The Bigger Picture

One of the many rewards of being a children's illustrator and writer is seeing how my creations positively impact my audience. Today I received this lovely facebook post from my friend Bethany in San Diego:

 "How can you tell your toddlers have been enjoying Molly Hahn's 'sketch of the day' art work on a daily basis? They start drawing friendly, happy, sweet monsters. MOM's, if you haven't seen her children's books yet, you and your kids are missing out." 

When I receive these messages, I immediately feel great. It is so easy to get caught up in deadlines, invoicing, proposals, managing tasks, et cetera (you know, being an adult). The simple smile of a child while he or she reads my book or a positive comment from a parent recharges my batteries and reminds me of the bigger picture.

I believe in leading by example and hope that my work continues to inspire and nourish the imaginations of people all over this globe (my latest book, "Izzy's Ukulele Adventure" was downloaded by someone in Malta yesterday!!!).

On that note, "Izzy'" is available to download for FREE for only one more week! Check it out!

Much Gratitude,

Mollycules

ps: get your sketch of the day here!

KJ896JCAX9QA

Week in Review

photo by ethan turpinJanuary is almost over! Life in publishing is like driving on the autobahn.  There really isn't time to look back the way things are moving these days, so I thought I'd take this precious morning to recap this past week's top ten  eleven happenings before I dive back in.

1. "Izzy's Ukulele Adventure" has had over 200 downloads in the past week on the iBookstore.   It is available for FREE for a limited time.  Please review and rate!
2. I received this quote about my book, "All the Things I Can Do" from a teacher (and childhood friend!) in San Diego, "I read your book to my Kindergarten students last year and they loved it. I moved schools this year, and of course I brought the book with me. I read it to my new Kindergarten students, and they loved it as well. We continued by writing about "all the things we could do" they came up with some of their own ideas too, then they illustrated their sentences. They LOVE your illustrations. The book appeals equally to both boys and girls, and to students with varying interests." - Courtney Hatcher
3. Apple announced the release of iBooks Author, a user-friendly software for creating interactive-multi-touch-ebooks.  The flood gates are officially open!
4. I will be hosting a closing reception for my solo art show in Santa Barbara on Sunday, January 29th.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the McKinley Elementary School ICAN Art Program.  ICAN's mission is to bring high quality arts programs to children in Santa Barbara County, particularly those least likely to receive them.  Get the full scoop here.  The art teacher at McKinley Elementary School, Ms. Angela Lang, posted a blog about the show and my previous work with the students here.
5. I hope everyone enjoyed the coloring page of the week, which is still available to download on my flickr site.  Check back every Friday for a new coloring page (weekend fun for the kiddos)!
6. Check out the list of inspirational children's illustrators/writers that I met at the SCBWI LA Conference in 2010.
7. Breadcrumb Books, a e-pub company specializing in children's books that Mike Gordon and I launched in the Spring of 2011, won the first ever QED seal of approval from Digital Book World! 
8. I am working on a new book due out this Spring.  More details TBA.
Image by Ronald Searle
9. I've been delighted work of Ronald Searle, one of U.K.'s most beloved cartoonists who passed away recently.  I highly recommend Les Très Riches Heures De Mrs Mole, published just three months before he died, the Searle shares the 47 drawings he made for his wife, Monica Searle, as she was treated for a rare form cancer over a five-year period in the early 1970s.  She survived, and the intimate drawings stand as a moving testimony to love and hope.
10. I am addicted to 30 Rock (six years late to the punch...thank you Netflix streaming).  Tina Fey is officially my current hero. 
11. Here are a few sketches I made from this past week:

Yours Truly,

Mollycules 2.0

Getting Started in Children's Publishing: Why You Should Join the SCBWI

Lately I've been getting emails about how to carve a niche in the children's book publishing industry. While I'm only just a few years into this exciting career (and an amazing one it is!), the first piece of advice that I feel I can confidently give is to join the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

In 2010, I decided to join this organization after much proding from a couple of colleagues. At the time, the initial $80 seemed like my life savings. In hindsight, this was probably the best $80 I've ever spent.

Shortly after I joined, I received a bright yellow flyer in the mail. It informed me of a regional scholarship to help pay for attendance to the SCBWI Los Angeles conference (2010). I applied for this scholarship (barely got it to the post on time!). Honestly, I really never thought I had a chance.

I ended up winning the scholarship. 

I went to the conference with very little knowledge of the SCBWI. I entered the convention center anxiously...I knew absolutely no one there.

It wasn't before long that my heart and hopes were lifted to the moon and back with keynote speakers and workshops by the following children's illustrators and writers:

• Loren Long (illustrator)
• Ashley Bryan (illustrator)
• Amy Goldman Koss (writer)
• E.B. Lewis (illustrator)

I also made friends with Ashlee Fletcher and Kim Fleming, who are published illustrators around my age.

There are many roads that lead to "success". I equate being involved with the SCBWI community as the toll road that gets you to inspiring and helpful places faster. I cannot emphasize enough how positive and supportive of a community this organisation has been and continues to be in my life.