The Squirrels Are Taking Over

New book projects since my last announcement: Random House Books For Children

Sat, 04 May 2013 15:54:15 GMT

In case some of you don't follow my regular blogs: I have two new book contracts, illustrating a picture book series for Random House Children's Books! Details here. This means that between now and 2016, I'll be working on SIX new picture books projects -- one of which I am writing as well as illustrating (for Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers). I so wish I could take some of the goodstuff now and spread it out a bit over the many years I was getting nothing but rejections, or at least send an earlier message to my earlier self and say, "Don't lose hope."

And I remain immensely grateful to my friend Beckett Gladney artbeco for convincing me to enter that first portfolio showcase back in 2010.

Urban Tapestry "I Am Stardust/The Universe Song" video, Allison's FKO reports

Wed, 01 May 2013 18:05:45 GMT

Thanks to Phil Mills phillip2637 for the video above, and to Karen Linsley for permission for posting this video. The song, "I Am Stardust" was written by our friend Lloyd Landa, who died in late 2000. You can read the lyrics to "I Am Stardust" on the Pegasus Awards site; it was nominated for Best Classic Filk Song in 2010.

Lloyd, we miss you.

From a moving tribute to Lloyd Landa by Norm Hacking

On her blog post about the video, Allison allisona writes:

This is a video taken by Phil Mills of Urban Tapestry singing "I Am StarDust" by Lloyd Landa at our 20th anniversary concert at FilKONtario last weekend. Debbie, Jodi and I love this song dearly and once Lloyd was gone from us too soon, it's always been an honour that his music partner Karen Linsley, who first sang the song with Lloyd, has encouraged us to continue singing it. I'm glad the filk community has taken "I Am Stardust" to their hearts and one of my favorite things about the video is listening to the audience singing along in the background.

Allison, Jodi and I had a wonderful time at FilKONtario. Kudos to the concom and guests! Allison has posted a series of con reports with photos on her blog:

Allison's FKO report, Part 1
Allison's FKO report, Part 2
Allison's FKO report, Part 3
Allison's FKO report, Part 4

For those who have arrived at this post from elsewhere and aren't familiar with filk, here's my own take on the topic: What Is Filk?

-- Debbie

Announcement: My next book illustration project with Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:51:13 GMT

I'm pleased to announce that I'm going to be illustrating another Michael Ian Black story, yay! Apparently Michael wrote the story with me in mind as the illustrator. :-) Entertainment Weekly broke the story today, and I also blogged about the news.

Scrooge Moments

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 12:49:57 GMT

Back in 2004 on my Blatherings, I posted about Scrooge Moments. I revisit the post every so often, especially around the winter holiday season, in case it helps others:

Since my mother died and especially since my brother and his wife died, Christmas has never been the greatest time of the year for me.

The insistent Christmas carols piped into shopping malls, the glitter and party atmosphere, the increased barrage of BUYBUYBUY...I get cranky, resentful, impatient of the crowds. Deep down, I know that part of this Scroogelike attitude is because of the ache left behind by personal losses, bittersweet memories of past holiday seasons, but this knowledge doesn't help.

Read the rest on Blatherings.

My new 2-book deal with Harpercollins, gratitude, and I'M BORED press

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 16:15:11 GMT

[Updated December 23, 2012: I wasn't sure what was going to happen with this project when the editor, Maria Modugno, left Harpercollins to join Random House. However, a new editor has been assigned and I've been told that they still want me as illustrator (yay :)). Launch date is going to change, though. More details when I have them.]

I'm pleased to announce that I'm going to be illustrating the new RUBY ROSE series by Rob Sanders for Harpercollins. The first is titled RUBY ROSE ON HER TOES, and is tentatively scheduled to come out in 2014.

I'm feeling so grateful to the people who have supported and encouraged me during my publication journey (like Beckett Gladney, who first convinced me to enter that illustration portfolio showcase back in 2010). I'll be writing more about many of them but right now, I'd like to once again thank Justin Chanda and Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers. Justin was the first editor/publisher to believe in me enough to offer me a book contract (I'M BORED), and other exciting opportunities have come my way as a result.

