Grace Lin's Blog, page 11
July 20, 2016
duck days
Yes, Pato the duck even has to take a bath with her. Ducks get dirty, too!
but in his own bathtub
but in his own bathtub
July 18, 2016
on my desk monday
Hey, lookie what I have! Advanced reading copies of Flying Lessons & Other Stories. It's the WNDB's short story anthology! Amazing authors like Jacqueline Woodson and Matt de la Pena are alongside yours truly (hoping they make me look good)--each writing an original short story to benefit WNDB. The collection is super awesome!
Are you a teacher or librarian and want a peek at it? E-mail me at gracelin.manager at gmail.com and I'll send you one of my ARC's! I have a limited supply, so contact me quick! You don't want to miss this book! Sorry, I'm all out now! Thanks for your interest--please get the real book when it comes out in Jan 2017!
July 11, 2016
On my desk Monday
School visits are over and I can finally start concentrating on my next book....a picture book!
Yes, it's been a long time! I've been pretty consumed with novels and early readers--the last picture book I did was over six years ago. So long ago that most people have forgotten that I am even an illustrator, most people now know me as author.
first steps
Which is probably why I've actually been sitting on this project for a while. Not because I don't love it...in fact, quite the opposite. It's because I love it so much I've been afraid to start. Am I still an illustrator? I have spent so much time focusing on improving my writing...has my art skill stagnated? Or worse, has it decayed and disappeared?
Well, I guess there is only one way to find out! Wish me luck!
Yes, it's been a long time! I've been pretty consumed with novels and early readers--the last picture book I did was over six years ago. So long ago that most people have forgotten that I am even an illustrator, most people now know me as author.
first stepsWhich is probably why I've actually been sitting on this project for a while. Not because I don't love it...in fact, quite the opposite. It's because I love it so much I've been afraid to start. Am I still an illustrator? I have spent so much time focusing on improving my writing...has my art skill stagnated? Or worse, has it decayed and disappeared?
Well, I guess there is only one way to find out! Wish me luck!
July 6, 2016
duck days
Pato the duck, put in a new outfit and ready for a new adventure:
I know it looks like he is being held captive but she says he is wearing his "beautiful decorations"
I know it looks like he is being held captive but she says he is wearing his "beautiful decorations"
July 4, 2016
On my desk monday
On my desk are some of the goodies I got while at the ALA convention in Florida:
Notice that beautiful thing on top? It's not a book, it's the program from the Newbery/Caldecott/Wilder Banquet that I was lucky to attend (did you miss Newbery winner Matt de la Pena's amazing speech? Go read it NOW.)
The program was created by the Caldecott winner, Sophie Blackall:
Isn't it gorgeous? I admit I was particularly thrilled when she won this year because I actually have a Sophie Blackall original. Back in 20014, she participated in Robert's Snow and I bought her snowflake:
I think I made a good investment, don't you?
Notice that beautiful thing on top? It's not a book, it's the program from the Newbery/Caldecott/Wilder Banquet that I was lucky to attend (did you miss Newbery winner Matt de la Pena's amazing speech? Go read it NOW.)
The program was created by the Caldecott winner, Sophie Blackall:
Isn't it gorgeous? I admit I was particularly thrilled when she won this year because I actually have a Sophie Blackall original. Back in 20014, she participated in Robert's Snow and I bought her snowflake:
I think I made a good investment, don't you?
June 29, 2016
duck days
I have no idea what this outfit is about, except that it was very elaborate and specific.
I think it was something about eating jelly.
I think it was something about eating jelly.
June 22, 2016
a day in the life of a duck
So, Rain Dragon has had many passions turn into obsessions and then fade away-- the planets, Curious George, penguins, martians...so far, Totoro has remained fairly strong but the only love that has been truly evergreen (from when she was small baby!) is ducks. She loves all ducks but her favorite is the one she named Pato (which is the Spanish word for duck. No, neither I nor her father know any Spanish. It's because we let her watch Pocoyo.). So even though the stuffed animal is official Duck from Duck and Goose (sorry Goose, you were discarded), she will indignantly correct you if you attempt to call him a different name.
Because Pato is her friend in all adventures, wearing outfits and costumes that only a pre-schooler's brain and fingers can make. From swimming to the deep sea:
I think they are looking for a underwater satellite
To wearing protective space suits:
the universal use of tin foil!
and being the patient to her doctoring:
scotch-tape bandages
And birthdays:
which happen daily, instead of yearly
He is her, if not constant, always awaiting companion.
and to sleep, in a sock nightcap and, yes, her duck foot slipper
Wait until you see what else they do!
