Refreshing!

While in Japan, I started an archive of the different drinks available at some of the various vending machines. Japan LOVES vending machines, and these things are so well placed. My favorite were the hotel vending machines stocked with beer. Ice cold beer.

Summer Already?

I am so sad that so much time has passed since posting. Looking back, I feel as though my work production has lessened because of this lack, but indeed it has been a productive spring. We are just a few weeks away from the release of Richard Peck's The Mouse With The Question Mark Tail. I am super excited as this book hits the shelves. I've also been working away on an independent reader featuring the character from Masterpiece! It's a different pace of story I am typically used to, but as predicted my editor Christy Ottaviano has been incredibly helpful.

I've also just returned from another trip to Japan. This time Antoine was a co-instructor with Montserrat College of Art, and I was a mere spectator. I liked that role!! Niigata College of Art hosted the fifteen students and I could not have imagined a more gracious and dedicated group of staff and faculty. As each day passed, my love for the country deepened... so many different facets! Efficiency and cleanliness balanced with a "play" hard approach to leisure. Simplicity of craft matched with complexity of social customs.

Upon return, deadline season is in full swing once again! Here is a recently finished bookcover! I cannot wait to see what Orchard Books does with the title treatment. The mock up looked amazing!

So! Alas! I am back, in action, and ready to get down to some regular posting! School's on break, and I'm ready to get rolling! Hope everyone is slipping into summer rather nicely!

Japan = Awesome

Back in June, Antoine, his brother, father, and nephew combined with my brother and sister-in-law took an amazing trip. We were fortunate enough to travel to Tokyo, Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto. With Antoine growing up there, I had heard stories of how amazing a place it is. I kid you not, he wasn't lying. All of this is just one girl's opinions, but I'd like to point out some high and lows! GARDENS EVERYWHERE. When I think gardens, I typically think of the kind Louis XIV would have loved. Controlled, bright, geometric. Japan is the complete opposite. Their gardens possess a naturalistic, or picturesque quality, and skirt the fine line of being cultivated and virgin. Super awesome. REALLY FUN SIGNS. Dōtonbori, Osaka has to be one of the craziest shopping streets I will ever be on. Many travel books commented on the ugliness of Osaka, but I found this to be quite opposite, and in many ways I preferred this city to Tokyo. TRAINS. I love trains. Make it a hi-speed one and I am even more excited. SO CLEAN, SO FRIENDLY. I was so impressed how such a densely populated area could remain so clean and organized. Granted, some of the architecture is unaesthetic, being a bit boxes and covered in wiring. Our merry group started taking pictures of the pieces of trash we would see, because it was that infrequent. Impeccable! BEER. I never knew that Japan was that stoked about beer! And even better with the summer temperatures! Vending machines on the street: beer. Vending machines in your hotel: beer. And, all of it was really cheap! On the flip side, when ordering non alcohol drinks in restaurants... the glasses are really small. Europe does this well, and my American thirst is just too great for such small glasses. TEMPLES/SHRINES. These buildings become so numerous, after a while you forget just how striking they are. The lights and space in and around them is so pleasing and well planned, I wish we could have lived inside them. BAMBOO. Ever since I was a child, I saw images of these forests. I've long dreamed of seeing them in person. What I didn't realize was that the color is the most amazing cool shade of green I have never seen before. Scooting along in the train, I would look at the shapes and textures of the forests. Even from a distance, these bamboo forest are amazing, with tall fern-like anatomy. A-mazing. PRESSURE. The worst part of the trip occurred on the second day. As we were headed out to Yadabashi Camera on the train, the horn started to blast in such an alarming manner as we approached a platform and every person inside the car looked forward. NOT A GOOD SIGN. My brother was just able to catch the glimpse of a man jumping in front of the train. As the train tried to stop, our car was the one in which was over the man. Trying to hide this from Antoine's younger nephew was imperative, and luckily, we were successful. While stuck in the train for a few moments, my brother and sister-in-law (each a dr. and nurse) naturally sprung into action, but alas we were locked inside. I was able to glimpse the stretcher carrying him out, and while not a horrific scene, made me sad to think why such a young, well dressed man would make this decision. We were nervous for the rest of the trip when we heard that train whistle blow. Phew well... ok. Sorry to end it on a weird note! BUT! I can honestly say, Antoine was not lying when he said Japan was one of the most amazing places on earth. Sure, it's busy, and urban, and overwhelming at times, but the hospitality, beauty, and friendliness of this ancient nation is amazing. GO THERE! Oh, and there are ridiculously cute things EVERYWHERE. It WINKED at us!