invention art for IF, book signing, and recent reads

The prompt for Illustration Friday this week is invention. My first thought was a little girl inventing robots (I wrote and illustrated a story/comic about that once a loooooong time ago, but that was a different girl with different robots).

I ended up sketching an inventor girl creating a new robot friend for her robot cat:

The mouse robot might not be so happy about having the cat as a friend. Here's a closer crop of the three characters:

The pencil got a bit dark in places, but I still like the sketch!

* Update 01-19-15 *
Colby Sharp has started a new hashtag on Twitter for illustrators to see how big they draw. Take a picture of your sketch/art with a quarter to show the size. Tag it on Twitter with #idrawthisbig when you post it. You can also email Colby if you’re not on Twitter. More info, including email, here.
This is mine, or should I say, #idrawthisbig:



How big do you draw?


Recent Reads: I almost never read adult novels because my reading stack is full of children's books and YA novels, but his year I've read two good ones already!

1. THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS by M.R. Carey - It's a zombie novel (I love zombies). The main character is a ten-year-old girl who is not sure exactly who she is, and at the same time is navigating the strange new world full of hungries with her teacher, a scientist, and two military men. Did I mention it's a zombie novel? If you like zombie stories, check this one out!

2. THE BISHOP'S WIFE by Mette Ivie Harrison - It's a murder mystery full of twists and turns that's set in a Mormon community. As the Bishop's wife, Linda doesn't have an official capacity like her husband, but she's the mother of the ward and looks out for everyone there. When one of the community goes missing, Linda helps out and can't help investigating what happened. If you like murder mysteries or crime TV shows that keep you guessing until the end, or books with a side of feminism, or a look behind the scenes of what being a Mormon bishop's wife is like, read this book. Even if you're not sure if you like those things, you might want to check this book out. It's a good read!

In other news: I'm going to be part of the January Picture Book Bonanza this Sunday, January 11 at Books Of Wonder from 1-3pm, with Steve Antony, Susan Verde, and Jimbo Matison. Hope to see you there!