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 …
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 …
Special Feature: Marta Pelrine Bacon
My publisher wrote about my work and the path that brought me here. Comment, share, whatever might help us make our work a success.
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 …
Plum Tree Books Launches Pa Dug & Rosie In The Garden Series
¨ Everything in the garden serves a purpose
¨ Basic science in rhyme with beautiful illustrations for ages 3—6
¨ Easy learning and teaching
¨ Onomatopoeia for fun!
Everything In The Garden Serves A Purpose
I asked 4 yr old Ralph if he thought a story about a worm could be fun. He grinned. Ralph was one of a group of children at the Lechlade Festival participating in the launch of the first two little books in the Pa Dug & Rosie series. The antics Rosie employs when she discovers the underground worm tunnels made the gathered children giggle. Some stood and jumped up and down. “Are you waking the worms too?” I asked. After all, there is something fascinating about the thought of a network of underground tunnels made by smiley, clever pink worms who help bring food to the table. Rosie doesn’t believe Pa Dug when he tells her this. She shouts,”Worm’s…
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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 …
May Storytelling
May is here! And I don't know what you're writing these days, but I'm taking a giant stab at Story-A-Day May. I've managed it before, but I'm not sure this time how chemo treatments are going to get in the way. To be accurate, how the side-effects are going to get in the way. But …
Carcinoma Wonderland
I don't know how much about my life with breast cancer I want to blog about. But I've started an FB page to share this experience for what it's worth. The FB page feels more conversational and more immediate. But the page isn't for everyone. The blog format isn't really working for me on this. …
Drains!
The drains are gone! If you've ever had surgery that required post-op drains, you know how awesome it is to be drain free. If you don't know what I'm talking about, google Jackson-Pratt drain. I chose not to take a picture of mine. It's kind of hard to make them look pretty. Writing about difficult …
