Issue 06 · June 2026 · Illustrator Intro
Introducing Tommy Hardman
"Illustrations can be a big window: a looking glass into the author's imagination." - Tony DiTerlizzi
In making the decision to self-publish Little Star, my biggest concern was finding the right illustrator. My own artistic prowess goes as far as stick figures and Stüssy signs, so as much as I had a clear vision for the words, that never translated into a vision for the pictures. The only thing I was sure of? I wanted these illustrations to appeal to adults as well as kids.
I searched through Instagram and freelance sites for months until I came across Tommy Hardman. I was so drawn in by his use of color, his characters, and the humor that comes through in his illustrations. When he agreed to work on Little Star I was so, so grateful. It's been so fun seeing him bring this story to life.
Tommy's first concept sketches of Little Star
These initial sketches gave me so much confidence that Tommy was the right artist. I love seeing the energy and personality he's bringing to Little Star and the other characters in this story. Tommy has been a complete joy to work with through this process, and while we haven't quite cross the finish line, I am so thrilled with how this book is coming together.
A first draft of the first page of Little Star
Summer Book Recommendations
For longer than I care to admit, I wasn't reading much. At some point I picked up the idea that if I had the time to read, it should be something in the professional development or self-help/spiritual genres, and while some of those were great, there were few page-turners in those categories.
In 2015, I was looking for a way to differentiate the Summer season (being in ever-clement Southern CA), and decided to "treat myself" with 3 months of reading fiction. Even with that intention behind it, I was surprised to find it was like taking myself on a mini-vacation every day as I escaped into new worlds and characters and plots.
Needless to say, I rediscovered my love for reading and particularly my love for fiction. I still set aside the Summer months to indulge in books that feel like a treat. Here are a couple faves and some on my list for this coming summer:
I can't wait to read this new book! Perfect for nature lovers, curious minds, and creative spirits, this book turns every walk into a story waiting to be told. In the wide, wide world beneath wide, wide skies, WILDSPEAK transforms an ordinary walk into an extraordinary exploration of nature and imagination.
This book is about love, video games, growing up, and growing apart. But don't let the video games part throw you. This story had me completely enraptured from start to finish. It's so beautiful.
I know this book is getting mixed reviews, but it's worth reading just to make up your own mind about it. It had me laughing, infuriated, empathizing, and terrified from start to finish.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the moments that stop us in our tracks, where we fid ourselves holding our breath, where the inner noise goes quiet and something bigger moves in. Turns out, scientists have been studying exactly that. This article on the science of awe is one of the most affirming things I've read in a while. It makes the case that awe isn't reserved for Grand Canyon moments, it's hiding in ordinary life waiting for us to slow down enough to notice it. And when we do? It actually rewires us, shrinking our ego, stretching our sense of time, and making us more generous and connected. If imagination is the engine, I think awe might be the fuel.
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