shadrieka I’ve been a member (consistently inconsistently) of SCBWI since college. When I joined, I felt that I belonged to a community of other picture book makers throughout the world. Moving back to Atlanta away from my college art community, The Bulletin was an invaluable resource for me. Through the years I met other members of the … Read more
August went out with a BANG! I finished a dummy for a new book, a cover for another book (details t/k), a cover for the October SCBWI Bulletin, two paintings, and launched the EJK Bookmaking Competition. Recently, I went to NY to celebrate my 30th birthday again with friends and was able to talk some … Read more
It’s that time of year again! Kids are heading off to school and parents are celebrating the end of summer vacation. It is also time for me to clean and organize a bit before settling into my fall and winter work routine. I have been accumulating books all year and it’s time to share some of … Read more
This weekend I had the pleasure of speaking at Simmons College in Boston. One of the perks of speaking at these functions is being able to attend other artist/author talks and workshops as well. The only drawback is usually finding myself fighting off headaches from so much mental stimulation. My panel was held on Saturday … Read more
I believe in making connections and using my resources and talents in whatever way that I can to help others. Teaching has been a direct reflection of that. Having been raised by raised by a teacher, watching one of my uncles serve his community as a social worker, and having an aunt who has been committed to … Read more
What a week! Since my semester ended, I have been busier than ever outside of my studio. I’m itching to get back to work. On Sunday I attended my first BookCon where I spoke on a panel with Cheryl Willis-Hudson, Rita WIlliams-Garcia, and Jerdine Nolen. The panel was moderated by Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambatti. Our topic was … Read more
Sunday Shopping is finally out in the world! So far the reviews have been wonderfully positive. Here’s what folks are saying: “A splendid choice for collections in need of picture books that feature African American characters, but, more significantly, a lovely title that celebrates imagination and the importance of family.” – SLJ “Strickland’s bright, breezy … Read more
This is a post I did a couple of years ago. I wanted to repost for those who are new to publishing and my blog: One of my facebook friends sent this message to me yesterday: Hey Shadra! Hope you are well. I wrote a book a few years ago and am interested in trying … Read more
SUNDAY SHOPPING received its first strong review today from Kirkus! “As comfortable as a Sunday afternoon with Grandma, Derby’s picture book sneaks a wee bit of financial literacy into her story of playtime and imagination…Simple phrasing, sparse and easy to read, and charmingly spare watercolor art help create a feeling that is at once realistic … Read more
As an illustrator my life generally revolves around deadlines and collaboration with others. While this works pretty well for me, sometimes I need to take a step back and make art for myself. It is usually never planned; my life is super busy between teaching and book-making. Those flashes of inspiration are stolen gems and it … Read more