San Francisco Publisher meeting!

So as many of you know, I took pretty much the most awesome vacation ever over Labor Day weekend with my boyfriend to visit some of his college friends out in San Francisco, CA.  It was my first trip to the west coast (I've been as far as the Grand Canyon/Las Vegas back in 5th grade) and seeing the Pacific Ocean (it is COLD).  But in addition to all the crazy funness (funness?) that went down with our friends, I also had a very wonderful meeting with my amiable publisher, Mr. Martin at Inner Light Books. 

This was very exciting as I have never met with a publisher to talk about my work before.  The closest I ever got was an anonymous critique at the SCBWI Eastern Pa conference in March (March?) and that was pretty one-sided.  I went to his adorable townhouse in the Mission District where he showed me some of his beautiful books (some printed by I.L.B.), lots of cool ethnic art on the walls, and I met his wife and his gray cat Don Quixote.  He looked over my design and illustrations for Cousin Ann, which he likes very much, and we basically talked about improving layout here and there, as well as perhaps adding more illustrations.  We also discussed the contract and payment (reasonable, in my opinion). The best thing out of it though is that he revealed he wants to do a hardcover version!  That may not mean much to anyone outside of the book business (maybe it does? I don't remember what it's like to be a civilian anymore, haha. Just kidding), but to me it means there will be a jacket with bios and a summary on it, more opportunities for reviews, a nicer looking product, and better quality.  

The publishing date is tentatively Dec. 1st, in time for Christmas (and my birthday! Happy birthday me, my first published book!)

Publishing Announcement!

So if you've seen my blog lately, you'll notice I have been working on illustrations for a book of Quaker stories written by Ann Preston, a famous doctor in the 1800s.  I've been working on it with a friend of mine who is a professor at Temple U and an antiquarian bookseller (it was his idea, intro, and editing).  Well, he found us a publisher!  They're called Inner Light Books and they specialize in Quaker lit, appropriately enough.  They plan to have our book out by Nov. 2010, just in time for Christmas.  So if you like Quakers, or whimsical black-and-white ink illustrations, or morally-instructing tales of woe and horror, then start your Christmas list early and make this one number one!