Welcome
I'm writing and illustrating June and the Star, a YA fantasy novel about navigating deception in a magical world. Here you'll find posts on:
Writing craft (character arcs, discovery writing, story structure)
Illustration process and style development
Children's literature philosophy (moral clarity, earnest heroes)
Creative life (finding time, overcoming perfectionism)
Subscribe to the newsletter for monthly updates and early chapter access.
How not to create a book cover
I set out to create a marketable book cover for my YA novel. The result? A muddy illustration I wasn't proud of. Here's an honest look at what went wrong and what I learned about perfectionism and creative pressure.
Little whispers, big echoes
A woman eating flowers. A tree that can't hold itself upright. Small details from Dr. Sleep and hiking trails found their way into my novel. Here's why choosing details that resonate with you creates resonance for readers.
Developing an art style
I dreaded illustrating my novel. My mental images were too detailed, too complex, too perfect. Then a YouTube video about Pinterest changed everything. Here's how I found an art style that actually excites me.