You ca read what the press has been saying about I'M BORED.

I'M BORED reviewed in The New York Times today, yayy!

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 13:12:26 GMT

You can read the New York Times I'M BORED review online.

Yayyy! I'M BORED launches in bookstores TODAY!!

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:57:51 GMT

Can't believe the day is finally here! It's been two years since a rejection turned into a book contract (thanks, artbeco!) with Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers to illustrate Michael Ian Black's I'M BORED.

I've updated the I'M BORED In The Wild photo gallery with more reader photos. I invite you all to send in your own photos: here are the guidelines and info about how to submit. Here's a recent photo that my sister-in-law Larkin sent in:

You can find more info about the book, related resources for teachers and librarians, photos, sketches of the book in progress, tips for young writers and illustrators, an I'M BORED In The Wild photo challenge, comics and much more: I'M BORED Scrapbook.

And thank you all so, so much for your continuing support and encouragement. :-)

I'M BORED book music video, with help from my friends (11 more days until the launch, YAAAY!)

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:41:57 GMT

I'm Bored Music Video (inspired by the new picture book from Simon & Schuster BFYR) from debsanderrol on Vimeo.

Thanks SOOOO much to my friend Errol Elumir and his 7-year-old daughter Zoe for making the video above possible. I'M BORED launches in 11 days, woohooo!!!!!

You can find lyrics/chords to the song we co-wrote plus behind-the-scenes photos and info about how the trailer was made in the I'm Bored Scrapbook.

Birthday Scrapbook, Friends and Tears

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:16:33 GMT

Thank you SO much to everyone who contributed to my surprise Birthday Scrapbook, which Allison and Jodi presented to me earlier this week. I was pretty blown away and started bawling as soon as I realized what it was:

Thanks especially to Allison and Jodi for organizing the gift! You can see more photos of me looking through the scrapbook in Allison's Flickr set and read her LJ post.

And again...THANK YOU.

Can finally share my good news: two book contracts with Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers!

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:56:34 GMT

Woohoo!!!!! Details here.

Lunch with the Tolsons

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:29:24 GMT

Photo: Andrew Tolson.

I met Andrew Tolson through the Torkidlit group (middle grade and YA authors), but he's also the photo editor at Maclean's. Check out the current Maclean's magazine in the photo above: not only did Andrew take it, but that's his wife and daughter on the cover!

See my post on food, friends and creative young people:

http://debbieohi.com/blatherings/2012/3/10/lunch-with-the-tolsons.html

My F&Gs for I'M BORED have arrived, yaaay!

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:28:54 GMT

The first time I used the term F&Gs (pronounced "effin' gees", I think) with Jeff, he gave me a weird look. They're the equivalent of galleys for novels, I think. The pages are all there, but it's unbound and the color may change a bit.

Anyway, I've posted the back cover and close-up of the note from Justin Chanda (publisher of Simon & Schuster BFYR, Atheneum & Margaret McElderry Books) at http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2012/1/13/the-fgs-for-im-bored-just-arrived.html

(WARNING: waaaaaay too many exclamation marks in the linked post above. Your eyes may hurt.)

Sneak peek into my illustration process for I'M BORED

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:20:25 GMT

For those interested, I've posted about what went into creating the "little girl pretending to be a rampaging monster" image in the spread from I'M BORED above. Includes step-by-step images, photo from my meeting at Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, and the final spread.

You can see my full post on Pixel Shavings:

http://pixelshavings.blogspot.com/2012/01/im-bored-book-illustration-from-sketch.html

Help a kidlit illustrator AND get some great holiday gifts

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:28:32 GMT

Looking for handmade, unique holiday gifts? My children's illustrator/writer friend Beckett has some absolutely GORGEOUS jewelry, notebooks, prints, stitch markers, and other items in her Etsy shop. Her husband Paul was recently laid off (right before Christmas :-( ), and they have two young children. Beckett also does custom work. Please do visit her shop!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/artbeco

Lost Weekend With David Diaz: A Weekend of Kidlit Illustration, Great Food & Friendship

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:10:27 GMT

Two weeks ago, I was in California and walking barefoot in the sand beside the ocean. MUCH nicer weather than Toronto right now, aaaugh!

