A few friends have asked how to get prints of my mixed-media, abstract giraffes, so I've finally put them for sale on Redbubble! My shop is under the name hillsidegirl for now, but that may or may not stick. I'm just testing the waters!

However ...
I am excited about this month's post: a collection of fellow kidlit creatives who have online shops selling merchandise or prints aside from their work as children's bookmakers. I hope you enjoy browsing and shopping. I love to get ahead of the holidays to find personalized gifts. Even if you are not in a shopping mood, please check out the artist's sites below. There is a ton of cute stuff made by my talented illustrator friends, mentors, and acquaintances! Click on the images to enter their shops!

Bright and cheerful cutouts: cards, stationery, and stickers!

Adorable crochet patterns.

Animal lovers, togetherness, and positivity merchandise!

Nature-themed prints, stickers, and original paintings.

Custom pet portraits.

Creepy-cool, monsterish cutout designs and merchandise.

Imaginative pins and stickers.

Fantasy prints.

Disney-inspired prints, stickers and pins.

T-shirts, mugs, and socks.

Thanks for browsing! Please give a shout out to any of the featured illustrators in the comments below!

The revision struggle is real! Lately, I've been battling a recent draft of a manuscript that I"ve pulled from submission to give it a little something extra. My attempts to change one little section snowballed into a complete rewrite. Far from the original concept, I'm drafting an entirely new story. Of course, I'm no stranger to this; if you've read the backstory on THE STAR FESTIVAL, it is clear that sometimes, a complete overhaul is necessary. I'm game.

However, knowing this doesn't necessarily make the rewrites less painful. Seriously! Solving a problem in a manuscript becomes an obsession. I live and breathe how to fix it and craft a story that I can imagine seeing on the shelves.
Try, fail, repeat.
Try, fail, progress.
I like it.
Read it out loud to my husband,
I hate it! 
Arghhh!
Repeat the process all over again!

So, I was in this revision frenzy, thinking why is this so challenging, feeling like the answers were right there—within my reach, but far enough away to make it difficult to grasp. Then, the universe throws in a twist. My husband gets admitted to the hospital to take care of a newly diagnosed, but long-standing back problem. My manuscript, a minor problem compared to what life was handing us at that moment came with me. (Remember the obsession part?) I found myself setting up shop, paper, and pencil in hand in a hospital room.

Visiting hours offered unexpected down time and a perspective that I hadn't asked for. When the nurses rolled my husband out of the room, I found myself staring at walls, examining the bits of the room that generally go unnoticed, and photographing everyday objects. I revised the images with some iPhone effects, brightness, contrast, brilliance, and color. But my time spent tinkering with each photo was more than a distraction.

This day spent staring at the walls of a hospital room reminded me that we are always evolving. Our bodies, thoughts, goals, attitudes, skills, art work, and stories constantly change. Revision is endless. Sometimes it is planned and other times unexpected.  Thankfully, we are home. I can't say the same for my manuscript yet, but I'm working on it.

Here's a list of revision tips inspired by the photos taken from visiting hours in a hospital room. (Hover over the image to read the tip or see below.)

I'd love to hear in the comments how your revision is going!

1. Go bold and colorful,
2. Highlight elements of the story. Is there too much dialogue, description, passive language?
​3. Change the story structure.
​4. Change the setting. (Taken from the parking lot.)
​5. Clean it up. Get rid of parts that don't move the story forward.
​6. Complete all circles. Close out any plot points introduced in the story.
​7. Start from the end. Maybe your first lines should be your last!
​8. Show the character arc. How did they change by the end?
​9. Flush out anything that is not working, evey your darlings!
10. Try a fresh approach, something you haven't tried, something you've resisted.
​11. Add a time constraint.
​12. Allow time to reflect. Put the manuscript away. 
​13. Take a break. Have a snack.
​14. Edit. Too many words? Leave some space.
​15. Change the perspective. 

What started as a casual conversation with a local librarian led to a more extensive discussion with five local librarians about which books parents were requesting for their children but couldn't find. What was lacking, and what themes were being overlooked or underrepresented? With the exception of a couple of topics, the results were widely varied. Check out what five Los Angeles-based librarians had to say.