Because Pato is her friend in all adventures, wearing outfits and costumes that only a pre-schooler's brain and fingers can make. From swimming to the deep sea:
I think they are looking for a underwater satelliteTo wearing protective space suits:
the universal use of tin foil!and being the patient to her doctoring:
scotch-tape bandagesAnd birthdays:
which happen daily, instead of yearlyHe is her, if not constant, always awaiting companion.
and to sleep, in a sock nightcap and, yes, her duck foot slipperWait until you see what else they do!
June 20, 2016
On My Desk Monday
I'm finally back to my painting desk! It's been a while. I'm glad I have this little project to warm back up.
It's kind of fun to do something that only really has to make sense to myself! It's going to be part of an exhibition at Springfield's D'Amour Museum of Art to help celebrate the new Dr. Seuss museum that will open in the fall. More to come, but I'm looking forward to it!
It's kind of fun to do something that only really has to make sense to myself! It's going to be part of an exhibition at Springfield's D'Amour Museum of Art to help celebrate the new Dr. Seuss museum that will open in the fall. More to come, but I'm looking forward to it!
June 15, 2016
just like eric carle
So, Rain Dragon has always been a little uninterested in what I do for work. I've told her many times that I am an author and illustrator of books, but she never quite caught on.
But a couple of weeks ago at her preschool they did an unit on Eric Carle, studying all his books and choosing their favorite:
her favorite was The Hungry CaterpillarSo the other night at bedtime, after reading Ling and Ting together, I asked her, "Who do you think made this book?"
She replied, "Eric Carle!"
To which, I opened to the back and showed her the picture:
And she cried out, in utter amazement, "MAMA!"
It was, perhaps, the sweetest moment in my entire book career. And now, when we meet people, Rain Dragon says, "This is my Mama. She makes books."
❤️❤️❤️
But a couple of weeks ago at her preschool they did an unit on Eric Carle, studying all his books and choosing their favorite:
her favorite was The Hungry CaterpillarSo the other night at bedtime, after reading Ling and Ting together, I asked her, "Who do you think made this book?"She replied, "Eric Carle!"
To which, I opened to the back and showed her the picture:
And she cried out, in utter amazement, "MAMA!"
It was, perhaps, the sweetest moment in my entire book career. And now, when we meet people, Rain Dragon says, "This is my Mama. She makes books."
❤️❤️❤️
June 13, 2016
My advanced copies are now out in the world...
So last week I sent out my newsletter with the ARC giveaway! I had five advanced reading copies reserved for this contest:
an advanced reading copy is a "rough draft" of a book that the publisher puts together-- it has typos, incomplete art, etc but is supposed to give reviewers and booksellers an idea if they want to recommend it or order it
I was pleased that 456 people entered before the deadline! Yay! So glad so many of you want to read the new book! But how to pick the winners? So many of you wrote lovely notes along with your entries (thank you! Some brought tears to my eyes!) and it was really, really difficult not to choose based on reading the e-mails. But I had said five ARC's were going to be given away completely randomly, so I felt like I had to follow through. Which is why I used:
Yes, the random number generator! So if you're e-mail came in the 9th, 78th, 101st, 321st or 431st I sent you an ARC! Congratulations!
Goodbye, ARC'S! I sent them to all the schools I've visited this past year as well as the random winners!
So sorry to all those that don't receive one! But, chin up! The book launch is right around the corner and if you pre-order the book, I promise the goodies I add will make it worth the wait!
If you do receive an ARC, I hope so much that you enjoy the story (I won't say book, as the real book isn't out until October)! Whenever I think about people reading it, my heart pounds like one of those taiko drums. So, if you do like the story, please let the world (and me) know!
an advanced reading copy is a "rough draft" of a book that the publisher puts together-- it has typos, incomplete art, etc but is supposed to give reviewers and booksellers an idea if they want to recommend it or order itI was pleased that 456 people entered before the deadline! Yay! So glad so many of you want to read the new book! But how to pick the winners? So many of you wrote lovely notes along with your entries (thank you! Some brought tears to my eyes!) and it was really, really difficult not to choose based on reading the e-mails. But I had said five ARC's were going to be given away completely randomly, so I felt like I had to follow through. Which is why I used:
Yes, the random number generator! So if you're e-mail came in the 9th, 78th, 101st, 321st or 431st I sent you an ARC! Congratulations!
Goodbye, ARC'S! I sent them to all the schools I've visited this past year as well as the random winners!So sorry to all those that don't receive one! But, chin up! The book launch is right around the corner and if you pre-order the book, I promise the goodies I add will make it worth the wait!
If you do receive an ARC, I hope so much that you enjoy the story (I won't say book, as the real book isn't out until October)! Whenever I think about people reading it, my heart pounds like one of those taiko drums. So, if you do like the story, please let the world (and me) know!
