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2013-06-18 18:09:54 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

I'm excited to announce that the official title of the first picture book that I'm writing AND illustrating is WHERE ARE MY BOOKS? and is coming out from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers in Spring 2015. :-)

My editor: Justin Chanda. Art Director: Laurent Linn. I'll be gradually posting more info at https://www.facebook.com/DebbieOhiBooks

Note: Font/color scheme below are temporary placeholders; I'm still working on the mss and art.

2013-06-06 11:27:25 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 27 +1s)

Birthday doodle I did for my friend +Errol Elumir yesterday. Errol is almost as much of a Totoro fan as I am.

2013-05-22 15:20:39 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Quickie anonymous poll: Have you ever purchased a self-published book? Answer in the link below (YES or NO) & you'll see the results so far:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BHQCWDY

Part of my ongoing series of informal polls & surveys about writing, reading and publishing. You can see results from past surveys here: http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-survey-archives/

2013-05-20 20:49:08 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I interviewed Celia Lee, an assistant editor at Cartwheel Books/Scholastic, about her work and what she is/isn't looking for. PLUS (!!!) for a two-month starting TODAY, Celia is open to unagented submissions from Inkygirl readers. She's looking for picture books, novelty books and board books, plus is open to postcards from illustrators. See this post for more details:

http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/5/20/interview-with-celia-lee-assistant-editor-at-cartwheel-books.html

2013-05-15 16:08:44 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Yay, just got permission from my editor at Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers to share a sample illustration from NAKED! The book comes out next summer. I'm working on the final art and cover now...

2013-05-15 15:21:58 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Thanks to my sister for the heads-up that I'M BORED is a starred selection in The Canadian Children's Centre's "Best Books For Kids & Teens" Spring Guide!

2013-05-12 14:49:39 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 15 +1s)

For all you moms out there...

2013-05-06 20:28:01 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

Posted over on my blog but forgot to post here: I'm pleased to announce that I have two book illustration contracts with Random House Children's Books! Details here: http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/4/25/my-exciting-news-two-book-contracts-with-random-house-childr.html

Books in the pipeline: two for Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (one of which I'm also writing), two for HarperCollins Children's Books, two for Random House Children's Books. The next couple of years are going to be pretty busy for me. :-)

2013-05-05 03:08:42 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Comic nerds: I strongly encourage you to listen to these tracks on +Ookla the Mok's newest album, OOKLA THE MOK VS EVIL, which has been on auto-repeat for ages on my laptop since it was recently launched. LOVE this album.

2013-04-02 14:32:11 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

My P.O. box is lonely. To teachers: if your class sends me snailmail about +I'm Bored, I will write back with doodles. For more info: http://debbieohi.com/address

2013-03-27 13:37:37 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

This album has been playing nonstop in my basement office for the past month. More about my librarian friend +Rand Bellavia's newest project, why I ended up giving away most of my comics (but still read comics digitally), and Bad Guys:

http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/3/27/any-other-comic-geeks-out-there-you-need-to-get-ookla-the-mo.html

2013-03-23 12:30:21 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Posted on my Beware The Squirrel blog: http://debbieohi.com/squirrel

If you're on FB, also see Squirrels Are Evil and Taking Over The World: https://www.facebook.com/bewarethesquirrel

2013-03-23 11:23:54 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

A while back, I mentioned that I was going to be speaking at the Niagara Writer's/illustrator's Retreat and Conference this year. Not enough illustrators signed up to warrant keeping the Illustrator track, so the conference has decided to drop that part of the programming. Though I'm no longer attending the event, I still encourage children's book writers to check out the event & its all-star faculty. I'm still hoping to get my +Sara Zarr books autographed in person someday. :-) More:

http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/3/23/no-illustrator-track-at-niagara-writer-retreatconference-thi.html

2013-03-18 14:47:13 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 34 +1s)

Jeff & I went to a Chinese restaurant last night, and I came across more evidence that squirrels really ARE taking over the world...

2013-03-17 17:41:51 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Experimenting with Twitter's Vine app (you can follow me at "Debbie Ohi"). Here's a 6-sec video showing the evolution of an +I'm Bored illustration  from original mss text to final published page: http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/3/17/writers-illustrators-and-twitters-vine-app.html

2013-03-15 17:01:55 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

My main soundtrack while drawing these days has been Ookla the Mok 's new nerdrock album, "Ookla The Mok vs. Evil." If you are or ever have been a fan of comics, you NEED TO BUY THIS ALBUM. You can hear samples of all the tracks: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ooklathemok2. More info about the group: http://www.ooklathemok.com/

2013-03-15 15:38:36 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 33 +1s)

It's official: I'm going to be illustrating the RUBY ROSE books by Rob Sanders, to be published by HarperCollins! See:
http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/3/14/its-official-just-received-contracts-for-ruby-rose-books.html

