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Debbie Ridpath Ohi reads, writes and illustrates for young people. Every once in a while she shares new art, writing and reading resources; subscribe below. Browse the archives here.

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Creative Commons Licence

Writer comics by Debbie Ridpath Ohi are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

More details: Comic Use Policy

Welcome to Inkygirl: Reading, Writing and Illustrating Children's Books (archive list here) which includes my Creating Picture Books series, Advice For Young Writers and IllustratorsWriter's and Illustrator's Guide To Twitter, Interviews With Authors And Illustrators, #BookADay archives, writing/publishing industry surveys, and 250, 500, 1000 Words/Day Writing Challenge. Also see my Inkygirl archives,  and comics for writers. Also check out my Print-Ready Archives for Teachers, Librarians, Booksellers and Young Readers.

I tweet about the craft and business of writing and illustrating at @inkyelbows. If you're interested in my art or other projects, please do visit DebbieOhi.com. Thanks for visiting! -- Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Entries by Debbie Ridpath Ohi (1630)

Tuesday
Aug062019

137 Rejections, Perseverance and More: Advice From Debut Picture Book Author Stephanie Lucianovic (THE END OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL, Sterling Children's)

Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic has dug many holes, cried lots of tears, and laid an entire garden’s worth of flowers on small and not-so-small graves. And she has never ever dug her Something Dead up. She the author of Suffering Succotash: A Picky Eater's Quest to Understand Why We Hate the Foods We Hate. The End of Something Wonderful is her debut picture book. Stephanie lives in Menlo Park, CA, with her two sons, two cats, and one husband. You can find out more about Stephanie at Grubreport.com, on Twitter at @grubreport and on Instagram at @grubreport.

About THE END OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL: Written by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, illustrated by George Ermos, published by Sterling Children's (Sept.10, 2019).

Click to read more ...

Friday
Aug022019

I'M WORRIED on the Stephen Colbert show!

TOTALLY thrilled to find out that Michael Ian Black was on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert talking about our newest picture book, I'M WORRIED. Book mention starts at around the 4:18 timestamp. And he talks about the first two books in the I'M... series, too: I'M BORED and I'M SAD, woohoo!

I had no idea this was going to happen. I only found out when a friend of mine who lives in Berlin emailed me saying that he just saw my book on the Stephen Colbert show. Of course I immediately went online to find the clip.

Michael also mentions I'M HAPPY as our next book together - I am sooooo excited about this as well, and can't wait to get the contract (and see the mss)!

And thanks so much to those who have told me about how I'M BORED, I'M SAD and I'M WORRIED have helped their young readers; I so appreciate it!

Wednesday
Jul312019

Tips for SCBWI conference newbies, second-timers, plus a CHALLENGE for the many-timers

Only a few days until the annual SCBWI Summer Conference in LA! You can follow the action via the #LA19SCBWI hashtag and (once the conference begins) the SCBWI Conference Blog. I'll be at the conference - if you see me, PLEASE do say hi....but please keep reading. :-)

The following is a slightly updated version of my annual post; I hope some of you find it useful. 

This comic applies just as much to SCBWI-NYC as SCBWI-LA

Click to read more ...

Wednesday
Jul172019

Comic for writers: Best Birthday Gift

Tuesday
Jul162019

#BookADay: THE SEASON OF STYX MALONE by Kekla Magoon (Wendy Lamb Books)

Thursday
Jul112019

At some point, you just have to let go.

Tuesday
Jun182019

Advice For Young Writers, Debut Picture Books and Three Questions With Ishta Mercurio (SMALL WORLD, Abrams)

 

Ishta Mercurio is an author and actor. Raised in Cincinnati, she has traveled to England, Scotland, Italy, France, and all over the United States. She now lives in Brampton, Ontario, where she films and photographs plants and wildlife, from the tall to the small, in her backyard. I met Ishta through our local Torkidlit group and CANSCAIP. You can find out more about Ishta and her work at her website IshtaMercurio.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

SMALL WORLD is Ishta's debut as a picture book author! The gorgeous illustrations are by Jen Corace. Thanks to Abrams for sending me a copy. Wow, check out what was beneath the dust jacket:

Click to read more ...

Monday
Jun172019

Poll Results: What Editors and Agents Look For In Social Media

In prep for my Social Media Masterclass for Authors and Illustrators at SCBWI-Illinois, I posted a survey for editors, agents and art directors and 25 responded

Click to read more ...

Monday
Jun172019

Donalyn Miller's 2019 #BookADay Challenge Has Launched!

(Shortcut to this page, until next year's updated post: http://inkygirl.com/bookaday. Also see my #BookADay archives and Donalyn Miller's official #BookADay post on the Nerdy Book Club site.)

Donalyn Miller's 11th Annual #BookADay Challenge has officially launched! You can read about the history of #BookADay, guidelines and more via Donalyn's #BookADay post on the Nerdy Book Club website. While I read throughout the year, Donalyn's #BookADay challenge helps me rediscover my reading mojo,  as well as share book recommendations and read other people's book recommendations.

Click to read more ...

Sunday
Jun162019

Advice For Young Writers, Pride Sunday signing and more: Three Questions With Debut YA Author, Paul Coccia (CUB, Orca Books)

Paul Coccia is a Toronto author with an MFA in Creative Writing from UBC and an avid home-baker. His debut young adult novel, Cub, is part of Orca's Soundings Series: short, high-interest novels specifically for teens. Paul lives and bakes with his nephew, three dogs and a little grey parrot. You can find Paul on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and also see Orca's interview with Paul on their blog.

