Whether you had a dream dad, a nightmare dad, an absent dad, or an oddball dad, no matter how you'd describe the man who helped bring about your existence, there is no doubt he shaped you one way or another. Even an absence has an influence. My dad never planned on a being a single …
Category: The Plum Tree
The blogs and websites of writers and artists who one way or another are involved with Plum Tree Books.
The Bees Are Disappearing!
Whenever someone mentions bees, I want to shout, "The bees are disappearing!" If you're a Doctor Who fan, you'll understand. But the point now is that I'm illustrating a children's book about bees. I've never drawn bees before, so this is a challenge. This might sound crazy, but most of the time, I don't actually …
Sadness and Other Good Things
When I was an infant, my grandmother (pictured over there) would put a blanket on the floor for my naps. Her German Shepherd puppy, Jill (also pictured), would curl up around me and nap too. At the time, my mother was depressed and suicidal. Perhaps she wasn't the best mother those early days, but eventually …
Books, Dogs, and Wild Hopes
I'm so proud and excited of the children's books my publisher has written and I've illustrated. See! They books are here at Plum Tree Books. Plum Tree also published cards with my art! If you know anyone (or school, organization, and such) that might like unique children's books, please help us spread the word. And …
Change and Other Cool Things
Publication! My publisher, Plum Tree Books, is launching two children's books that I illustrated! I've been distracted and more unorganized than usual because of a cancer diagnosis and chemo brain, but I'm trying to get my life and my attitude back on track. I'm excited about my publisher's work and I want her books to …
Bloody Days
I've almost forgotten I blog. Heading toward the Christmas season things took an unexpected turn. A routine mammogram ended in a biopsy and two surgeries, and I can't say it's all done yet. The main distraction is the incision that has continued to bleed for over a week. There are plenty more serious health issues …
Resistance isn’t always futile. Sometimes it stops progress for years.
I've been ignoring my blog. Maybe I mean neglecting. I'm supposed to be figuring a website for my art and all that. People ask me, "Do you have a website?" I feel most failure-esque to say, "I have a blog." I mean, you can't sell art on this thing. Sure, someone could leave me a …
Continue reading Resistance isn’t always futile. Sometimes it stops progress for years.
Speaking of mug shots…
Do you ever google people from your past? Hmmm? Well, okay. So. I set my novel in 1985 because that's when I was a teen and because I didn't want to deal with cell phones and google. I used my hometown as a starting point for my novel. But then my fictional town of Lake …
Why is it dark in here?
Recently I joked, "I could've written a light comedy." And my husband replied, "I don't think you have light comedy in you." A friend said, "It's odd because you're a funny person." Hey, I didn't set out to write a dark, emotional novel. I started with an image and went from there. But I don't …
A Plum Heart
Today a new friend in my life puts her heart out into the world. Her heart should be lifted up and celebrated. Well, perhaps every heart should be. Forgive the potential sappiness. But sometimes sappiness is okay. We don't have to be all edges and armor every day of the week. (Anyway, I don't know …
Marta Bacon 