And winter time became spring, again…
It’s incredible that a whole year has passed since I started newsletter.doc (now sitting at 6 issues). If this is your first time getting a newsletter from me, welcome! Hope you enjoy it. And, if this is issue no. 6 for you, thank you so much for being here!! I hope you’re enjoying reading this as much as I’m enjoying putting it together! :)
Notes from an illustrator’s desk
Every year in the trenches of winter, when I’m warm and happy in my little cocoon in Mexico, someone will unavoidably ask what is it that I do for work. I will (of course) tell them, and they will nod as if they know exactly what I mean. I find it funny, because I do this for a living, and half of the time I’m not entirely sure what this is.
Unlike being a doctor or an accountant where you get the gist of what you’re in for, to be an author and/or an illustrator feels more like a collection of words like “write” and “draw” and “deadlines” loosely tied together by an invisible string. No matter how many talented people have tried to chart the territory, the edge of the land mass continues to be fuzzy at best.
Sometimes it’s nice to have a flexible career, sometimes it’s scary. It’s particularly hard when people ask for advice. Every time, all I want to do is to take out a piece of paper and draw a straight line from point A to B. The problem with that is that there are billions of points A and billions of points B; billions of places where your career can start and billions of places where your career could be going. The reality is, there is rarely a straight line from any point to the next.
The publishing industry loves a squiggly line; it loves to keep you on your toes. Every once in a while you get the rug pulled from under you, and all you can do is roll with it. Challenges come in all sizes, some are small like tight deadlines or an editor that leaves mid-project; some are huge, like the possibility that your self-worth will become intrinsically attached to your work, and the work may be (sometimes) ripped to shreds by people whose opinions matter to you.
There are, of course, many joys to be experienced. A lot of them are as shapeless and fuzzy edged as the career itself. The type of things you can’t name but rather feel in your bones as you encounter them, and when you do, they make your heart glow.
I can’t give you much advice, but I can tell you something that’s been very helpful through it all: stop worrying so much about connecting the dots, and start having fun while drawing that squiggly line that goes from point A to wherever it lands.
Book Updates
I have a lot of (exciting) book updates this (possibly very wordy) post!
I. In SUPER exciting news: RIVER OF MARIPOSAS is being published in Spanish!
RIO OF MARIPOSAS is published by PRH. It’s the story of a young girl, dreaming of a world filled with butterflies, that decides to take matters into her own two hands; however, when a storm ruins her plans, she discovers that dreams can come true in unexpected and magical ways! - I’ve had the best time reading this book to kids everywhere, and I can’t wait to be able to do read-alouds in Spanish!
II. A wonderful picture book I illustrated is coming out this April!! FREE TO LEARN: HOW ALFREDO LOPEZ FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO GO TO SCHOOL is a beautiful non-fiction book written by the amazing Cynthia Levinson. It tells the story of Alfredo Lopez, an undocumented boy involved in a landmark Supreme Court case that still ensures children’s right to education today.
The book is both educational and inspiring. KIRKUS posted a review that called it “Frank and sympathetic in presenting a lesser-known landmark in the struggle for human rights” and booklist gave it a STARRED review!!
III. For my THE MYTHICS fans, you probably already now, but THE MYTHICS 3 is coming on May 14th! I hope you enjoy a good cliff hanger… because boy oh boy does this book end up on a crazy note! - Shout out to the mastermind plotting of Lauren Magaziner, the incredible author for this series (and fellow substack writer! Check out her newsletter!).
Lucky for you, you won’t have to wait that long to know how things end, because The Mythics 4 also comes out this year!! December 3rd!! You can pre-order both books now!! And… one more exciting announcement about The Mythics: the books have been translated to SPANISH! So, you can now follow the adventures of LAS MÍTICAS en español ;)
IV. Last but not least, the cover for a beautiful picture book I illustrated MAMIACHI & ME is out! This is one of the projects I am dying to show you more work from! It’s written by the mother & son duo Jolene and Dakota Gutierrez, and it’s a lyrical and empowering book about a little girl’s first performance with her mom’s all-female Mariachi band!