The first library I visited expressed a need for books about consent, such as the picture book, Don't Hug Doug. Another one that comes to mind is C is for Consent. The need for diverse books hasn't slowed, and helpful books to assist parents are also being requested. Newer takes on potty training, and weaning and books about single parenting are in high demand. The librarian specified that this topic extends beyond divorce and separation stories. She feels that parents need assistance and conversation starters to represent one parent raising a child/children while the other parent is absent.

The second librarian had yet to receive many requests from parents, but the library is still actively purchasing books with social justice themes and social-emotional learning. She expressed concern that Covid continues to affect social transitions in schools. She also reinforced that kids use their local library to do homework after school. I've seen this library at total capacity, and I love that the kids have a safe place to congregate!

The third librarian I visited needs books about climate change, Native Americans, and local biographies about interesting people. In her words, "Not the same ol' people." She also expressed interest in fresh takes on classic themes such as sibling rivalry and grandparents' passing. This library continues to acquire books on social justice, gender identity, and neurodiversity.

The fourth librarian said there had been little input from parents since Covid. But she had received a few involving themes of entering school for the first time (preK, or preK to Kinder). Other topics requested are books on emotions, trucks, and manners. ​

And finally, the last librarian commented on the disparity between the type of books parents want their kids to read, and the books children choose for themselves. Parents seek the classics for their children, but kids can't get enough of graphic novels. Kids are devouring them, even early reader graphic novels. She shared how her son loves this format. He reads and rereads stories such as Dogman. Each time he reads from a new perspective. As he matures, new connections are formed, and he accesses the material at higher levels of understanding. 

So, there you have it. If you are a writer, I hope this information fuels your imagination, and I hope your book appears on future library's list to purchase. If you are a librarian, teacher, or parent, I'd love to hear which topics you wish to see on the shelves. 
​
Leave your comment below!

It's time for some kidlit author trivia! How will you score? TOP DOG? BADDEST CAT? or CASUAL KITTEN? Take out a sheet of paper to record your choices. Scroll down for the answer key when finished.

1 This book was written on a $50 bet when this author's publisher challenged him/her to write a book using 50 words or less.
a. Where the Wild Things Are/Maurice Sendak
b. Green Eggs and Ham/Dr. Seuss
c. Baby Animals/Gyo Fujikawa
d. Goodnight Moon/Margaret Wise Brown

2. This author only writes/wrote stories using a pencil and yellow paper.
a. C.S. Lewis
b. Jason Reynolds
c. P.D. Eastman
d. Roald Dahl

3. This author preferred outdoor activities to reading and was an avid sailor.
a. E.B. White
b. Arnold Lobel
c. Chris Van Allsburg
d. Shel Silverstein

4. A skating rink in Kiyose, Japan, was named after this author.
a. Laura Ingalls Wilder
b. A.A. Milne
c. Ezra Jack Keats
d. Madeleine L'Engle

5. This author's illustration of a red lobster created for an advertisement led to his first picture book assignment.
a. Mercer Mayer
b. Eric Carle
c. Crockett Johnson
d. Norman Bridwell

6. This author shares a birthday with Abraham Lincoln and Judy Blume.
a. Beverly Cleary
b. Bill Martin Jr.
c. Astrid Lindgren
d. Jacqueline Woodson

7. This author was frightened of “dogs, swimming, and thunderstorms as a child.
a. Grace Lin
b. Lauren Child
c. Judy Bloom
d. Sandra Boynton

8. This author kept a journal and jotted down private thoughts in a secret code.
a. Lewis Carroll
b. S.E. Hinton
c. Richard Scarry
d. Beatrix Potter

9. This author wished to become the first female major league baseball player, and also wanted a career as a FBI agent.
a. Rosemary Wells
b. J.K. Rowling
c. Jane Yolan
d. Mem Fox

10. This author hates Mickey Mouse.
a. Laura Numeroff
b. R.L. Stine
c. Mo Willems
d. Linda Sue Park

Scroll down for answers.