2013-02-24 19:33:19 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 18 +1s)

I've been testing out the +GroovBoard iPad writing lap desk & stand for the past few weeks. Just posted my review: http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/2/24/review-groovboard-lap-writing-desk-and-stand-for-the-ipad.html

2013-02-14 20:08:30 (5 comments, 3 reshares, 7 +1s)

My favorite love song, written by +Errol Elumir for his wife, performed by his daughter Zoe. Zoe also starred in the +I'm Bored book trailer: http://vimeo.com/48053498

2013-02-11 23:42:08 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

The goal of International Book Giving Day (Feb.14) is to get new/used/borrowed books into the hands of as many children as possible. I've donated a custom bookplate to the cause; you can download a sheet of 4 print-ready bookplates: http://bookgivingday.com/bookplates/

For three simple ways of celebrating International Book Giving Day: http://bookgivingday.com/

2013-02-08 19:06:29 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

Today on my +Inkygirl: Kidlit/YA Writer & Illustrator Resource blog: my interview with SEE YOU AT HARRY'S author +Jo Knowles  about her writing process, advice for aspiring writers, plus her fascinating visual storyboard photos (lots of photos!):

http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/2/8/interview-with-jo-knowles-on-writing-process-writer-advice-s.html

2013-01-25 01:58:46 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Yay, congrats to Michael Ian Black (author of +I'm Bored, which I illustrated), on being chosen as one of The 50 Funniest People Now by Rolling Stone magazine:

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/the-50-funniest-people-now-20130124/michael-ian-black-19691231

2013-01-22 02:32:32 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 8 +1s)

I'm pleased to announce that I'm going to be on the faculty of the Niagara Children's Writers/Illustrators Retreat and Conference May 3-5, 2013 -- my first faculty position! Registration just opened today:
http://niagararetreatandconference.com (You can see other faculty here: http://niagararetreatandconference.com/the-faculty/)

I'll be giving one-on-one online platform critiques, talking about Marketing & Self-Promotion For Introverts & giving an Illustrators' session with Jim Averbeck & more -- Hoping to see some of you there!

Thanks to +Jackie Garlick-Pynaert for organizing the event.

2013-01-21 16:01:51 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Starting work on NAKED! & posted some thoughts on the picture book process this time around:
http://pixelshavings.blogspot.ca/2013/01/overall-narrative-thinking-vs-drawing.html

2013-01-16 17:17:59 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Entertainment Weekly just posted about my next book illustration project , woohoo! SOOOOO EXCITED to be working on another Michael Ian Black story:

http://family-room.ew.com/2013/01/16/michael-ian-black-re-teams-with-artist-debbie-ohi-for-childrens-book-naked-exclusive/

2013-01-15 16:17:53 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 18 +1s)

2013-01-13 20:27:22 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Manerr Tangent is hanging out in a live Hangout On Air. #hangoutsonair

2013-01-13 16:01:05 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Curious. What's your social media venue of choice these days? I'm sure I'll get Google+ as a popular answer by posting the question here :-), but I'm still interested. Mine is Twitter (I'm @inkyelbows https://twitter.com/#!/inkyelbows ). 

What I've found so far:

These days I find FB good for reconnecting with people. Google+ seems to be better than FB for reaching new readers, but doesn't yet have the traction -- people who only have time for one social media venue tend to go for FB because of family/old classmates.

As I get more book projects, I find I have less time for social media. My go-to social media is still Twitter because: (1) 140 char limit makes it easy to scan many posts, (2) more publishing industry types (editors, agents, publishers) participate in conversations on Twitter than other venues, possibly because of short text... more »

2013-01-13 15:42:33 (1 comments, 5 reshares, 18 +1s)

2013-01-13 14:28:10 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

The cold bug I have been trying to ignore jumped on my head this morning, ugh. Will have to miss the NaNoMusical streaming cast telethon this aft (raising funds for a CD). Cast interviews + interview with NaNoWriMo organizers, singing, SEE +Errol Elumir  IN KNITTING ACTION plus more!

More info (event is 2-11 pm EST): https://www.facebook.com/events/322228121217267/

In case you missed NaNoMusical, you can watch all 6 webisodes online. See me dancing with my iPad in the first one! http://nanomusical.com/2012/10/31/episode-1-should-i-stay-or-should-i-wrimo/

Below: The cast of NaNoMusical with +I'm Bored

2013-01-13 00:22:36 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Just did a quick search of Google+ communities for writers out there. Holy cow, there are SO MANY out there! As part of my goal this year to make more time to read and create books, I am currently unsubscribing from a ton of FB groups. So many cool-looking G+ communities, but I suspect I'm not going to have time to participate in many of them. 

2013-01-13 00:09:36 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 20 +1s)

Working hard this weekend on a new book for Simon & Schuster. But no matter what's going on with work, I always try to doodle something purely for the fun of it (not work-related) every day. This one's called "A Good Book." 

