Yesterday
was the official publication date for my new book, Feathers: Not Just for Flying. I am especially excited about this book
because it has already received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly and because was illustrated by my friend Sarah S. Brannen.

Sarah
is a member of my critique group and first saw the book in its very early
stages. But she was so inspired that she created a painting, which in turn
inspired me. It made me believe in the manuscript and fight to find the best
way to present the information.

So
when the manuscript eventually was accepted, I suggested Sarah as a potential
illustrator. By this time, she had created several feather paintings and put
them added them to the gallery on her website.

Voila! She got the job.

Even
after acceptance, this little book had to overcome many hurdles. Three editors worked
on the book, and late in the game, we discovered an arcane law stating that it
is illegal to even pick up most of the feathers the average American might find
on an afternoon walk through the woods. This meant Sarah and the art director
had to quickly come up with a way to maintain the book’s magic without showing a
kid breaking the law. But it all worked out, and we are both excited to finally
bring the book into the world.