ANSWERS:
1b 2d 3a 4c 5b 6d 7c 8d 9a 10c
​
1 This book was written on a $50 bet when this author's publisher challenged him/her to write a book using 50 words or less.
a. Where the Wild Things Are/Maurice Sendak
b. Green Eggs and Ham/Dr. Seuss
c. Baby Animals/Gyo Fujikawa
d. Goodnight Moon/Margaret Wise Brown

2. This author only writes/wrote stories using a pencil and yellow paper.
a. C.S. Lewis
b. Jason Reynolds
c. P.D. Eastman
d. Roald Dahl

3. This author preferred outdoor activities to reading and was an avid sailor.
a. E.B. White
b. Arnold Lobel
c. Chris Van Allsburg
d. Shel Silverstein

4. A skating rink in Kiyose, Japan, was named after this author.
a. Laura Ingalls Wilder
b. A.A. Milne
c. Ezra Jack Keats.
d. Madeleine L'Engle

5. This author's illustration of a red lobster created for an advertisement led to his first picture book assignment.
a. Mercer Mayer
b. Eric Carle
c. Crockett Johnson 
d. Norman Bridwell

6. This author shares a birthday with Abraham Lincoln and Judy Blume.
a. Beverly Cleary
b. Bill Martin Jr.
c. Astrid Lindgren
d. Jacqueline Woodson

7. This author was frightened of “dogs, swimming, and thunderstorms as a child.
a. Grace Lin
b. Lauren Child
c. Judy Bloom
d. Sandra Boynton

8. This author kept a journal and jotted down private thoughts in a secret code.
a. Lewis Carroll
b. S.E. Hinton
c. Richard Scarry
d. Beatrix Potter

9. This author wished to become the first female major league baseball player, and also wanted a career as a FBI agent.
a. Rosemary Wells
b. J.K. Rowling
c. Jane Yolan
d. Mem Fox

10. This author hates Mickey Mouse.
a. Laura Numeroff
b. R.L. Stine
c. Mo Willems
d. C.S. Lewis

​I’ve been on a health kick. Or rather, I’m on a healthier kick. Brought on by high cholesterol, I’ve been digging into the ingredients of the foods I eat. The good news is I’ve managed to get those numbers down! Here’s a fun plot diagram of my journey. 








​OUTLINE

Exposition
Omnivore girl sets out to become healthy. What is healthy?? Who is the antagonist here?

Rising Action 1
The protagonist becomes vegetarian but becomes an omnivore again after marrying and having a kid. The antagonist hides within the body. Hidden, bad news brews.

Rising Action 2
The protagonist separates and goes on an alkaline/vegan diet to rid herself of stress-induced ailments. It works, yay! Then, she becomes an omnivore again. The antagonist hides within the body. Hidden, bad news brews.

Rising Action 3 
The protagonist finds love, and also moves her mom into the house. Her eating habits are all over the place. She fluctuates between veganism and pescetarianism but still considers herself “healthy.” The secret antagonist hides in her body, creating havoc. Menopause hits, and she feels like crap!

Climax
Boom! Bad news comes out of hiding. The protagonist’s blood labs return —HIGH in cholesterol, and she’s put on statins. The antagonist revels in a happy dance.
​
Falling Action
The protagonist digs and researches how to get off cholesterol meds. She meets the antagonist head-on - saturated fat! He is everywhere, hidden in the most secret places, disguised in plain day, tricking people with his charming good taste. The protagonist breaks up with him - forever! She goes plant-based, whole-foods and, within three weeks, drops her cholesterol levels to normal.

Resolution
The protagonist puts on her cape, prepared to fight her antagonist forever, bettering her health, and the lives of animals and the planet.

Here are pictures of some food experiments made without meat, dairy, and oil. I know what you’re thinking - that looks so delicious, and I need that recipe! Click on the links!

​Pink beet sauce gave this seitan its red middle which was sliced up into a sandwich. Link

I've been busy making veggie broth out of all discarded vegetable parts. This provided the base to a yummy soup.

I've turned to growing sprouts since almost no veggies grew in my garden this year. And I've been closing down the day with a chocolate-banana brownie. Yum! Link

​
​If you are considering going plant based, whole foods and need more information or motivation, here are a few films to check out.

https://www.eating2extinction.com/
https://gamechangersmovie.com/
https://www.forksoverknives.com/the-film/​

Wishing you happiness and good health wherever you are on your journey. 

