BOOKS
When I was a kid, I loved to doodle and create characters. I was mesmerized by the artwork of legendary animators Ollie Johnston, Freddie Moore and others from that era. I loved the warmth and appeal of their designs! But as I got older, I discoved that there's more to it! Engaging art is an great way to tell an impactful story.​​ There is power in a good story—power to amplify redemptive, uplifting messages. So I did something about it.
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My first book Neckless: The Audrey Amaka Story was published and released in late 2010 to enthusiastic response. It's a book about giraffes, specifically a little giraffe with a good head on her shoulders! In the years since, I have written, illustrated, or art directed twenty-six children's books—including an additional six titles of my own. Be sure to check out the Audrey Amaka and Gingerbrood dedicated pages here on the site.
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​​ I am a stickler for excellence at every stage of the process. Along with a well-crafted story, a timeless message and appealing illustrations, each of my books is printed with quality and durability in mind.
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Here are a few examples of my illustration work for other authors and organizations.
©Holy Joys
©Gospel Publishing Ministries
©Rockin' Rhyme Story Time
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​​ Are you an author or publisher looking for an illustrator for your children's book? If so, you might be curious about the price. How much does it cost to hire an illustrator? Of course it's difficult to say without further discussions about the details of your book. First of all, it's important that authors (who are not illustrators) are paired with the right artist for their project. Every artist has their own process and design sensibility.
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There are many illustrators who are able to complete a book project very quickly. In my case, I tend to take a long time to finish artwork. Having a tour schedule and various personal projects, I am seldom able to accept outside work. When I do, it takes weeks, sometimes months to complete. So, while I am not opposed to taking on other illustration work, it's potentially an expensive step in the process for my clients.
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But book layout is another step—an important step! How do you structure a children's book? Thankfully, I have extensive experience working with both author and artist to assemble a cohesive, attractive reading experience and preparing the final book files for the press. I've seen beautiful illustrations be paired with poor font and design choices. If you've put your heart into a children's book and have collaborated with a good illustrator, you don't want this to happen to you!
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For the average sized children's book, layout doesn't take too long. Unless there are lots of edits to the illustrations that have been provided, it usually only takes me 2-3 days to do this step. Of course, there can be a lot of back-and-forth with the author or publisher to make sure that everyone is happy with the final product!
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If you're interested in discussing your project with me, please don't hesitate to reach out. Even if I'm unable to help personally, I would be glad to point you in a good direction!
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Speaking of good direction, I've found Jane Friedman to be a wonderful resource for writers. She has a deep understanding of the publishing industry and is excellent at explaining it! Be sure to check out her website.
