Summertime!

A little re-introduction + updates!

Once again, summer is upon us. Once again, but also, for the first and only time in human history this one specific summer is upon us. Lately, I’ve been trying to remember that just because seasons repeat themselves year after year that doesn’t mean they lose their “once-in-a-lifetime”-ness. Arriving in summer always makes me feel like the year is unraveling, just running away as fast as it can. I’m trying not to feel anxiety over it, but I can feel my pulse quicken. Part of me just wants to try and try to hold on to every minute of every day, no matter how absurd. This summer I’m trying to make peace with time. I’m trying to not let it paralyze me nor throw me into a rat race. I’m trying to live in the moment, and enjoy every trace I make without worrying so much about how long is it going to take to paint that.

A quick re-introduction

So, I gained a few more subscribers here since the spring, and I thought it would be fun to use the summer post to re introduce myself again (or introduce myself for the first time, actually).

My name is Mirelle, I’m a Pisces, I’m in my thirties, I speak English and Spanish (and forget words in both languages), and I live in Hollywood, Los Angeles. I was born and raised in Mexico. I’m originally from Veracruz (south of Mexico), from a land of hardworking hands that turn wilderness into harvest¹. I’ve been living out of my home since I was fifteen, because I went to high school in a nearby city. I went to college in Monterrey (north of Mexico) and I got a BA (or its Mexican equivalent anyway, a licenciatura) in Digital Art and Animation.

Right after college, I worked shortly as a screenwriter assistant, and then I moved to Mexico City (center of Mexico) and started working as an illustrator for an online educational platform. Then, I got a scholarship (actually, at this point I had been on scholarships since high school - I was always very good at school and my math teachers were very disappointed I wanted to be an artist, did I mention I have always wanted to be an artist?) and I came to the US, specifically San Francisco, where I got a MFA in Visual Development.

After graduating, I followed the advice of a guy at a CTN² panel and I decided to apply to illustration agencies. I had always wanted to do books, and didn’t know that I could actually just ask someone to represent me to do that! So, I did that, and I got very lucky and met my agent James, who’s still my agent, and amazing at his job, and a very good friend.

I got my first break illustrating middle grade covers (Love, Sugar, Magic! to be precise), and I actually have had the pleasure to illustrate some of the most amazing middle grade books. Shortly after, I got my first picture book: Pepe and the Parade. And then, in 2020 I sold my first picture book (and I guess also my second because it was a two book deal) as an author-illustrator: Magic.

Magic is so special to me. I wrote it as a love letter to my hometown, my childhood and my family. I’ve written more extensively about it in this other post. But in short: Magic helps remind me who I am. Which, if you’ve ever lived far away from home, can get harder and harder with each passing day. And, it was also super significant to me professionally! It was my author-illustrator debut, and it went on to get beautiful praise: the art was selected for the Society of Illustrator’s Original Art Show in New York, it got a Pura Belpré Honor for illustration and an International Latino Award medal. Also, it allowed me to connect with so many people: writers, artists, publishers and, most importantly, readers.

I’m forever thankful to everyone who’s even read Magic and truly felt it. It makes me really emotional to hear my words and pictures have moved you. Your ability to empathize with my words makes me feel deeply understood and seen, and it fills my heart with joy.

In the past nine years I’ve gotten to illustrate so many beautiful books. Over 50 titles that include picture books, chapter books and middle grade covers! (If you’re interested in the full list, here’s my website).

To the writers that have entrusted me with their stories over the years, and to the readers who’ve picked up my books, from the bottom of my heart: thank you so much! I am grateful in ways I can’t even express. Thank you for helping me make my crazy dream of being an artist come true! I think of you all of the time, and I try really hard to make you all proud.

A quick catch up

Spring happened in the blink of an eye, but somehow I found room to do a lot of fun things! I attended the LA Times Festival of Books with LA Librería alongside my very good friend Abe, and the Festival of Books at the LA Children’s Hospital, where I got to sign free books and catch up with so many industry friends!

Right now, I’m hard at work on some titles I LOVE. I’m deep in the making of Desert Cantos, which is a lovely lyrical book about the amazing Linda Rondstant, and also working hard on You Don’t Have to Say, a gorgeous book about a non-speaking autistic child, and his deep bond with his mom, one that surpasses the need for words.

AND, in case you missed it, I illustrated a pop up book!! As part of the 100 years of LA’s central library, I had the huge honor to participate in the making of Los Angeles Central Library Pops: celebrating a century of the light of learning, an amazing Pop up book written by Christina Rice, paper engineered by Matthew Reinhart, and illustrated by me.

The Updates Department

I’m thrilled to let you all know that Please Pass the Tamales is coming to you this August! The book is written by Silvia Lopez, and created in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. It was a joy to work on this festive little book, and it even got some praise on the June issue of School Library Journal! Their verdict: “This is a first purchase for the children’s Spanish-language picture book collection.”

Also, the Barbie book I got to work on, is finally coming out this September! It’s called Barbie: The Nutcracker, and it was truly a dream to get to work on it! I grew up being a huge Barbie fan, so this one was truly special for my inner child. You can pre-order everywhere books are sold!

On The Calendar

July 11 - 10:30 am - Pop Up Book Presentation at LA Central Library

This will be the official book presentation for Los Angeles Central Library Pops: celebrating a century of the light of learning, come to see a panel that will include writer Christina Rice, paper engineer Matthew Reinhart, designer Becca Lottie, and myself.

July 21st - 3 pm - Lake View Terrace Library Branch

Come for a special book reading of I Am, Yo Soy and a fun art activities!

Tabs I haven’t been able to close

📺 I’ve been watching the X-Files for the first time from season one! I am absolutely LOVING this show. I’m just starting season 5 and I am still enthralled. If you’ve never seen the show, I totally recommend it!

📚 This past spring I read: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (it was OK), The Secret History by Donna Tartt (LOVED it!) and Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher (so much fun!). I’m starting Piranesi by Susanna Clarke and hopefully I’ll be also tackling East of Eden by John Steinbeck this summer.

🎥 Movie wise, horror fans and I had an incredible spring. From Obsession to Backrooms, to Scary Movie 6.

🏠 I’ve been obsessed with Georgia O’Keefe’s home: “Ghost Ranch”. I’ve been looking at photos and videos (like this one), and I would absolutely love to get to visit one day.

🏺 Really enjoying the hand-painted ceramics of Lucy McCall.

🖼️ My current painting obsession, and lock screen image: “Semele” by Jannik Senium

📖 I’ve been deep diving into the work of Jamaican-American illustrator and designer Jaqueline Ayer. As well was the enchanting work of prolific Japanese illustrator Taro Gomi.

📸 I watched the The Woodman’s documentary, and I thought it was so interesting. I think, beyond Francesca Woodman’s unbelievable talent for photography, this is really an interesting look at the dynamics of a very unusually artistic family.

🎶 The song of the Summer:

PS.

As always, thank you so much for reading!! And, thank you for supporting my books! I really hope you find something in this post that is useful or interesting, I love putting this quarterly newsletter together, and I hope you all have a beautiful, long, healthy summer!

1. A line from my book “Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land”.

2. The CTN Animation Expo (Creative Talent Network eXpo) is an annual convention in Burbank, California, that brings together professionals, students, and fans of visual storytelling, both traditional and digital.