2013-01-11 20:07:29 (7 comments, 4 reshares, 11 +1s)

After being taught how to knit by his wife as a Christmas gift, my friend +Errol Elumir started a GEEK GUY KNITTING blog. :-D  I'm impressed; I gave knitting a go but failed miserably. Do check out his blog: http://geekguyknitting.com/

2013-01-11 13:17:03 (1 comments, 4 reshares, 12 +1s)

2013-01-10 21:36:19 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

Tickled that +Inkygirl: Kidlit/YA Writer & Illustrator Resource  was included in the Writer's Yearbook 2013 list of Top 101 Websites For Writers . Apparently 4,350 nominations for sites were sent in, and the Writer's Digest editorial team sifted through them to choose the final list. Thanks to all who nominated me and to Writer's Digest for choosing Inkygirl.com!

2013-01-07 19:19:30 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 15 +1s)

2012-12-31 16:51:00 (1 comments, 3 reshares, 15 +1s)

My New Year's Resolution for 2013: To make more time to read and create books. Details: http://debbieohi.com/nutshell/new-years-resolution.html Plus (see attached), I've finally updated my semi-autobiographical comic: http://debbieohi.com/nutshell

2012-12-30 19:10:45 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

Updated Will Write For Chocolate: http://inkygirl.com/wwfc/2012/12/30/waiting-for-the-critique.html

2012-12-23 14:37:56 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

Hey, look what Luke Laroque (who starred in Nanomusical) found in World's Biggest Bookstore in Toronto!! Thanks for the photo, Luke.
For those who haven't seen it yet, here's the NYTimes list of Notable Children's Books of 2012: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/books/review/notable-childrens-books-of-2012.html

2012-12-22 15:51:57 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 19 +1s)

Have a great holiday season, all!

2012-12-22 14:05:06 (3 comments, 5 reshares, 9 +1s)

Wonderful a capella version of LINUS AND LUCY by my friends +Errol Elumir & +Deborah Isaac:

2012-12-15 22:15:15 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 8 +1s)

A moving post by +I'm Bored author Michael Ian Black, who lives 10 miles from Sandy Hook Elementary:
http://www.michaelianblack.net/blog/2012/12/the-wilds-of-connecticut.html

2012-12-14 03:20:19 (2 comments, 2 reshares, 6 +1s)

One of the Snarky options I've added to my +I'm Bored free print-ready gift cards: http://debbieohi.com/im-bored-snarky-stationery  For snark-free options: http://debbieohi.com/im-bored-stationery

2012-12-12 15:44:03 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

I've updated the I'm Bored Bonus page: tips & advice, activity sheets & resources for young writers, illustrators and (*NEW*) cartoonists: http://debbieohi.com/bored-young

2012-12-09 18:00:08 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

So many very cool communities out there, and I still need to check out the community invites I see waiting for me. Does anyone have any strong recommendations for good communities for kidlit/YA writers & illustrators, board gamers, and filkers? Thanks.

2012-12-09 17:24:57 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

I continue to love the interface on Google+ way more than Facebook. Especially LOVE the fact that (unlike FB), people can't automatically add me to community groups AND that the default is Notifications Off.

I spend more time on FB that Google+ these days mainly because certain people (like my agent and editor) are on FB and not here, but I'm thinking it's time I check out some of G+'s newer features, like Communities.

2012-12-09 17:03:31 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Are you fluent in another language? I'm looking for translations of the phrase "I'm Bored" in different languages (real or fictional) for my Bonus Page. So far, I have Catalan, Danish, Drow, Dutch, Esperanto, Estonian, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Irish Gaelic, Japanese, Klingon (included a recorded pronunciation!!), Latin, Lojban, Māori, Norwegian, Pig Latin, Spanish, Swedish and Senslerseutsch: http://debbieohi.com/bored-translate

If you know of others, please do let me know! Please note that I don't quite trust the online automagical translators but would much rather have human translation. Thanks in advance for any help.

2012-12-02 16:05:14 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

I'm about to head out to find a print copy of The New York Times (which includes +I'm Bored  in its Notable Children's Books Of 2012, yaaay!), but want to post a special thank you to my editor Justin Chanda and Simon & Schuster Children's first, for taking a chance on a total newbie:

http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2012/12/2/a-thank-you-to-justin-chanda-and-simon-schuster-childrens.html

2012-12-01 15:08:23 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 11 +1s)

Happy "Take A Child To A Bookstore" Day today. :-)
http://www.takeyourchildtoabookstore.org/

2012-11-29 13:58:28 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 12 +1s)

I'm delighted to announce that The New York Times has named I'M BORED a Notable Children's Book Of 2012:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/books/review/notable-childrens-books-of-2012.html