Friday, August 11
6-8 p.m.
Centerville Police Department,
155W. Spring Valley Pike
Dayton, OH
Jennifer Sommer |
|
The illustrator Gayle Cobb will display her original art from HER EYES WERE ON THE STARS in an upcoming showcase presented by the Centerville Arts Commission. Please join us for the opening reception of her work, where I will be signing copies of HER EYES WERE ON THE STARS. Friday, August 11 6-8 p.m. Centerville Police Department, 155W. Spring Valley Pike Dayton, OH
0 Comments
Gayle Cobb is the illustrator of my book HER EYES WERE ON THE STARS. I met Gayle originally through the Cincinnati chapter of SCBWI and I chose her to illustrate this book because of her style - which was a more realistic and detailed style - that I thought worked well for the subject and age range I was aiming for. It's not standard for an author to choose and work directly with an illustrator. However, I intended to publish this book myself and originally planned to go through Ingram. Gayle already had experience working with Braughler Books, a hybrid publishing company, and after talking with both Gayle and David Braughler, I decided this was a better way to go. Though Gayle was willing to go with whatever decision I made, working with Braughler Books ended up being the right choice for me as an author who had never independently published a book. The process was seamless and I couldn’t be happier with the results. The book is absolutely beautiful and I receive many comments on the stunning artwork. Here are more answers to questions you’d want to know about Gayle.
|
I remember the excitement of visiting the public library as a child. The magic and suspense of reading favorites like The Velvet Room and The Secret Garden tugged at my imagination. Biographies of George Washington Carver and Betsy Ross allowed me to see the lives of those who came before me and to appreciate their accomplishments. Poetry collections like my favorite The Tall Book of Poems, which I took with me on sleepovers, introduced me to a range of poetry where I could consider how the placement and rhythm of words affected your mood – sometimes bouncy, other times melancholy. Plus, I really loved the way that book felt in my small hands. My goal in writing children’s books, I think, is an attempt to recreate those feelings, those early years of reading books where everything seemed possible.
I received an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and won the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award from SCBWI. I worked as a Children's Librarian for 20 years and still prefer to read books written for young people. I have two Cavapoo dogs named Prince Albert and Daisy Wu, and a black kitten named Mortimer. I am married and split time between homes with my husband Rod in Dayton, OH and in Cadiz, KY where we enjoy our pontoon boat on Lake Barkley.
Categories
All
You can find more detailed information about me by clicking a link below:
Archives
February 2024
|