I'm back!

Katya

Sorry for the long silence, folks. I've spent the last month writing instead of drawing or carving. I'm working on a children's book loosely based on my dog, Kinsey's, life. Many of you might know that I rescued Kinsey from the Bird Bazaar in Istanbul. The book tells the story of how she got to the Teleskop Pet Shop in the Bird Bazaar. "Call Me Katya" is the working title, although nobody calls her Katya in the book. It's a chapter book--six chapters so far--and it's full of drama, pathos, adventure, and discovery. Here's the first sketch I've done of the main character. I hope to get a publisher interested in it and then illustrate the book as well.

Meanwhile, I haven't had a PenPets commission for two months. I hope that's a sign that everyone's on vacation and not a dire symptom of our dismal economy.

Our poor little farmers' market in Brooksville was pretty well rained out for the whole month of June. It must have poured for at least 40 days and nights. Didn't make anyone want to come out and buy greeting cards. However, the sun is shining these days -- Hallelujah! -- and the summer folks are pouring into town -- Double Hallelujah! I'm hoping to see a big crowd at the market tomorrow morning.

I am going to get back to my poor Norwegian Fjord ponies who have been languishing -- pale and only penciled in -- on my drawing board for weeks.