Deb Johnson

@debjohnsonart.bsky.social

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Children's Book Illustrator & Author
Crafting stories and characters that add a joyful kind of happy to your day.
@debjohnsonart on Cara
www.deb-johnson.com

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Deb Johnson

By the way #KidLitChat I’m doing a poem a day prompt all through July and I’d love you to join me if you’re at all inclined. 😊

Tomorrow my birthday month starts. This year I'm filling it with things that bring me joy. Right at the top of that list is poetry. I'm inviting you to join me in crafting poetry throughout July. I've even made myself a prompt calendar. Will you join me? #Poetry #poem #WritingCommunity #KidLit

#kidlitchat Another place I hope to find inspiration is when I volunteer at my grandsons elementary school this year. He will be in Kindergarten. I will go by the library just to smell books and little kids! Inspiration, right?! haha

#kidlitchat I followed alot of the posts from #ALA24 this past weekend and checked out some of the publishers and books that were being highlighted. If the publisher publishes something related to my style, I go ahead and submit a tear sheet. It never hurts to submit to see what happens.

#kidlitchat tonight at 9 EST! Hosted by @bonnieadamson.com and @gregpincus.bsky.social ! Always a good time!

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Deb Johnson

Reminder: #KidLitChat tonight (every Tue night) 9p ET / 6p PT, co-hosted by @bonnieadamson.com & @gregpincus.bsky.social. Follow @kidlitchat.bsky.social for the topic. Banner art by @boringstorybook.com. I use deck.blue to more easily monitor the chat but you can also just keep reloading search pg.

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Deb Johnson

Heigh ho, another day, another fake literary agency. ImplicitPress Literary Agency has all the signs: solicitation, fake publishing offers, a crack "team" of stock images, a website rife with uncorrected typos, and a web domain just 22 days old www.implicitpressliteraryagency.com

WE NEED MORE BOOKS!www.implicitpressliteraryagency.com implicitpressliteraryagency

Following the latest post challenge: If you see this, post a witch in a big hat 🧙 Still learning the ropes on these! #kidlitart #kidlit #illustration

Boop! #kidlitart #kidlit #dragon #illustration #curiosity

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Deb Johnson

#kidlitart Brush guy left adobe chose procreate - guess that solves the what replaces PS for some.

Really enjoying the @Skillshare class taught by Sarah Holliday on Mastering Color in Procreate. I have always created individual palettes for each book project but I have learned a few things that will help going forward. Besides, it’s super fun to just color! #kidlitart #kidlit #colortheory

Frog doggin’ in the studio today! #kidlit #kidlitart #studiopups #frogdog

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Deb Johnson

We are partnering with a new grassroots organization called Authors Against Book Bans (AABB) to mobilize authors and illustrators in the fight against the growing number of book bans and challenges across the country. authorsguild.org/news/authors...

Authors Unite to Fight Book Bans: New Grassroots Group Mobilizes Writers to Defend the Freedom to Read - The Authors Guildauthorsguild.org The Authors Guild is partnering with a new grassroots organization called Authors Against Book Bans (AABB) to mobilize authors and illustrators in the fight against the growing number of book bans and...

I love a good sing-songy rhyme ❤️

For all the rhymers out there - #kidlit neurosciencenews.com/language-lea...

Babies Learn Language Best Through Sing-Song Speech, Not Phonetics - Neuroscience Newsneurosciencenews.com New research suggests that parents should use sing-song speech, such as nursery rhymes, with their babies, as it aids language development.

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Deb Johnson

July 1st is right around the corner. Have you made plans to participate in one of the many amazing #KidLit events this summer? Let me know which one is your favorite! The list is now updated! carolynbfraiser.com/kidlit/ #KidLitEvents #PB #MG #YA

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Deb Johnson

Speaking of workshops... Registration is open for the Preparing Your Perfect Presentation online workshop that I promised a couple of weeks ago. :) Just in case anyone missed the post I sent when I got it set up! tinyurl.com/perfect-pres...