Anyway, here's Part 1 of my Lost Weekend With David Diaz post.

Trip Report: Visiting the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, CA

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:49:39 GMT

Part 4 of my trip report: Visiting the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, CA

California Anniversary Trip, Days 1-3 in San Francisco: Hotel Kabuki, Japan Town, Mission District

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:46:09 GMT

I've posted Part 1 of my California Anniversary Trip. Includes lots of photos plus Japan Town in San Francisco, Hotel Kabuki, flattened squirrel & cockroach graffiti, my favourite meal of the trip, Dick Blick Art Materials, peeing men, and getting artistic inspiration at the Asian Art Museum.

Sue Alexander Award Nomination

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:05:46 GMT

I'm excited to announce that my new YA novel project has been nominated for the Sue Alexander "Most Promising New Work" award!

Here's my blog post on the topic.

Allison's Banff Adventure

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:01:38 GMT

In case you missed it, Allison has a GREAT trip report from her Banff vacation up on her blog: http://allison-beyondwords.blogspot.com/

I'm about to head off on a trip as well and will be offline (*gasp!) until near the end of August. If you were planning on e-mailing me, I implore you to please hold off until September 1st -- thanks! :-)

Photos by Allison Durno

My very first comic about Google+

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:30:55 GMT

Above: Posted recently on DebbieOhi.com, about my recent adventures in Google+.

The video chat Hangout in Google+ is pretty darned cool, I have to say. Easy to participate, no tech knowledge necessary. Yesterday I joined out that author Rebecca Woodhead had set up ("come join me!") and also met other Google+'ers from India and North Africa. Had an impromptu jam session with Rebecca (who sang from England) and Iyaz Akhtar from TWiT.tv (played guitar, though he had to leave early), Karim Benyagoub (North Africa) and Dheeraj Cheepati (India).

I like that the Google+ Hangouts can have open or closed invites. Rebecca had posted a public invite, but you can also just invite a small circle of friends (even just one friend). Major collab possibilities!

Vaguely creepy doodle to accompany my vaguely creepy Instapoem today

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:39:56 GMT

To see the poem, see my Instapoem entry.

Instapoem is a daily poetry prompt blog by Rand Bellavia and yours truly, and everyone is encouraged to participate. Daily poetry prompts. Time limit per poem: 5 minutes. URL: http://instapoem.blogspot.com/

A Dray Of Squirrels

Wed, 25 May 2011 15:46:02 GMT

Just posted way too many drawings of squirrels on Pixel Shavings today.

If you're on Facebook, please consider adding my "official" Page to your Likes list? Puhleeze? :-)

Sat, 21 May 2011 21:02:24 GMT

Had a fantastic time in NYC and will be posting more about the trip soon.

Meanwhile, though, I've been convinced that I needed to create an "official" Debbie Ohi page on Facebook to promote my creative projects. If you're on Facebook, I'd be therefore grateful if you'd consider adding this Page to your Likes list: http://www.facebook.com/DebbieOhi.

Though there will be occasional cross-over, I'll be trying keep personal stuff to my personal Facebook page while posting about creative projects, books and other promo in my official Debbie Ohi Facebook Page.

And yes, I cringe at the whole "Fan Page" terminology, which is why I've resisted for so long, but I figure that I'm going to have books to promote sooner than later. :-)

Thanks so much your encouragement and support, everyone!

10 Things I Love About My Friend Errol Elumir

Sun, 08 May 2011 14:52:19 GMT

Above: DebsandErrol.com

Just posted on Blatherings:

10 Things I Love About My Friend, Errol Elumir

(includes music videos! comics! the coolest family portrait EVER! adorable children! A song contest!)

My Mother

Sat, 07 May 2011 14:41:26 GMT

Today would have been my mother's birthday. Some personal thoughts.