Lita's BlogPopular Entries

Welcome to the new website!

It’s a New Year, and I felt like starting it off with a new website!! This is feeling like it’s going to be a good year. At long last my health is finally making real improvements, I’m working on a new book with more ideas bubbling up, looking forward to the release of Red Hat, and playing a lot with my baby parrot. Dave and I thought we’d celebrate all this goodness with a new website. First of all, please check out the gallery of entries for the Red Hat Contest! Also, as part of this new website endeavor, I’m embracing my blog with renewed enthusiasm. In coming months, I’ll be sharing much more about my creative process. I plan to post a lot more sketches, paintings, and creative musing. I also plan to create short videos to share with readers and classrooms. Thanks for visiting!

Red Hat Contest Winners Announced

Thank you everybody for all the delightful entries. This contest was a real joy. We received entries from far afield and close to home -- Alaska, Oregon, Minnesota. Wisconsin, California, Texas, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York …. All over the country! Kids, chickens, donkeys, puppies and many more got involved, and we received LOTS of drawings! I love how much creativity went into these entries!! The winners were randomly selected and will be receiving their books and little prints.

Kids:

Rosemary (Homer Alaska)

Elijah (New Hampshire)

Critters:

Deschenes Family (New Hampshire) Cy

Anne Marie (New Hampshire) Red Chicken

Drawings:

Lucy (New Hampshire)

Mrs. McLean's Class, Leander Texas

Thanks, everyone, for participating!!

Book Launch Party for Red Hat!!

I’m just back from a wonderful whirlwind in NYC, launching Red Hat, and playing with my God-daughter!

First of all, I have to send a huge thanks to everyone at Simon & Schuster for welcoming me on Friday!! We had a delightful party to launch the release of Red Hat with mini red and green cupcakes and everyone adorning little red hats. What fun!! I so appreciated everyone taking the time to celebrate this occasion and I felt very fortunate to get to know everyone a little better at S&S. I am blessed to be at this house with such wonderfully creative and passionate people. It really was an extraordinary experience for me. A huge thanks to my editor, Namrata Tripathi, and to everyone who put this all together!!

Then Dave and I took time to play with Uma, our God-Daughter. After a very long winter we were treated to a lovely spring day in NY and enjoyed Uma’s first outdoor picnic. And if our few of days in the city weren’t momentous enough, Uma stood up all by herself and walked across the living room! Big steps for our little one - Dave and I were pretty excited not to miss this huge accomplishment. It is such a joy spending time with Uma. I kind of feel like I spend everyday with her in a way though, because everything I write and draw now at the easel is with the thought of reading and sharing it with her someday. Her joyful self is such an inspiration to me.

And for the NY finale, I participated in a group signing at Books of Wonder with several other authors and illustrators on Sunday. For anyone who hasn’t been there, Books of Wonder is a must see stop if you love children’s books – it’s a pure treasure trove of children’s books and art. I’ve visited many times when coming to the city so it was a thrill to signs lots of books and talk with other folks who love Books of Wonder as Dave and I do. Thank you Peter and Shay for having us there and giving us such a warm reception!

Info on the event is at Books of Wonder.

Red Hat Video

In anticipation of the release of Red Hat this March, here is our first video! As you can see, the whole family got involved – Pu and Sasha, and little Beatrix (my parrot.) Tune in to see Beatrix wearing a Red Hat.
Read more