You can pre-order the book now! Even though it’ll be published in January next year.
What kept me busy in the winter
Over the winter, I had one of the most special book signings ever. If you haven’t read my debut (as an author) picture book MAGIC, you might be surprised to learn I am originally from a little town (where all of my family and childhood friends still live) in the state of Veracruz (Mexico) called Isla.
I visit every December, and this time around, since MAGIC has been published in Spanish, my family and friends decided to throw a book signing party!
I can’t explain with words just how special it was to see everyone in town so excited to see MAGIA! I truly just felt like a little kid bringing over a drawing to show them.
I also got to read MAGIC with a ton of you during World Read Aloud Day (WRAD), I love volunteering to do virtual visits and I truly recommend you do too. Keep an eye on this page to get details on how to sign up!
In February, I got to spend time with amazing authors Benson Shum and Hayley Rose at the Viewpoint School Book Fair hosted by Barnes & Noble Calabasas; I got to do a special Valentine’s Day reading of RIVER OF MARIPOSAS to the Pinewood Early Education Center; and, I got to visit Gabriella Charter school as part of their Read Across America celebrations!
To kick of March, I got to travel to NorCal to visit Healdsburg Elementary School and the local Sonoma County Libraries! It was such a wonderful time!! I met so many amazing little artists!
I was also a part of the OC woman’s fair hosted by Fairhaven Memorial Park. It was a very fun event, I got to read Magic for an audience of very kind grown-ups and it was truly magical!
And lastly, on a personal note, I celebrated a birthday this on March 9th! (also Barbie’s birthday)
On the calendar
March 18th Children’s Literature Panel (at the Pasadena City College & Virtual)
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR PANEL featuring amazing local KidLit authors and illustrators: Danielle Davis, Benson Shum, Mirelle Ortega, Maple Lam, Jennifer Torres, Natasha Khan Kazi, and C.M. Potter as they delve into the world of children's literature.
Held at the Writing Success Center (C345) on PCC's main campus, and livestreamed, on Monday, March 18, 2024, from 12pm to 2pm.
April 5-6, Reading Rock Stars! Texas Book Festival.
See you at El Paso, Texas this April!
May 18th Stories on Tap (Ready, Set, Read!)
Join us on Common Space Brewery in Hawthorne for a fun day of craft and story-times. More details to be announced (keep an eye on my instagram!)
I’m always open to do book events (story times, crafts, book signings, etc) in the LA area and beyond! Take a look at the school visit section of my website! I am always thrilled to visit new schools and libraries!
The tabs I haven’t been able to close
🖼️ The Swan, No 1 (1915) by Hilma af Klint. I’ve been obsessed with this painting for the past month, to the point it currently is the screen lock picture of my phone.
📸 Sheila Metzner’s photography. I went to the Getty for Valentine’s Day with my S.O., and we were both awestruck by the beautiful photographs of American photographer Sheila Metzner, the first female photographer to collaborate with Vogue on an ongoing basis. I can’t recommend you look up her work enough, and I recommend her book “From Life”.
🎙️ I’m listening to: Kacey Musgraves new album “Deeper Well”, Jess Williamson’s “Time Ain’t Accidental” and The Last Dinner Party’s “Prelude to Ecstasy” on repeat. What a great winter for music!
📚 I’m currently reading: Dune… and LOVING IT. I recently read “Everything Nothing Someone” and “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue”, I recommend both.
🎵 The song stuck in my head…
P.S.
As always, thank you so much for your support of this newsletter and my work. I appreciate you deeply! As spring approaches, I hope new, better and brighter things are ahead.
Also, have some cake to celebrate newsletter.doc’s first anniversary!
Abrazos,
Mirelle
You're so talented! Love all your work 💛
All the books, yes!! Love to see it!