Squeezin' another (blog) in

I'm even more excited about the possibility of illustrating a book by American Book Award recipeint, Walter Wangerin. I just got off the phone with the publisher, and learned how I was chosen as the artist. Walter discoved Summer Sun Risin,' a book I illustrated for Lee and Low, while shopping at Barnes and Noble. He liked the farm scenes and made his request based simply on that alone, not because he needed/wanted/preferred a black artist. In fact, the characters in this book are midwestern, German caucasions. I don't mind getting work based upon race, it's the niche I've created for myself, it brings work my way. But it's a special compliment when I'm selected solely on the merits of my work.