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How Sam & Eva Was Created Part 1

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 (Last updated August 16, 2017) Q. Where did you get the idea for Sam & Eva? When I was a student at the University of Toronto, my friend Reid and I used to have cartoon wars in which one person started a drawing and then . . .




Launching today: RUBY ROSE, BIG BRAVOS by Rob Sanders & me (HarperCollins Children’s)

Hurray!! Ruby Rose, Big Bravos by Rob Sanders and me launches from HarperCollins Children’s Books *today*!!!  I love this simple, sweet story about a little girl who works super-hard to make her dance recital happen and perseveres despite obstacles. You can find a Teacher’s Guide (thanks Marcie Colleen!), free print-ready bonus material, interviews with the . . .



Video: Desiderata Daedalus Drawing Demo (Dip Nib On A Fountain Pen!)

As some of you know, I am hooked on fountain pens (it began at a photo shoot for the Toronto Public Library, but I’ll save that for another post). Anyway, I’m totally loving my new Desiderata Daedalus! To artists using dip pens: you might want to check this pen out . . .



My RUBY ROSE, BIG BRAVOS book trailer debuts on Mr. Schu’s blog today!

My book trailer for RUBY ROSE, BIG BRAVOS debuts on Mr. Schu’s blog today! It features music written and performed by yours truly (on my new keyboard, yay) and is also the first book trailer I’ve created using Adobe Premiere Pro. I’m still gradually learning the latter, and used this project . . .




SEA MONKEY & BOB Book Tour (Part 3, Decatur, GA): Little Shop Of Stories, Friends School Of Atlanta, The Heritage School

Navigation: Sea Monkey & Bob Resource pageBook Tour: Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 – Part 5 – Part 6 – Part 7 Photo: With young readers at Friends School Of Atlanta. Just found out that Publishers Weekly used the photo above in their children’s industry news round-up this week! Thanks to Helen Kubiw for the heads-up. The second full day . . .



How Sea Monkey and Bob was Created Part 3

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 Debbie started to experiment with different colors for the main characters as well as different techniques for the watery background: She did many, many sketches of the characters. Debbie also started doing “thumbnail sketches” (very small, rough sketches) to figure out the general layout of all . . .



How Sea Monkey and Bob was Created Part 2

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 Debbie was SO excited when she first saw Aaron Reynolds’s wonderful story for Sea Monkey & Bob. For one thing, it was hilarious! She fell in love with the characters right away.  Also, Debbie has been a longtime fan of Sea Monkeys. She was always intrigued . . .



How Sea Monkey And Bob Was Created Part 1

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 According to Aaron Reynolds, SEA MONKEY & BOB started as a story idea called Holy Mackerel! (see above image from Aaron’s writing journal) about a Mackerel who was scared he was sinking. The story didn’t quite work (“as many don’t”) but gradually evolved to become Sea Monkey . . .