It's official!!

Its been officially announced on the Red Cygnet website- I have a second contract!
The cover will be coming soon!


http://www.redcygnet.com/

Kaleidoscope at CSULB- come meet me and bring your book!

Another set of Red Cygnet author/illustrators as well as my fiance will be at our old campus Cal State University Long Beach on Kaleidoscope Day promoting our books.
Please come by our booth and get autographs or ask questions!

Here is a link for more info:

http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/students/kaleidoscope/

more fun stuff

I randomly found more fun things on my book.
The most exciting to me was discovering that Powell's bookstore in Portland, OR carries my book
on its website!
Other than that, I saw that some libraries (one that I think is in Canada?) carries my book, too.
I am thinking of donating a couple copies that I have that are slightly damaged to some libraries near here or giving them to the local bookstores in hopes that the managers will like them.
In the meanwhile, it's official:

I have a second book contract lined up with Red Cygnet and Baker and Taylor!! Its an adorable story based on the company Baker and Taylor who are two cats that used to frequent a library. (see the website for Baker and Taylor if you are curious because the story is much more clear there).

their website: http://www.btol.com/


The cats are Scottish Folds and I am looking forward to drawing and painting animals.
In the meanwhile, I had been insanely busy working on some freelance work. Now that it is finished, I can focus on creating a cover for the new book. Once that's ready I will be posting more about it.

Here is copied text from their site about the history on the company and the two cats:

"

Our Mascots
"Baker & Taylor"

There is a long tradition of cats living in libraries, probably going back to the ancient Egyptian library in Alexandria. In the 19th Century, the British government paid libraries to keep cats, because they kept rodents from eating the glue and binding off of books. Nowadays, cats still like libraries as nice warm places with plenty of nooks and crannies. And, libraries like to have cats around while librarians do their work.

Although both are gone now, 'Baker' and 'Taylor' were the pride of the Douglas County Public Library in Minden, Nevada. Baker joined the library staff in 1983, much to the delight of patrons and the despair of would-be rodents. Taylor's position was created two month later through a grant from Baker & Taylor, Inc. Together they carried on the long tradition of working library cats.

Baker and Taylor spent much of their time at the checkout counter where they restored disorder to overly quiet afternoons. The library saw a constant parade of people who dropped by from great distances just to see the cats.

Baker and Taylor claim a pedigree of the Scottish Fold persuasion, which is known for distinctive turned-down ears, gentleness, and abundant personality. Characteristics include a thick, short coat, broad cheeks, powerful build, massive round head, and well-rounded whisker pads.

In 1988, Baker and Taylor became the official mascots of Baker & Taylor, Inc. The pair have been immortalized on posters, tote bags, calendars, note cards, and other materials that we continue to distribute at trade shows and press events.

Until their passing in the mid 1990's, Baker and Taylor provided great joy and entertainment for staff and patrons alike, and continue to represent the strength and excitement of Baker & Taylor, Inc.

"

Here are some more fun links:
(please write a review if you have any time or would like to_

http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-9781601080134-1

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Moon-and-Night-Sweeper-Mai-S-Kemble/9781601080233-item.html

http://hzportal.dayton.lib.oh.us/ipac20/ipac.jsp?index=BIB&term=806577&profile=kids

http://hip.ci.renton.wa.us/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=U2054O1D36078.26008&profile=main&uindex=SW&term=Stories%20in%20rhyme.&aspect=subtab11&menu=search&source=~!horizon

http://www.stumptowncomics.com/scf07/exhibitors_list

SCBWI FEATURED ARTIST

I applied to see if I could be a Featured Artist on the Society of Children Book's Writers and Illustrators probably months ago... and I am lucky enough to have a link now for just that!
Thank you SCBWI !! I don't deserve it! Thank you so much!

