I’ve just signed with a new art rep! I’m now represented by Storybook Arts, Inc.
I’m very excited!
(It’ll be a little while until I’m up on their website, but I wanted to share now!)
Category: Publishing
Public Service Announcement for Freelancers
Today I received a response from a potential client I’d queried as a freelance illustrator. They wrote to say that they thought my illustrations might work for their clients, who were big names and they listed quite proudly. Yada-yada-yada… If I would just send a $150 check for my work to be included in their talent list they would try to find me work (no promises, though!).
No.
That is not how it works.
I do not pay clients to (maybe) give me work. They pay me to do their work. Even art reps, which this company was not, do not charge for merely listing my work on their website.
This is predatory.
Inexperienced freelancers fall for this, waste their money, and get nothing out of it!
So.
Public service announcement.
Clients pay you, not the other way around.
Be wary.
Promo Postcards
I got my newest promo postcards from VistaPrint just now.
It’s a girl-themed card this time. I used the new Girls in a Treehouse image on the color side and the one with Sarah and Katie with the bike and skateboard on the back side. You might notice that I recolored the “No Boys Allowed” sign so that it didn’t distract from the overlaid text. You probably didn’t notice (because it’s not important) but I moved the bird too. The image wasn’t exactly the same dimensions as the card, so I had to cut off a little at the sides. So, I nudged the bird over a bit so it wouldn’t be too close to the edge. Working with digital images makes last-minute changes so much easier!
Now, I really need to get moving on my promo mailing list. I’m in the process of transferring my notecard-based system into a computer-based one. I have to type everything in new, which is time consuming now but should pay off later.
Anyone want one of these postcards? Contact me with your name and address and I’ll mail you one.
SCBWI Bookstop
The Genie Loophole written by Paul Maguire and illustrated by Karen B. Jones (me) is now up on the SCBWI Bookstop! Check it out or browse other great SCBWI titles.
It’s a chapter book with one black and white image per chapter. Go to my portfolio for a peek at the illustrations.
It’s currently available in paperback from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers. It would make a great Christmas gift!
Synopsis:
It’s something that has crossed every kid’s mind… If you were given three wishes, what would they be? For Teddy Rogers, who one summer discovers a magic bottle on the beach and releases the genie inside, the answer is simple: Wish for a billion more wishes!
What follows is a series of unexpected situations, each crazier than the one before. Teddy soon learns that unlimited wishes can easily spin out of control… and sometimes into dangerous territory!
The Genie Loophole
Hey, I haven’t plugged The Genie Loophole lately. This is a book by Paul Maguire that I illustrated earlier this year and it’s available in paperback through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers.
It’s about a boy named Teddy who finds a genie’s bottle washed up on the beach one summer day. As you can guess, this causes all sorts of trouble for him.
It’s a middle-grade chapter book with one black and white illustration per chapter. (You can view the images in my portfolio here.) It was tremendous fun to work on. The character design is based on the author’s son, Finn.
Go buy a copy! It’s a fun story for a kid around 9 years old. It would make a great Christmas gift.
Boy Reading Published in SCBWI
So, I received my copy of the SCBWI Bulletin in the mail yesterday and I found out which of my images they picked to publish. Turns out it’s Boy Reading, an image I sent them in May of 2012. Yay! So, when they say they hang onto artwork to use later, they really aren’t kidding! 
Working
So, I haven’t posted much lately because I’ve been busy doing this.
A boring, but unfortunately necessary, part of the job. I’ll get back to drawing once I’m done with this chore.
If you’d like to hire me, I am accepting commissions. I’d love the excuse to take a break from self-promotion work. Or if you’d like to join my mailing list, I’d be happy to send you a free postcard. Just contact me with your name and address.
Join My Mailing List
I’m sending out promo postcards. Contact me with your name and address if you’d like to be on my mailing list. I’d be happy to send you a free card as well!
Third Edition up on Amazon
The new edition of The Squishy, Stinky Diaper is up on Amazon now. It’s available in print and for the kindle and features all new illustrations. I’m really proud of how it turned out.
Summary:
The story is familiar to every toddler. Baby’s diaper must be changed, but she doesn’t want to cooperate. With patience, love, and good humor, Mommy gets her through it.
I’m working on getting it up for the nook too, but their interface is being difficult. It’s not on Barnes & Noble in print yet either, but it should be eventually.
In the meantime, if you want a PDF or epub copy for your non-kindle eReader, contact me and I’ll sell it to you directly.
One last set of Christmas Illustrations
Here’s the last set of Christmas line drawings I did for educate.ie, an Irish educational publisher.
Karen B. Jones - Illustrator 