Cover Reveal for Picture Book: Chasing the Light

     
   SOMETHING

                        WONDERFUL

​                                         AWAITS ...

Illuminating stores everywhere FALL 2026!

***PREORDER TODAY***

Written by Amanda Davis
Illustrated by Faryn Hughes
Published by Marble Press
In Stores October 20, 2026

Chasing the Light

“Come out, come out,

Show us your colors.

Show us your lights..”
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On a cold winter’s night, mother and daughter play a game of hide and seek with the Northern Lights. Yet there is so much else to see and hear in the moment . . . so much beauty to appreciate and remember—especially time spent together.
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​Interviewer: Moni Ritchie Hadley.            ***SCROLL DOWN FOR BOOK GIVEAWAY INFO!

​Hello Amanda and Faryn,
It is such a pleasure to have you both here to share your cover reveal and story inspiration today. Faryn's delicate sweeps of snowy white immediately captivated me, drawing me into this winter landscape. The cool blue environs sweetly frame the mother and child, inviting me right into the wonderland.

In this story, a mother and daughter hope to witness the Northern lights, but the peekaboo chase is as important as the discovery. What was your reaction to receiving this manuscript?
Faryn Hughes: I absolutely loved this story from the first read, and I was determined to illustrate this one. I even moved my schedule around to be able to work on it. Rarely as an illustrator do you connect so personally to a story, and this one felt like all the pieces aligned. I consider myself an atmospheric landscape illustrator, so Chasing the Light was a dream project. Especially being a winter theme!

​​This book evokes a sense of wonder and connection to the natural world and reads like a poem with thoughtfully crafted pages. It is like a love letter from nature. What inspired you to it?  
Amanda Davis: The story was inspired by a trip I took to Iceland, where I was hoping to see the northern lights but never did. Instead of chasing the lights, I slowed down and appreciated the beauty around me and the love of my partner, who I was there with.

                                     Gullfoss Falls, Iceland

                                                                   Skogafoss, Iceland                                              Kerio Volcanic Crater, Iceland

Was the lyrical element intentional from the start, or did you try other types of storytelling in earlier drafts?
AD: This was my intention from the start. I love poetry and try to make my manuscripts lyrical. I felt like the subject matter of the Northern Lights is so magical and luminous that a poetic and lyrical tone would be fitting. I thought about the idea of the lights playing a hide-and-seek game with the narrator and crafted the refrain of the story around that.

​The illustrations truly compliment the text with a magical, dreamy quality. How did you approach the subject matter?

FH: I’ve lived in Minnesota all my life and have caught only fleeting glimpses of the Northern Lights in the cities. However, on the day I finished the final artwork for this book, the lights dipped low enough where I was able to finally see them right outside my home! It felt so special to bookend this project with a sighting of the real thing. It was truly magical. I connected to this story because I am very familiar with the winter landscapes where the Aurora can be seen. I’ve seen my fair share of snow and ice! Winter nature walks have been a staple in my life since childhood. It felt like home right away.

Wow. The image is spectacular! When appoaching the cover art, what did you feel was important to convey?
FH: We went through a few different sketch ideas for the cover, and ultimately, the team decided not to preview much of the Northern Lights, keeping it more of a secret for the end. Instead, we chose to show the “light” in the characters, which is the heart of the story.

Can you tell us about your process?
FH: I digitally sketch the entire book first and then tonally color the sketches, first in greyscale and then in color. This is so the Art Directors can get a sense of the atmosphere and lighting right away and give me notes. Once the sketches are approved, I start on the final spreads and paint all the rich nighttime colors and little details. ​

I love seeing the process! The final image (not shown) is breathtaking. Do you have a favorite?
AD: Such a hard question! I love the snowy owl spread. The perspective stands out to me, and of course, the last spread is amazing. Faryn’s art is magical and so emotive! 

FH: This book was done with digital painting in a watercolor style, but I wanted the last page to be extra impactful, so I painted the final sky with real watercolor. It is the only page with a real painting underneath and definitely a favorite. A close second is the snowy owl. 

This book is a tribute to the idea of slowing down and appreciating the beauty around us. How can parents and teachers practice this with their children?
AD: Yes, the idea of slowing down and noticing our surroundings was an important aspect of the story for me. I love being in nature. It has always been a place of comfort and calm for me. We can use the story as a reminder to children of our connection to nature. The text also utilizes most of the five senses—looking, listening, etc. 

Educators, parents, and caregivers can try this grounding exercise below with children that uses our senses to encourage being present. 
   Take a deep breath. Notice how you feel.

• Notice and name five GREEN things that you can see.
• Notice and name four things that you can touch. Describe their texture.
• Notice and name three sounds you can hear in your environment.
• Notice and name two smells you recognize. Notice and name one thing you can taste. It could be a sip or bite of something, or simply the current taste in your mouth.

   How are you feeling now? Do you feel more connected to your surroundings and the present moment?

Activities and lessons for teachers and caregivers will be added to my website soon. Make sure to check back! 

And finally ... Can you reveal a secret about this book?
AD: Okay, first of all, so cool that Faryn got to see the Lights as the illustrations came to a wrap. Serendipitous! As for your question, this is a bit of a spoiler alert, but at first, I had the end of the story true to my own personal experience, where my partner and I did not see the Northern Lights. Before acquiring the story, my editor asked if I would be open to having the mother and daughter see the Northern Lights, since this could be such a marvelous visual for the end. That’s what we ended up doing, and I’m so glad we did because Faryn’s final illustration of the Lights is stunning, and knowing she actually got to see them when she completed the illustrations is just perfect! 

FH: Nearly every page has animals found in the Northern U.S. and Canada region. I love hiding little details to discover with each reading.

Thank you both so much for chatting with me today! 
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 🔸🔶🔸"CHASING THE LIGHT" BOOK GIVEAWAY🔸🔶🔸
LEAVE A COMMENT & IG HANDLE BELOW TO ENTER 
(One lucky winner will be chosen on May 31, 2026. One entry per person. Book will be sent in the fall.)

PREORDER A SIGNED COPY TODAY

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​ABOUT THE CREATORS

Amanda Davis is an award-winning writer, artist, innovator, and recipient of the Massachusetts Secondary Art Educator of the Year award. Through her work, she encourages others to tell their stories and use the power of the arts to understand themselves and others—lighting up the world along the way. When not creating, Amanda can often be found exploring nature with her family and chasing her rescue pups around their Boston area home.
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​***Amanda offers mentoring and critiquing through the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, along with being a faculty Advisor for The Writing Barn’s program called The Verge.

Connect with Amanda:
Website and Instagram

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​Faryn Hughes is a fine artist and children's book illustrator who specializes in watercolor creations inspired by the natural world. She strives to create tranquil, symbolic works and immersive atmospheres. Faryn and her two cats live in St. Paul, Minnesota, where they occasionally catch glimpses of the Northern Lights.
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Connect with Faryn:
Website and Instagram

👉 Click here to read previous author interviews.

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