To Torontonians: Paul is signing his book as well as celebrating diversity (of all types) in kids' books at Indigo Bay & Bloor (55 Bloor St. W.) on Pride Sunday, June 23, 2019 from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm; Paul is setting up a table with recommendations of books that appreciate difference.

Click to read more ...

Monday
May132019

Advice for Young Writers and Illustrators: Three Questions with Pat Cummings (TRACE, WHERE IS MOMMY?)

Pat Cummings was one of my first illustration mentors, through the SCBWI Illustration Mentorship Program, and I've valued her friendship ever since. She's smart, funny, honest -- and incredibly experienced in the world of creating children's books. I'm thrilled to have her visit my blog!

Click to read more ...

Sunday
May122019

Happy Mother's Day! (Also, why you should always read your email one last time before hitting SEND)

Saturday
May112019

#BookADay: BREAKOUT by Kate Messner, illustrated by Ellen Lindner

Although I've been embracing Donalyn Miller's #BookADay challenge year-round, I don't always have a chance to post about what I'm reading. You can see my archive of my #BookADay and book recommendation posts here.

One of my #BookADay reads: BREAKOUT by Kate Messner, illustrated by Ellen Lindner (Bloomsbury).

 

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More info: Donalyn Miller's #BookADay Challenge - My #BookADay Archives (also see my visual #BookADay archive on Padlet, Flickr and Pinterest).

Friday
May102019

Don't let fear of writing poorly stop you from writing. That's why we revise. - Cindy Pon

For more info about Cindy Pon, the author who said "Don't let fear of writing poorly stop you from writing. That's why we revise....", see CindyPon.com.

Friday
May102019

#BookADay: THE VERY LAST CASTLE by Travis Jonker and Mark Pett (Abrams)

THE VERY LAST CASTLE is written by Travis Jonker and illustrated by Mark Pett, and I adore the main character, Ibb! This picture book came out from Abrams Books For Young Readers last October. Read the *starred review* in Kirkus!

Click to read more ...

Thursday
May092019

#BookADay: EMBRACE THE CHICKEN by Mahtab Narsimhan (Orca Currents)

Reading any of Mahtab Narsimhan's books always make me hungry for Indian food!

Click to read more ...

Monday
Apr292019

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” - StephenKing

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” - Stephen King

Related: How To Find Time To Read More Books In 2019.

Monday
Apr082019

ME, as I work on my middle grade novel.

 

No guarantee that my middle grade novel will ever be published; that's out of my control.

I'm trying to focus on what I can control:

(1) Writing the best book I possibly can, and

(2) FINISHING the book.

Monday
Mar252019

Three Questions With Debut Picture Book Author June Smalls (ODD ANIMAL ABC'S illustrated by Claire Sedovic, Blue Manatee Press)

June Smalls is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and a lover of literature. She resides in Northern Virginia with her hubby, The Kid, and an ever-growing assortment of animals. I so enjoyed meeting June at Highlights last year, and am excited about the April 16th launch of her first picture book, illustrated by Claire Sedovic.

You can find out more about June and her work on her website and Twitter.

Book title: ODD ANIMAL ABC'S
Author: June Smalls
Illustrator: Claire Sedovic
Publisher: Blue Manatee Press

Synopsis:

A is for Alligator, B is for Bear, and so on, right? Not in this book. The odd animals are taking over! It's time to meet Aye-Aye, Fossa, Numbat, Xenops and more curious, yet real animals that are ready for their spotlight.

Q. Could you please take a photo of something in your office and tell us the story behind it?

Here are two photos. One is my plant George. I grew him from a trimming, stuck him in a paper cup for two weeks until he grew roots, then I got him a fancy pot of his own with all the soil he wanted. I don’t even know what kind of plant George is, but he is the only plant I’ve ever kept alive. George is just over one year old.

The second picture is my own broken crayon art. I always say I’m not an illustrator but that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun with pictures. Debbie Ohi hosted a class at the Highlights Foundation, and this was one of our activities. It sits on my Shelf of Beloved Objects with my turtles, a tibbit (tiger/rabbit), and other odds and ends that make me happy.

Sample spread for ODD ANIMALS ABCs (click on image to view bigger version)

Q. What advice do you have for young writers?

The job of a writer is not to tell kids what to think. It isn’t to tell them what to do or what lesson to learn. Our job is to point them forward. We don’t tell them how to get somewhere, we just tell them that they CAN get somewhere, as long as they keep going.

Writers have to keep moving forward too.

I had hundreds of rejections on roughly one dozen books, picture books through middle grade. It took about five to six years to go from “I’m serious about writing for the traditional market” to “I have books being traditionally published. There are no secret formulas, magic beans, or fairy godmothers to make it happen overnight. But if you keep working, keep learning, and keep growing, you can make things happen. I now have an agent, two trade picture books sold, as well as two work-for-hire books sold for the school market. I have a number of other works on submission.

Keep writing.

Q. What are you excited about right now?

I’m excited about creating more books! SHE LEADS: THE ELEPHANT MATRIARCH is due out in spring of 2020 with Familius and I have a number of picture books, novelty books, and chapter books ready or already on submission. I am excited for kids to read my work and say, “This made me happy/laugh/curious about the world/think.”

I’m also excited about chocolate… but I’m always excited about chocolate…

Related posts:

Learn the ABC's With June Smalls And Her Odd Animals - on the Blue Manatee Press blog.

Exclusive Cover Reveal on Matthew Winner's blog - plus June Small finishes Matthew's sentences.

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For more interviews, see my Inkygirl Interview Archive.

Friday
Mar222019

Comic: Font Sommelier

 

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