Publication Day!

Yes, it's here .. Hidden New Jersey is out there in shelf world ... 


If you haven't heard me talking about the book by now, where have you been? Just this time last year I was starting the illustration process and here it is, all shiny and new and ripe for the plucking.

Folks in New Jersey seem very happy with it so far. Have to say, when you know you are drawing places that are well known, you hope people will go 'yes! I remember that!' I really hope that HNJ will encourage people to discover the state ... there really IS so much more to New Jersey.

I've been a bit frantic in the run up - I made the book trailer - set up a blog tour - submitted to here, there, everywhere and today replying to all the nice congrats I received. It really IS like having a baby arrive :-)

In March I hope to have a small launch at the Children's Book Cellar in Waterville, ME, so if you local, stay tuned for details.

I hope if you get hold of a copy of the book you'll let me know what you (or your kids) think ...

Toodles!
Hazel


'Hidden New Jersey' on pre-order

Just in time for the holidays! All those of you waiting for the search and seek book I illustrated for Charlesbridge's imprint 'Mackinac Island Press' can now pre-order!




If you would like to know more the press release is available here

This book is lots of fun with hidden images to find.Children in New Jersey will enjoy identifying areas they know and for children in other states it's a great way to learn about NJ.



I will be available for school visits and signings .. please contact me at hazel-mitchell@hotmail.com.

 
Toodles!
Hazel

Books for a Better Life

Monday came round quick this week. (Only 6 days since the last one). Thanksgiving is thundering toward us totally out of control, no doubt bringing snow and Christmas in it's wake. I am looking at my things-I-want-to-do-before-the-end-of-the-year list, and wondering just how many are achievable.

High on my list is to send another publisher's mail-out. This time I have a postcard featuring my 'Dandelion Fairy'. I would love to work up a dummy around her adventures with her little bunny ... but I also have other dummies that need work - and they have been waiting a good while for some attention. So 'Dandelion Fairy' will be scribbled on a post it note and stuck up on the window frame with the other titles.


Let me know if you would like a postcard! Email your address to hazel-mitchell@hotmail.com .

Exciting news this week for Daniel Stefanski, Freespirit Publishing and the book I illustrated earlier this year 'How to Talk to an Autistic Kid.' It's a finalist in the relationship category of 'Books for a Better Life', an award sponsored by The Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. The award ceremony is in March at The New York Times Centre. Very much hoping to go and hoping that the book wins! What an awesome thing this would be for Daniel Stefanski, who is 15 and suffers from autism. Fingers Crossed please.

 

The rest of this week is going to be busy. Putting to bed 'The Naughty Grandmother' for a private client, and working on an education pdf project for 'Reading A-Z'. Friday I am goign on an OUTING, but can't tell you where yet. Saturday I am doing signing at Pittsfield Library, Maine with 'All Star Cheerleaders: Tick Tock, Taylor.' Fun!

Let's hope my computer behaves ... complete rebuild this weekend, caused by a power unit failure and possible dodgy memory chip. I did, however, learn a valuable lesson when the power unit messed up my hard drive a couple of weeks ago ... now have a server I back up to every night. Thank goodness 'im indoors is a techie!

Toodles and thanks for popping in!

Hazel

On the bedside table:

The Story of Charlotte's Web - Michael Sims
A Ball for Daisy - Chris Raschka
Me ... Jane  Patrick McDonnell
Pavement Chalk Artist - Julian Beever