A Comic about Collaboration

This sketchbook comic addresses something that's been on my mind lately as Romey and I prepare for the launch of a Kickstarter for Spiderella! (More on that very soon)

We both agreed that it's so much more effortless to promote Spiderella, a project that we both had an equal hand in, than it is to promote things we've done by ourselves. And we'd better buckle our seat belts because there's a lot of promotion to do! 

Anyway, I usually post comics like this on my Instagram and Twitter, where, for simplicity's sake, I am @laurelholden. 

Oh, my... another book review!

This was, perhaps, my favorite book I've read this year! I can't wait to see what the author is going to do next. 

Other favorites of the summer: Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia, The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer, Caraval by Stephanie Garber, and The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, I would have loved to have done sketchbook reviews for all of these, but I was busy making my new book, The House Remains. Look for a post about this and information about where to purchase soon!

"Touch" by Courtney Maum

Next up for my Sketchbook Reviews... 

This was the book I just couldn't stop talking about! Plus, after I posted it on Instagram, the author liked and reposted it! It was one of those cool connections that could only happen as a consequence of the internet (though it's mostly evil.) It also reminded me of the importance of telling people that you appreciate their work; especially for authors and artists who work mostly in solitude. Hearing from a fan is special and rare unless you're, like, super Neil Gaiman famous. Next time you love someone's work, let them know!

Book Reviews!

This winter, some friends and I started a book club. What started out as a good excuse to get a group of busy women together on a regular basis turned out to be just the thing I needed to rediscover my love of reading. It sounds silly, right? A librarian who doesn't read? Blame it on my English degree... four solid years of stressing over my reading until I fell asleep under Ulysses and a pile of Diet Coke cans somehow left me feeling burnt out. But I have found my way back! Here are some sketchbook reviews for some books I have enjoyed this Summer... 

Lularoe Barn Bash

Mermaid Livie

I painted this for my friend Hill's daughter Livie. She is obsessed with all things mermaid! A toddler mermaid would probably get into a lot of trouble with the creatures under the sea. 

Felix the Celebrity

One of the kids told me today... "Any time is Felix time." Felix couldn't agree more.