​THE ART PACK Christopher & Helen, Frayling Ron van der Meer
Who can resist a book about the history of art with pop-ups!!

PRINTS AND THEIR MAKERS Phil Sanders
A great introduction to contemporary printmakers and their techniques.

PICTURE THIS: HOW PICTURES WORK Molly Bang
How placement of shape, line, color, and placement evokes emotions. A must have for picture book creators!

QUICK DRAW PEOPLE: STEP-BY-STEP MASTERPIECES Sarah Wimperis
Before Instagram reels showed an artst's process from start to finish, this book did it.

LEARNING BY HEART: TEACHINGS TO FREE THE CREATIVE SPIRIT
Corita Kent, Jan Steward
Easy and creative assignments and exercises. "There's only make," Corita Kent.

BEGINNING DRAWING ATELIER: AN INSTRUCTIONAL SKETCHBOOK Juliette Aristides
Sketch right inside this book. Touchy-feely paper and cover.

INK: DO MORE ART Bridget Davies
Tons of cool ink techniques and its unpredictable nature.

PAINTING WITH MIXED MEDIA Paula Guhin, Geri Greenman
Media, tools, substrates, and techniques. This book has it all!

ALTERED BOOKS WORKSHOP Bev Brazelton
Messin' up old books to make new books.

ENCAUSTIC WORKSHOP Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch
I don't work with wax, but this book makes me want to learn. The beautiful textures serve as inspiration for other media as well.

COVER TO COVER: CREATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR MAKING BEAUTIFUL BOOKS, JOURNALS, & ALBUMS Shereen LaPlantz
Tons of book binding techniques!

PAINT MOJO A MIXED MEDIA WORKSHOP: CREATIVE LAYERING TECHNIQUES FOR PERSONAL EXPRESSION Tracy Verdugo
Exercises and examples to inspire. This artist is a great teacher as well.

SLOW STITCH: MINDFUL AND CONTEMPLATIVE TEXTILE ART Claire Wellesley-Smith
I purchased this book for the feel of the fabric cover. Another touchy-feely. Oh, and it has great photos too.

DISRUPTED REALISM: PAINTINGS FOR A DISTRACTED WORLD John Seed
Features artist who distort realistic images.

PROJECT CALM: MINDFULNESS THROUGH MAKING
​A quarterly magazine to inspire creativity. Look, read, make, enjoy the freebies and pullouts. 

CARTOONING: PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE Ian Brunetti
A guided, fifteen-week course in cartooning.

ART BEFORE BREAKFAST: A ZILLION WAYS TO BE MORE CREATIVE NO MATTER HOW BUSY YOU ARE Danny Gregory
Drawing practice, ten to fifteen minutes a day.

READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO TAKE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS Henry Carroll
An impulse buy from a gift shop, but it offers super quick, easy to read and understand photography tips for the less knowledgeable, like me.

STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST: 10 THINGS NOBODY TOLD YOU ABOUT BEING CREATIVE
Austin Kleon
A super quick read. Read it when you head keeps saying, "I can't ..."

DRAWING LAB FOR MIXED MEDIA ARTISTS: 52 CREATIVE EXERCISES TO MAKE DRAWING FUN Carla Sonheim
Super fun and creative exercises! And I love this artist's work.

THE BORDER TRILOGY Suzy Lee
My absolute favorite book for picture book creators.  This artist offers an in-depth, analytical study into the artistic choices she made for the books, MIRROR, WAVE, and SHADOW. 

DESIGN IS STORYTELLING Ellen Lupton
Everything tells a story. This book shows you how with tons of graphics.

FECK PERFUCTION: DANGEROUS IDEAS ON THE BUSINESS OF LIFE James Vicotore
I throw this one in here for any creative who gets too much in their head. Me.

GYPSY: A WORLD OF COLOUR & INTERIORS Sibella Court
Beautiful book #1. You'll just want to look and savor, maybe redecorate too. A great book for finding color palettes.

