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.......