Announcing the Release of The Answer Box

The Answer Box, now available on Amazon.com!

Purchase Now On Amazon.com!

Click HERE For more information and a little sneak peek inside the book.

Find your bliss

Find your Bliss.

My next book, book number three, will be available very soon. It is in the final proof phase. I will be announcing the release date later this week.

This book is another illustrated, rhyming children’s book, just like my other two. I used an inspirational quote as the subject of the story, just like the other two.  The quote I chose for this book is one that I truly believe in. “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls” – Joseph Campbell.

What does this quote really mean?  To me, it means if you keep your mind open and fill it with your thoughts and dreams, the universe will find a way to unite you with your dreams, your bliss.  I also feel that knowing your bliss or even knowing what bliss is, can be difficult to define.  For me, it is something that you love, something you can lose yourself in, something you can find a lot of joy and happiness in.  If you have that passion, if you really want it, the universe will unite you with your bliss. 

What is your bliss? Do you have something you can define as bliss? Drawing and writing these books is bliss for me and also an example of this quote in action.   On January 1^st, I began writing things down that would fulfil me, what would make me happy?  One of my items was to find a hobby, something I felt passionate about.  I didn’t know what it would be and just started jotting down thoughts on a daily basis. One of my thoughts was to draw, get up in the morning and before you start work, just draw something. I thought this would just be a fun creative thing to do.  One thing led to another, the universe began breaking down walls and leading me to my bliss…..my drawing.  Here I am 5 months later, getting ready to release my third book and loving every single moment of the process. It gives me great joy and happiness.

How does the quote relate to my next book? The next book is called The Answer Box.  It is the story of  a dog who has a ball he loves to play with.  He thinks he would have a lot more fun if he had someone to throw it for him.  One day while walking down the street, he runs into a big box full of all his dreams and wishes.  A genie pops out to tell him if he keeps all his dreams in his head every day they will come true. The Genie vanishes, leaving Zen, the yellow lab, alone with his thoughts. Billy Beauregard, the new kid in town is in search of someone throw his ball to.  He also runs into the big yellow box and has a similar experience as Zen.  Billy is also left by the genie, alone, with only his thoughts in his head. One day, Zen drops his ball, it rolls down the street right up to the feet of Billy Beaureguard.  The two become friends and learn that everyone has an answer box in their head and their dreams can come true if they keep them in their thoughts every day.

This may seem deep and a little magical, but the story is simple and tries to relay the idea to just keep dreaming and good things will come.  Find your bliss…… 

I hope you all enjoy my next book and I am very excited for it to come out. In the meantime, I am engrossed in my bliss and have begun illustrations for my fourth book. 

Do you see the rain or do you see the flowers and rainbows?

I have written my fourth story and I’m very excited about it.  

The title of this next book will be 

Allyssa’s Magical Spyglass.  

As you may know, I have worked on basing my books off of inspirational quotes. 

I am excited to announce my fourth book is based on the quote, 

“The Optimist sees the rose and not the thorns; 

The Pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose.” 

- Khalil Gibran

This new story is about two troll brothers.
The brothers view the forest in which they live in a very negative way.
They are just not happy at all.
Alyssa, the unicorn, sees the same forest from a totally different perspective.
With the help of Allyssa’s spyglass,
the troll brothers are able to see things in a different light.

We all run into people that can only see the negative in their lives.
Many times, they are people who have a lot of good around them
and they choose to focus the negative.
Sometimes when we feel full of complaints
and negative feelings, it is good to just stop. 

Stop and look around you and take a look at all that is good.
When you start to focus on the good stuff, the positive stuff,
you may see that the good outweighs the bad.  

You can choose which way to view your life.  

Do you see the rain or do you see the flowers and rainbows? 

Allyssa teaches the troll brothers to see the latter.

Do you have a favorite quote? I would love to hear it! 

I'm always looking for new ideas for my stories. 

The Results are In....

The results are in for my survey "Which Zen is best".
Last week I conducted as survey to determine which version of
Zen the yellow lab I should use for my new book, The Answer Box.

AND THE WINNER IS....

drumroll

Exhibit B - Modified.

I redrew Zen with his eyes uncrossed and completed this page.

What do you think?

The page for this is mostly finished.  

Could be some tweaks down the road. But for now....

TA-DA!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

Today's post is to give a shout-out to all the Mother's out there along with one particular mother, mine!  My mother is an amazing artist.
Because of this, I dedicated my last book to her, Hanna's New Skill. 

In Hanna's New Skill, Hanna the hippo is in search of just the right skill. She tries dancing, running, playing ball and swimming (without much luck).  In the end, she discovers she is really good at art.  My mother is the inspiration behind art being Hanna's skill.

I am very proud and inspired by my mother. She has produced a lot of beautiful paintings over the years.  We have several of them hanging in our home. Below in this post are a few I'd like to share with you.

We all have a skill of some sort that is our best. Does your mother have a skill or something you are proud of?

In reality, being a mom, is a skill of its own.  So, here is a shout out to all moms, and the number one skill of all.... being a mom. Happy Mother's Day to all the mommas out there in cyberspace and beyond.


My Mamma's Skill....(the unskilled photography, courtesy of me)

Which Zen do you like best?

I have been working on my latest book The Answer Box and ran into a little design question. 

I'm not sure which version of Zen, the yellow lab, I like best here. Thought it would be fun to get a little 'audience' participation going!

I'm trying to get the feel of a Zen looking a bit sad and lonely. He loves playing with his ball, but thinks it would be a lot more fun if he had someone to throw it to him.  This is page three, where Zen is looking longingly at his ball and dreaming of that someone.

Below, we have Exhibit A and Exhibit B. 

I really liked the sketch I did for Exhibit B, but it just didn't feel right after I colored it. Thinking this may be best drawn with his eyes not so crossed. (Exhibit B modified).

I am throwing these initial drawings out there for my viewing audience and fans for some input!!!

Once a winner has been decided, I will finalize this page. 

Until then, on to page four........

Cast your Vote now...which Zen will it be?

Click this link to cast your vote and help me out!!

EXHIBIT A - side view

EXHIBIT B - Front View