YAY! An extra week is so needed in this busy season! Pass it on! #kidlitartpostcard #kidlit #kidlitart

Please note July's #KidLitArtPostcard event is getting pushed out one week due to the 4th of July holiday. You have an extra week to make a great promo piece #kidlitart illustrators. And an extra week for #kidlit art directors, editors, and agents to come on over to Bluesky.

Just floating around while my artist decides on clothes…colors…patterns…and what’s really in that cup 🤔😃 #kidlitart #kidlit #picturebooks #childrensbooks #illustration #summer #pool

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Deb Johnson

Hi, #kidlit artists! I'm seeking a MG (ages 9-12) illustrator for a coming-of-age mystery story featuring friendship, adventure, and an elusive white wolf. Would LOVE to find an Indigenous NA illustrator. Respond here with images and a link to your folio. Please no DMs. Agents welcome to email.

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Deb Johnson

Thread: Q&As about ABLA's new submission guidelines: Q: We used to have three chances to query, what gives? A: Our new guidelines do ask you to pick ONE agent to query. If that agent passes, you can send to the Second Chance inbox, where ALL the agents will have a chance to look!

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Deb Johnson

It's time again for Micro Comic Summer!! ☀️😎 This is a webcomic challenge focused on sustainable art practices, story craft, and art exploration! Share your 4-page comic on August 31 with the tag #MicroComicSummer

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Deb Johnson

I'm teaching a 2-part webinar on character design for PBs. We'll go over techniques to character creation, mistakes I see, and how to draw characters consistently. 2nd class is a critique session for personal feedback as you put into practice what you learned Scbwi.org/events/MDDEWVss4i24 #kidlit

Sometimes I combine a few creative processes to help unlock the one thing I am stuck on…in this case writing the backstory to a new character. The rhythm of knitting is helping! #kidlitart #kidlit #writing #creativewriting #characters #knitting #picturebooks #illustration #process

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This entire thread. I just don't understand.

During a #kidlit pitch event Friday on X, an account posted photos of dead children and someone holding up a human jawbone to the hashtag. I’m imploring agencies & publishers that are not migrating here because of their follower count to reconsider. Because the follower reach is a lie. (Cont’d)👇

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Deb Johnson

Hey #kidlit illustrators, do you love DRAGONS? I do! I’m looking for an artist who can breathe life into a comedic dragon w/ mass appeal for a new character-driven graphic-reader series (ages 4–6). Respond here with images and a link to your folio. Please no DMs. Agents are welcome to email. 💙❤️

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Deb Johnson

For those who missed last night's #kidlitchat: I strongly recommend browsing hashtag for some GREAT advice. Topic was: What's the best career advice you ever got & what do you wish you could go back and tell your earlier self? Follow @kidlitchat.bsky.social for schedule & topics! #kidlit

A favorite from a past MerMay challenge. I have always like the happy color palette on this one! #kidlitchat #kidlit #kidlitart #mermay #kidlitmegafeed #illustrator #childrensbooks #picturebooks #ocean #quiet

My 83 year old mom said it best today...I am who I am. I can't be like you. I am just me. I think this is excellent advice for all of us. #kidlitchat

It's time for #kidlitchat! YAY!

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Deb Johnson

Feeds VS Lists! Yeah I know it's confusing! Brian explains the difference! With pictures!!! #kidlit #kidlitart

I've seen basic questions re LISTS and FEEDS. Everyone can create LISTS of users, i.e. my list of anyone w/ kidlit interests, or @charlenedraws.bsky.social's illustrator lists. Following a list means following EVERYTHING that all the people on that list share... 1/3 👇

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Deb Johnson

@artistjerrybennett.bsky.social & I hosted a virtual chat last night. We chatted about the social media/AI debacle. I came away more hopeful/less anxious. Takeaways - Calm down, create more, connect with #kidlit community! Thanks to all who joined, & @ginaperry.bsky.social for sharing! #OKARSCBWI