Welcome to my blog (scroll down to see individual posts), which was originally on a separate site at Inkygirl.com. I also have a separate Inkygirl newsletter on Substack at debbieohi.substack.com.
Also see: Inkygirl interviews – Resources
I just had my first phone meeting with Maria Modugno and Cathy Goldsmithabout illustrating author Lauren McLaughlin‘s MITZI TULANE, PRESCHOOL DETECTIVE. The first MITZI title comes out from Random House Children’s Books in 2016. Only just found out that Cathy will be my art director, and I’m especially thrilled because she used to work with Dr. Seuss (!!!). . . .
Photo: Sonya Sones.Justin Chanda is my amazing editor at Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers. I will always be grateful to Justin for being the first editor to believe in me and my work enough to offer a book contract (see this post for Justin’s explanation of why he chose me to illustrate . . .
Stephanie Burgis was born in Michigan, but now lives in Wales with her husband, fellow writer Patrick Samphire, and their children. Before becoming a fulltime writer, she studied music history as a Fulbright Scholar in Vienna, Austria and worked as a website editor for a British opera company. Her first novel, Kat, . . .
ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE By Benjamin Alire Saenz Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers Also see Debbie’s Reading Journal as well as Debbie’s Bookstagram.
I post a comic for writers on Writer Unboxed the first Saturday of every month. Just posted a new one this morning: “Finding Focus.”
If you’re trying to get work done today, I strongly advise AGAINST checking out the #YABooksWithALetterMissing hashtag Just a sampling: Cod Name Verity– how one brave fish won the war #YABooksWithALetterMissing— Gillian Berry (@mizgillianberry) July 2, 2013
Julie shares why she and her children love picture books from Candlewick Presson Vimeo. Thanks so much to Julie Falatko (@JulieFalatko on Twitter) for this wonderful video. Love how she pulls out I’M BORED at the end and starts reading it! See her original post on ReadingStartsHere.com. I’m especially honoured, considering the company. Thanks, Julie! And thanks . . .
Looks like it’s official: Penguin and Random House are officially merged. CEO Markus Dohle sent the following to letter to Random House authors and illustrators (possibly Penguin as well? I received one because I’m illustrating the RUBY ROSE books for Random House Children’s): To Our Authors, Today, Random House and Penguin . . .
I recently read (and loved) Tim Federle‘s BETTER NATE THAN EVER, which came out from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers earlier this year. Here’s my MicroBookTweet, in case you missed it. I especially recommend it for those who have been teased for being different and could use encouragement for pursuing their . . .
POSTS SO FAR: Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 Part 1: Intro Part 2: Brainstorming, Story Pitch, Thumbnail Sketches (Note: This series of blog posts is NOT meant to The Definitive Guide of how a picture book is created. Your own publishing experience may differ, depending on your situation and people involved. Thanks . . .