Cover

I thought I’d go ahead and post the cover of Happy Birthday, Tree, illustrated by the fabulous Jana Christy. I love her work, especially her springtime art and her punk rock paper dolls. And I want pretty much every outfit I’ve seen her characters wear. (Ever since she saw the illustrations for Happy Birthday, Tree, my daughter has kept an eye out in stores for Joni’s hat. If you happen to see it, let us know so we can purchase right away!)

I’m still waiting to see which book ends up being my official “first book.” The one I sold first keeps getting bumped back due to the illustrator’s schedule. But Happy Birthday, Tree and The Schmutzy Family appear to keep moving up. Both are due out in early fall. I’ve been lucky enough to be head-over-heels in love with every illustrator I’ve been assigned so far, but somehow there’s still a feeling of shock — diving-board-into-the-pool shock — when I see my words captured by someone else’s imagination.