Christmas is Here

Wonderful Christmas, God bless us Everyone, as Tiny Tim would say-

Time to put the drawing and writing away and concentrate on friends and family. May your Christmas be blessed.

I Should be Shopping for Christmas, oh well

I know, tis the Season. Yes, My tree is up. My outside lights are glowing. Even a few inside decorations are up. So I sneak back to the drawing board. So excited for this new project. I know it does not look too Christmasy (I know that is not a word)

TURKEY TIME

No Time to play, It is Turkey Time. Time for cooking, friends and fun.

New Easy Reader Project

Almost finished. Cleaning up some details. Working on an Easy Reader project for a special assignment.

Not So Spooky Halloween

So, the cool air is here. Time for those silly Hamsters to come Trick or Treating at my door. And I have the candy ready.

Updating Website

Came up with a way to post my first place award by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators I got from the Carolina's Conference I attended two weeks ago. I'm really so proud of this award for my story, Chicken Roundup.

After the SCBWI Carolinas Conference

Wow, ....... after three jam packed days of information and great fun. So as they say, " I'm Charged Up and Ready to Go." The speakers were great. Just to name a few of these fantastic folks, we had Mary Kate Castellani of Bloomsbury, Mallory Kass of Scholastic Press, Amy Lennex of Sleeping Bear Press, Rachel Orr from Prospect Agency, Marietta Zacker from Nancy Gallt Literary, Josh Adams from Adams Literary and Associate Art Director Lucy Ruth Cummins of Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. And Illustrator David Diaz thrilled the illustrators with an excellent portfolio workshop. Way too Wonderful

Updated Portfolio for SCBWI Carolinas Conference

So I'm looking through all my illustrations to add in my portfolio for the Conference on September 24th in Charlotte. I have lots of new projects to add and yet there are some older pictures I really love. What to keep and what to toss. I did come across a great article by Elizabeth Dulemba on portfolios. It is really a good thing to review as you make these important decisions for your portfolio.

Fun Interview

Kai Strands, children's author of The Weaver, honored me with an interview on her blog, Strands of Thought.

Such a fun interesting blog, Thanks again, Kai

New Louie Book Just Received

I just got a copy of the new book, Louie V. Trims the Tree, I think it turned out wonderful. Another winner Tracey Delio, Louie's author and creator of the Louie V Series.

Is Revision just a state of Mind????

I"m working on a revision. Yes, the hard part of the creative adventure. What is it they say, "Kill your babies."
I found a few great thoughts I need to keep foremost in my mind as I begin, from my favorite writing blog, Kidlit.com

by Mary Kole.

She says,
"Characters need motivation, logic and consequences for what they say and do. Every scene needs to teach us something new about a character or plot element. Every chapter needs to further the plot along. Each sentence needs to earn its keep in your writing and justify staying in the draft. Each plot and subplot needs to have an arc and resolve itself by the end. Characters, no matter how big or small, need to make some kind of change or progress. Emotions have to rise and fall like waves throughout."

Mollie The Merbaby, on MeeGenius Best Seller Page

Mollie has made it to the Meegenius Best Sellers page. Mollie is a happy merbabe.
On all these iTunes, iPod, iPhone and i things- She and Silly fish are having way too much fun.

New Book, Louie V Trims the Tree, Coming in August

Tracey Delio, my Louie V author has just sent me word that Louie V Trims the Tree,

will be released in August 2011. Can't wait to see how all the illustrations and type came together.

Winner of SCBWI-C Writer Contest for Picture Book

Wow, So thrilled. The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators from the Carolinas had their second annual contest calling for illustrations and story submissions.
My story, Chicken Roundup won first place in the fictional picture book category.
I'm just a happy kid now!

My New Meegenius Book for iTunes Out- Mollie the Merbaby

Just released for Meegenius- new children's book for ipads,iphones and all those fun devices- ages 3 to 100 Mollie the Merbaby

Such a Wonderful Moment in Time

So good to get my head out of this sketch pad and take a look around..............

Just Updated My Website, Stop By

I just uploaded many new pictures and new releases. Really pleased with new additions. Please stop by at www.kitgrady.com

Coming Soon, Louie V Trims the Tree

Wow, just got a copy of Cover for Tracey Delio's , Louie V Trims the Tree
I'm so excited but will still have to wait until the end of summer.......

New Project with Meegenius for iTunes out soon.

So excited. Mollie the Merbaby

due out soon with publisher Meegenius on iTunes.
Can't wait

Illustration in STORIES FOR CHILDREN MAGAZINE

My illustration is out for Elijah Wants to be a Cowboy story by David Roper, in the Stories for Children Magazine in the April Issue.

Louie's Book Coming Along Well

Still working with my lovable cat, Louie. Pictures should be ready for sending out soon.

Working on New Louie V Project

That crazy cat, Louie V has a a new tale to tell. Tracey Delio asked me about doing the illustrations for this not titled yet story about my fab feline.

Great Review From The Old SchoolHouse Magazine

Nice review. The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is a great place to land a review so I'm so pleased to share.

Finalist for Eppie Award, Humberto the Bookworm Hamster

So excited, the decision should come this month. Go Humberto

Working on new project......

So Tracey Delio, Author of the many Secret Adventures of Louie Books, has sent me another fun manuscript. This one a Christmas book. Only problem, I do not have until Christmas to finish it- I'll keep you posted.

Updating BRADYBUG'S ACTIVITY

So fun to check in on Bradybug, a book by Donna Shepherd, to see what is new. So much going on.

Children's author and inspirational writer Donna J. Shepherd's books for children - Topsy Turvy Land, No More Gunk! & OUCH! Sunburn!, Chizzy's Topsy Tale, Dotty's Topsy Tale, Sully's Topsy Tale, Bradybug, and Poodle & Doodle feature short, playful rhymes and humorous illustrations. Her two popular blogs have coloring pages, hidden picture puzzles, and more of Donna's fun poetry.

Topsy Turvy Land:
Oodles of Fun

And of course, you'll want to visit Bradybug on his own blog where you'll find coloring pages and more!

New Projects, No Time

Such a busy time. I'm working on a few new personal projects, directing a few submissions, and taking time to focus on several things I want to improve.

Illustration Board.Com, A Cool Site

I'm finishing up some work but check this out:
I just joined a great site for illustrators to post their work and link to website. Really neat spot- check it out at Illustration Board.Com

Snow is Coming Again

That is what they say.......

Reworking a few older pics today

A little snow left on the ground. Time to rework and play around with some older work.
Amazing how things look different as time passes.

Snow Outside and Photoshop Inside

So they say, 5 more inches. No Problem, I'm working with photoshop on a few things.
It does catch me by surprise every time I look up and out the window. A beautiful
afternoon with huge flakes swimming by. Wondrous

New Year , New Projects with Meegenius for iPhone and iPad

So exciting..... a new project to start the New Year........... Here is a picture from Mollie the Merbaby, a book to be published soon with Meegenius for downloading on the iPhone, iPad, and other devices for apple.

A NECKLACE FOR JIGGSY, STUDY GUIDES

Study Guides and Activity Sheets now available for Classroom Studies, free of charge -
  
A Necklace for Jiggsy in the Classroom