A classroom from Pennsylvania emailed me asking the question: "What is a typical day in your life??"
The answer depends upon my work schedule.
When I am crunched under a deadline I will typically work for 14 or more hours - tethered to my desk. This can be lonely, so I will listen to audio books on tape. I listen to all sorts of books by many different authors - but I always enjoy ones with Boston as their main location. I am on a list serve of other professionally published children's book illustrators from both sides of the Atlantic and reading their daily email posts keeps me up-to-date with our business. I keep in touch by phone with my dearest friend, fellow children's book illustrator Barbara Johansen Newman www.johansennewman.com
Most likely still in my pajamas, I'll sneak out of the house only to carpool the girls. My close friend Neva will drop off food... and I'll admit, when my nerves are really shot - I nibble on a wee bit too much candy.
Then, when I'm not under a strict deadline, I find myself doing the opposite. I enjoy READING books! I go to visit Barbara and hang out in her studio or I visit Neva and chat over coffee. Never in my pajamas! I won't touch candy at all; instead I cook healthy meals and exercise a lot! I spend time goofing around with my kids... I make long distance calls to my peers on the list serve and catch up with them - and I finally answer my emails!
I enjoy every minute of my downtime - for it is short lived. Jerry starts to plan the next book well before the last book is ever finished. Sketches of eyeballs are taped to my walls..... Can you guess what our next book is going to be? I've been dropping hints all over the internet.
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