Carrasco Studio

Pontificating at the Book Fest

Here I sit, selling the Lotus and the Golden Pearl book at my stall, with my faithful toybox (a pushme-pullme Dr. Doolittle affair I designed and Phil built ) two dogs, two tails and rollers on one side underneath, teflon sliders on one side ( so the kids won't get in the box and careen down the stairs)  Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails.

A very enjoyable book fair, the BookFest in Seattle, and people seemed to like my Lotus and the Golden Pearl illustrations.  I have appointments and meetings lined up, and I learned so much about the book business.  I am so glad that Amanda Lorenzo (of the Runt Farm fame) and Ceci Miller (of the famous Ceci Books publishing company) invited me to share their space. Yay! a good time was held by all.

Lotus Revived!

 

YAY!   Lotus and the Golden Pearl has been reprinted and I am much happier.  Thanks to the writer, Libby Pink' swift intervention, the printers reprinted the offending spread and one page illustration and the book is  ready to go.  As I told my sisters, Eileen and Megan, the squeaky wheel gets the worm (or something like that)

So, Art Patrons and Literature Lovers, when I get your check and mailing address, I'll waft the books to you immediately, or if you are local, you can come by and pick them up.  If I am to mail your books, figure about $5 extra for shipping and handling for 8-10 books, about  $4 for 3-7 books, and about $ 2 for 1-2 books.  The books are $8.95 each, and there is tax added  for Washington sales.  Lotus and the Golden Pearl is also available at Amazon.com.  And, if you want to become a "fan" on Facebook, it is at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lotus-and-the-Golden-Pearl/154177903652?ref=ts.

My address is 6050 36th Avenue, SW.  Seattle, Washington 98125.  I thank you, Lotus thanks you, the rowdy surfer dude OTTERS thank you.  Otterly yours (a genius phrase from Lynne Rutter) .  Jennifer Tabasco

Book Announcement! Surfer Otters with Attitude!

The book!  The book!  (will be published and on it's way to my place by September 18!)

It's called "Lotus and the Golden Pearl" and it's written by Libby Pink(lotusandthegoldenpearl.com) and illustrated by me. First book for me to illustrate, and I loved it.

It's a little book (5x7"), what they call a chapter book in the trade, just right for next Christmas/Hanakuh stocking stuffers and our meager budgets ($8.95 each plus shipping and handling..which will vary, depending on how many books are ordered)

Anyhow, the writer, Libby Pink, the book designer, Shannon McCafferty, and the editor, Ceci Miller and I (the illustrator) collaborated online to turn out this marvelous story of how a young girl named Lotus brings peace to the animals living on a magical island.  A combination of her own bravery (imagine allowing yourself to be transported to an island in the beak of a giant pelican!, )the help of a magic pearl and more than magic white deer, and the cooperation (non partisan, folks) of the animals help deal with some very aggressive otter surfer Dudes.

 

Jade, the big sister otter is REALLY MEAN and very aggressive.  She tries to drown Lotus, but Lotus calls on her magic pearl and is saved.

 

And Zack, the more laid back Surfer Dude otter, comes to the aid of Lotus when he realizes that peace is the better option.  And little Dakota, the youngest otter....well, she is more concerned with eating clams than anything else.

 

 

In this exciting adventure story, Lotus gets to sleep in a beyond-cool bedroom inside a giant conch shell, and talks with animals. (Everyone takes turns to give their opinions...no screeching and yelling at these town hall meetings!)  And the awesome finale...well, you'll have to read it and see.....

 

If you are interested in ordering a book, contact me (upper right hand corner) and I'll put you on my list. (and confirm when I find out the shipping and handling....it's usually about 4 to 5 bucks a package)

By the way, I did all of the interior illustrations in Daniel Smith Lunar Black watercolor, which is utterly divine for illustrating.  It looks like graphite drawings, doesn't it? And frankly, it is nice to work small for a change...I like working back and forth in scale.  It prevents dotage.

And, a reminder, if you are in the area and would like to take my watercolor class that starts on September 8, 6 to 8 pm at CandP coffee house, send me an e-mail and I'll give you the details and what you need.  The fee is $120 per 6 units of classes.

Ditto for the Plein Aire extravaganza on Sept.11 and 12.....

And, very important.  My beautiful little cousin Lucy was my model for Lotus!