I received a Bachelors degree in Illustration & Advertising Design from Utah State University and a BFA in Toy Design from Fashion Institute of Technology..... *snore* That’s the technical side of my background which says I spent a lot of time in school drawing, painting, playing with type, page layout, reading thick books, taking tests, and oh yeah, getting illustrations (I stayed up all night finishing) torn off the wall by the instructor and stomped on.
Yes, art school can be rough. But it did teach me to be tough and has been invaluable in dealing with the drawer full of rejections from editors and agents over the years of working at being an author and illustrator.
Coming from a family of 8 kids, I had big brothers who toughened me up and made sure I could take a punch. So later, after my first round of college, I was tough enough to move to the BIG city and try to be an illustrator. It took a lot of doing, but I did it.
I have illustrated over 10 games, and 20 picture books. Ellie and Her Emotional Dragons has won 25 awards including Best Book of the Year 2019 and star review from Kirkus. And Nelson Beats the Odds was #1 Best Seller on Amazon.
When I'm not writing or illustrating, you can find me taming dragons, walking my two dogs in the BIG city, playing board games, watching movies with her honey (we own over 1,500 movies), or gardening and exploring nature in the city.
When I'm not writing or illustrating, you can find me taming dragons, walking my two dogs in the BIG city, playing board games, watching movies with her honey (we own over 1,500 movies), or gardening and exploring nature in the city.
Clients Include: Praetorian Games, Pelican Publishing, Nomad Press, Learning A-Z, Pelican Publishing, The Library Store, Creative Medicine, Pauline Books & Media, Roosterfin Games, Puddle Duck Publishing, LOONY, New Moon Magazine, Highlights Magazine, International Masters Publishers, Silver Editions, Ten to Two Children’s Books, Jacob Packaged Goods, Nancy Hall Associates, Herman Agency, SCBWI Bulletin / SCBWI Metro NY Newsletter, Once Upon a Time, EB Brands, Leap Frog, Moose Entertainment