http://www.scbwi.org/feat_artist.htm

SIGNINGS

I am posting because I am excited to announce that I have been invited to participate in William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills, CA's Passport to Reading event on April 5th, 2008 Saturday. Barnes and Noble is apparently going to be the book distributor that day as well!
This is totally exciting and a great opportunity.
I also have my third signing lined up for March 3rd for Read Across America at Bret Harte Elementary in Long Beach, CA.

http://www.nea.org/readacross/index.html

I have file created for a black and white coloring page so if anyone ever wants the file to use for signings or their little ones, email me and I would be happy to send the file.
Unrelated to the topic, I have been working on a comic on the side and almost done with the ten pages I thought to finish before sending this out for possible publication. One day I hope to have it posted with a short description or story synopsis for those interested.
Thanks for all the support!

Reviews

I have updated my profile to have my email address on my profile because I have been getting emails from possible clients. I hope that helps for anyone else trying to reach me for whatever reason.
I've also had a few book signings at some schools recently. The first one was at University Park Elementary in Irvine, CA. Thank you Janet Wykert for getting interested and letting me come see all the students there. Josh took some photos on his phone because we forgot the camera but they aren't enough of high quality to place online.
The second signing was with Nancy Wride at Belmont Elementary. This was reviewed on their district's main webpage. I'll list some url's to copy and paste so people can check them out.
Anyway, thank you for reading my story and supporting me!

http://www.lowellpta.net/news.html
Long Beach Schools: News Archives - Author and Illustrator Night a Hit at Lowell

http://www.bestprices.com/cgi-bin/vlink/1601080131.html

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=7989473

http://www.target.com/Moon-Night-Sweeper-Mai-Kemble/dp/1601080131

http://www.forewordmagazine.com/reviews/search_reviews.aspx?Searchtype=ReviewerID&SearchCriteria=265

http://www.forewordmagazine.com/reviews/search_reviews.aspx?Searchtype=ReviewerID&SearchCriteria=265

http://notebook.webaroo.com/external?w=%201423&webaroourl=http%3A%2F%2Fdadtalk.typepad.com%2Fbook_buds_kidlit_reviews%2F2008%2F02%2Fthe-moon-and-th.html&webarootitle=Swept+away

PreOrdering is Now Available!

You can now preorder the Moon and the Night Sweeper at Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble, and of course, Red Cygnet. Just key word search with mai s kemble and it should come up.
Thank you for any support!!
And of course, requesting it at bookstores or writing reviews or comments help a lot. :)

doodles

sketch

sketch

from my sketchbook

I wanted to put more stuff from recent sketches that I did. I like the baloon dragon a lot.

SCBWI "Cruisin" Illustration Contest

sketchbook stuff

more sketches

scbwi

I decided to submit a painting to the contest for June for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I don't know what the results are yet, but the submissions were due yesterday. Wish me luck.
In the meanwhile, I have yet to post my storyboards which are near to completed for my submission to Red Cygnet. I will try and do that.... but more importantly than posted them, I need to finish the illustrations! So it may be a while before I put any new images up here. However, it seems like people like what I've got. I hope so. I am very nervous about it since I got rejected before. (get used to it, is what I've been hearing and have come to know is just the truth about illustration). I will have to complete two finished illustrations, have clean, finished storyboards, and perfect text. All of this in about 2 weeks time.
My boyfriend, Joshua Kemble, has started working at Lakeshore today. I am really happy for him. He recently got into 3X3, CMYK Magazine, won the Xeric Grant, and then also had an offer from MBN (?) to publish his 2nd comic. (I put a link to his website for anyone who would like to see his work). I have to get these submissions done, too, so I might follow his footsteps and work at Lakeshore. I need to be drawing for a living in some way or I'm going to start thinking about jumping off a building.
I shouldn't write this while at my current job.... it seems wrong.
So a change of subject.
I don't know if anyone is reading this yet or have ever, but I do plan on changing it around to mirror Kevin Tong's blogspot (it's kind of a website), which I know I mentioned before. I think it's a good idea. Besides, I am web ignorant and need something to send to people so they can see my stuff. So don't be surprised if this whole thing changes! :)
well, better get going.