Is it still 2016???

There would be no way of knowing from reading my blog!

Apologies for the lack of updating since June.

I'll update soon with a WHOLE BUNCH of news, I promise. But for now here are the highlights over the past five months to whet your whistle:

• Golden Kite Award and SCBWI LA National Conference (OMG amazing!)
• Summer at SAM open artist (Super fun and a perfect excuse to draw outside!)
• Finished making a book with my husband (BEST collaboration ever!)
• Won the Washington State Book Award (WHAT????? YES! OMG!!!)
• Picture Book Panel for the Seattle Public Library (SOOO much fun, I could talk about books all day!!!) 

I will elaborate on these amazing items soon- hopefully in a post Thanksgiving haze next weekend...

BUT Until then- I'll be riding a party bus with Sherman Alexie and a ton of other amazing writers for Indies First this coming weekend. Oh yeah!!! It's going to be CRAZY!

And if you are in Seattle, come to one of our stops!

I'll also be doing a story time at the Seattle Public Library on December 3rd and their winter book fair on December 17th. Stay tuned and come out if you can!


OKAY!
More to come!
Until then, HONK HONK! BEEP BEEP! TOOT TOOT!

jx

Good News!

Hey everyone!
I've been meaning to share some recent good news with everyone. Boats for Papa was given the Golden Kite Award for Best Picture Book Text for 2016! I'm so thrilled by such a great honor. This book means so much to me and to have it acknowledged by SCBWI is sooooo huge!

 

Thank you so much! I even get to put a big shiny gold sticker on my book!!! woo hoo

I will be accepting the award at this year's SCBWI Conference in L.A. alongside other amazing and talented peers in the picture book world. Ahhhhh!!!

And if that's not enough, just this past weekend my second picture book Before I Leave was reviewed in the New York Times Book Review! I'm having another one of those "am I dreaming?" sort of moments. To have received a review once was a lifetime achievement, but twice??? Uh-mazing.

Okay, glowing moment over. But I had to share it online so one day when I'm old and forgetful I can go onto my blog and get a reminder for this cool moment.

jx