ETCETERA ETC. CREATING BEAUTIFUL INTERIORS WITH THE THINGS YOU LOVE Sibella Court
Beautiful book #2. Stylish photographs. Tons of muted colors. Reads like a journal.

CUT PAPER PICTURES Clover Robin
Even if you're not into cutting paper, working with shapes helps develop the muscle memory for drawing.

ART SCHOOL: A COMPLETE PAINTER'S COURSE Halyn Publishing Group (Editor)
Looks like a textbook. Reads easy. Very comprehensive. It has just about any painting technique imaginable. Great reference book for beginning painters.

Great things happen when we begin to hold ourselves accountable for the things we have in life and what we want. We stop blaming others and life circumstances for standing in the way of our dreams. We realize that successes come from the work we put into it. And we discover a bit more about ourselves. The scary part is, when we hold ourselves accountable and move forward (okay, there might be setbacks), we might get what we want!​

But that doesn't mean we can't have a little help along the way. Enter an accountability partner or someone besides ourselves to whom we verbalize intentions and check-in. This person listens to our goals, provides support, and shares theirs as well. 
 
​An accountability partner can be helpful in any area. Maybe you are an entrepreneur, an artist, a teacher, a doctor, or a student! You might even be working on personal goals. Are you trying a healthier lifestyle, becoming a new mom, or changing careers? Think of your partner as a one-person support group giving you a gentle nudge to get it done.

Consider the scenario. Somewhere inside your head, there's a whisper, I'm going to write a children's book, I'm going to run five miles tomorrow, or I'm going to apply for three jobs this week. But the self-doubt chatter sets in, the series you're binging temps you to watch, or the pile of junk on the desk begs you to clean up. The hopeful whisper gets squashed! 
 
If we're a bit of a self-starter, we do take action. Yes! I came up with an idea for a book. Whew! I got in a mile. Or, Well, I applied for one job. Baby steps are important, right? Yes. 
 
But what happens when you verbalize goals to another person? Then, there are two to share an excuse or celebrate a win. This is not to say that there won't be times that you won't achieve a goal we set for ourselves. The point is that it becomes a habit. And more often than not, we do follow through.
 
For eight months, I've been meeting once a week with my partner, setting goals, sharing experiences, and checking in about industry-related frustrations and successes. The value in this practice is greater than what meets the eye. 
 
Yes, the goal-setting helps keep me moving forward. Yes, the follow-through keeps me disciplined. And, yes, it is helpful to chat with someone working in the same industry to exchange ideas, get help, and get inspired. 
 
But there have been unexpected benefits I have found by checking in weekly. I discovered that I am productive even when I think I am not. There are times when I beat myself up about one thing that I did not complete. However, when I look back at my list of goals for the week, I realize how much I did accomplish!
 
I also discovered what I like to do, what feels like a chore, and what realistically I can schedule in a week. I have since reevaluated and restructured my tasks to fit my needs and wants. 
 
Another unexpected benefit is connecting and being inspired by like-minded people. I am encouraged by my partner's optimistic outlook, drive to succeed, and ability to manifest opportunities for herself. Like myself, she is an educator and a children's book author. She is also an inspirational speaker and a true go-getter! Check out Shannon Anderson, my accountability partner, and her new book, I LOVE STRAWBERRIES!
 
Accountability Partner Checklist

1. Look around in classes, social media, work, or friend circles. Who is doing what you are doing or what you want to be doing? Reach out to this person and ask if they'd consider working with you. This sounds super scary. But look at it this way, at worst, they will say no, but they might say yes!! If they say no, look around again and repeat! You have nothing to lose and tons to gain!
2. Set a date and time to meet through a video format or in-person every week. Try to stick to the same time. This develops a pattern of routine, which is essential for consistency. When that time doesn't work for you, try to find another time during the same day. Sometimes it will be necessary to change the day, and that's okay. Allow flexibility in scheduling when life intervenes!
3. Decide who will call or send a link. If meeting in person, decide where to meet every week.
4. Review goals from the last week.
5. Set goals for the new week.
6. Keep the meeting 30 minutes max! Short and sweet! Discuss setbacks, insights, and discoveries. And definitely, celebrate successes!