Yesterday was my last day working at BloomsburyUSA, and though it’s a great leap forward in my artistic life, it’s also bittersweet. Throughout life I’ve been fortunate to have worked jobs that I have loved (alongside being an artist). Before moving to NY in 2003, I taught elementary school art with Atlanta Public Schools for three years. While in grad school I worked with Hamilton-Madison House in Chinatown and interned at Penguin Putnam. In 2005 I worked as an art assistant to Christopher Myers and began working three days a week as a designer at BloombusyUSA. Once illustration picked up I continued to work two days a week at the publishing house.
I will miss the job for many reasons. First and foremost, I worked with a great team of people, specifically my boss, D. Mark who was always accommodating to my schedule, appreciative of all of her designers for keeping the boat afloat, and who patiently taught me so much about book making and design. The designers that I worked alongside became friends more than colleagues and will be missed for their constant inspiration and witty humor. They say that children’s publishing is a bunny-eat-bunny world, and from the years I spent on the other side of the game, I have to say it is wonderfully true.
New York has been challenging, but it has probably been the most rewarding and most beneficial six years of my life. Thanks to everyone who called me “friend” and played along with me.
In book news, BIRD received it’s first UK review! Head on over to Books for Keeps to read what Elizabeth Schlenther thought of the book!