The Monster in my Basement

I love this time of year - cool nights, leaves turning colors, and monsters being born! Yes, you heard me right! MONSTERS. I say monsters being born because I just finished my 5th picture book.  It's a book about a monster. I have been working on it for a year now, with the last 6 months being the painting of the artwork, so in a way you could call it a creative birth. :)

I turned the artwork over to the publisher on Monday and now I get to tell you about it. We don't have an official title for it yet, (that's the publisher's job) but it's about a 4 year old boy who discovers a hungry monster in his basement. So, I am calling it "The Monster in my Basement".

This monster is really hungry! And really big!

What should the boy do?

Maybe the monster wants some fruit or tuna fish? Chicken or a hotdog? Or ice cream in a dish? How about spaghetti or sweet potato pie?

Or just maybe... the monster wants something else? (GULP!)

If you want to find out what the monster DOES EAT you won't have to wait long! The book will officially launch fall 2020, but I will have several dozen advance copies for my collectors this holiday season! First-come-first-serve basis. Come see me at one of my holiday shows or contact me on e-mail through my website: www.heatherlynnharris.com

Fall 2019 Show Schedule

November 11 WNY Childrens Book Festival Buffalo Convention Center

November 22 - 24 Rochester Holiday Bazaar Rochester Science Museum

December 7 - 8 Roycroft Christmas Show Roycroft Campus, East Aurora, NY

December 13 - 14 WNY Book Arts Center Buffalo, NY

Busy Show Season

 

Playing a little catch up here after a busy Christmas show season!  I spent most of November and December launching Five Hungry Mice to all my friends in Western New York! Art shows, Children's book expos, local TV appearances, book signing, and more, oh my!  I seem to have done it all. And I am so thankful for the support of my family, friends, and publisher who helped me with each of these opportunities.  

What a wonderful reception you gave my newest picture book.  The best part for me is always being able to visit with you, and learn about the children who will be reading my books.  Thank you for taking the time to stop by my booth at my different art shows, or drop me a line in my e-mail, or send me support on social media.  I love hearing from you all, and I especially love the pictures of children enjoying my books.

I like to keep a list of the names of the children I sign the books for and looking at it afterwards is like looking at Santa's nice list:)

I also had fun introducing a new character to you all, Howard the Monster.  He and his monster friends made an appearance this year in my new Monster Match Game.  Howard comes to me from Dave and Debbie Preston, who shared their wonderful song about Howard with me a few years ago.  Howard is so adorable I just had to share him with you all, and now he is going to be a future picture book!  Look for him for next Christmas season:)

So now it's January and I need to get working again.  I have two projects this year that I hope to get done for you all.  That means lots of painting and lots of fun! 

So stay in touch and follow me on Instagram at heatherharris.illustration for some in the moment updates:)

Mastodons, Lava and Art!

Wow!  I can't believe what a wonderful weekend I had at the Rochester Science Museum's 45th Annual Holiday Bazaar! This has got to be the coolest art show I have ever been in!  My booth was in what I like to call, "the lava cave".  It is an exhibit at the museum that talks about the tectonic plates of the earth and how they form land formations that we see today.  I had lava flowing down one wall and an earthquake display on another.  And the right across from me was a Mastodon!  Check it out!

The people at the show were great and so many of them gave me wonderful complements on my work.  I exhibited "The Swing" book, art from that book, my Five Hungry Mice art and my new 4 Seasons of Dresses series.  The children that wandered into my booth were so full of light and Holiday cheer that is was contagious and it was so much fun watching them discover my book and leave through the pages.  One little girl who bought my book was so happy with her purchase she asked me if she could take a "selfie" with me:)  She was adorable!  Another little boy, Wyatt, came by my booth and talked me ear off about all the things he had discovered in the museum.  He was such a joy.  

Many grandparents were out too and they were looking for that special gift for their grandchildren.  I was so honored when they decided it would be my book.  I had the pleasure of signing books to all these little children.  I wrote each name on a piece of paper first to make sure I had the spelling right.  Afterwards I realized I had made Santa's List.  Look at all the children who are definitely on the "nice" list for Santa this year!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and offered me their support.  It was a really exciting time and a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season.  I can't wait to see you all again next year!

I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday! Gobble,  gobble, gobble:)