were scattered over various platforms and websites.

Interview with Eliza Wheeler about MISS MAPLE’S SEEDS and DOLL BONES

Eliza Wheeler and I met at the SCBWI Summer Conference in 2010, when both of us were chosen for the Illustration Mentorship Program. We both hit it off right away; I love Eliza’s positive life outlook, enthusiasm and wry wit. Since then, we’ve become good friends and I fervently wish we . . .





Trying out Authorgraph.com to digitally sign & doodle autographs

I read about Authorgraph.com letting authors digitally sign copies of their books on Mediabistro today, and have decided to try it out. You can see a sample of how the above doodle/signature was drawn (this is what a reader would receive as well). Here is the Author FAQ from the Authorgraph.com site. The service is . . .




Sophie Blackall’s 19th century style mailing promotes her new picture book

I always love hearing about interesting and unique ways (without being spammy) that children’s book authors and illustrators have for promoting their work, so was intrigued by Sophie Blackall’s promo effort: From Publishers Weekly The package above was mailed out to about 100 chlidren’s book professionals, handmade by award-winning illustrator Sophie . . .




Kudos and Thanks

Thanks to the Kindergarten and 1st Grade students at Avoca West Elementary in Illinois for choosing I’M BORED as their 2013 ITC March Madness Champion. 🙂 For more info about Avoca as well as winners in other categories, see this blog post. Thanks to Susan Geidner for alerting me to this news via Twitter. Also: . . .



Kindoma remote bedtime reading could be useful for authors

I was intrigued by this New York Times article, which talks about how Kindoma’s new Storytime app lets grandparents and others read bedtime books remotely to children. Another possible application: authors doing remote readings for small groups of students? Or larger groups, if the iPad is hooked up to a larger . . .



My Exciting News(!!): Two Book Contracts With Random House Children’s Books

I am thrilled to announce that I will be illustrating two picture books written by Lauren McLaughlin debuting the pint-sized detective, MITZI TULANE, for Random House Children’s Books. Editor: Maria Modugno. Art Director: TBA. Lauren McLaughlin worked in the film business as both a screenwriter (Hypercube, Prisoner Of Love, Specimen) and producer (American . . .