For posts about Debbie’s writing or illustration process.
(Updated May 26, 2024. Also see: Rejection Stories & Advice From Published Kidlit/YA Creators) This is a photo of a letter I’ve had pinned up on my home office Inspiration Board for years now. It represents the many encouraging-but-still-rejection letters I received over the years when I was actively writing . . .
(The following was also included in my new Inkygirl newsletter on Substack.) On Dec. 19th, 2013, my editor at Simon & Schuster contacted me to see if I’d be interested in auditioning for a project “of great proportions.” I said sure. See this re-creation of my response. I had been . . .
Finding it a challenge to carve out time for your writing because of other work or life commitments? I encourage you to join me in my Daily Writing Challenge. Even 100 words a day adds up! I also have an Inkygirl Daily Writing Challenge Facebook Page. One of my goals in 2020 . . .
Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 (Last updated May 31, 2018) One of Debbie’s favorite parts of book creation process is working with Laurent Linn on the cover. Here are some rough sketches of cover ideas: After Debbie’s art was approved, she waited. While she waiting, of course, . . .
Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 (Last updated October 2, 2017) In Part 1, I told you how I came up with the idea for SAM & EVA and how the book got bought by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (YAY). I signed the contract in . . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
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 . . .