Summer 2011

The ceiling fans are spinning and the flowers are blossoming in the garden, so summer has arrived. I'm happy to announce that my book Gunner, Football Hero, the first book that I both wrote and illustrated was selected as an honor book for the Comstock Read Aloud Book Award. This is very exciting to be chosen from a field of over 300 books. In its 7th year, the award is sponsored by the Livingston Lord Library at the Minnesota State University, Moorhead.

Recently I had a breakfast interview with Jules which you can read on her blog. It also has pictures of my studio and a couple of recent personal paintings I've completed. You can read the interview here:
http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=2141.

I hope you enjoyed my newest books: Before There Was Mozart: The Story of Joseph Bolulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George, Gunner, Football Hero and New Red Bike.

Once you get past all the summer fun with barbeques, swimming, camp and other activities, and as you start back to school (I know, you don't want to think about that), look forward to January when my next book When Grandmama Sings written by Margaree King Mitchell will be released. It was a joy to work with Margaree again. Fifteen years ago, we collaborated on Uncle Jed's Barbershop.

Until then......