Every once in a while, you have a day which really kind of changes the course of your career a little bit - and for me that day was February 19th of this year at the "Books, Boots, and Buckskin" SCBWI Regional Conference in Austin, Texas.
I had the privilege of meeting and speaking with two of the finest illustrators in the world - literally.
David Diaz and Julian Hector.
Today is about David Diaz.
Here is a picture of me with David, as well as a picture of two David Diaz books which I own - "Me, Frida" and "Smoky Night". "Smoky Night" - beautifully written by Eve Bunting - is a Caldecott winner. Both - truly works of art.
Trivia:
My mother, who is also a writer, was at the conference. She told me she saw David Diaz drawing on an empty cake box outside in the hallway before the silent auction. Sure enough, a few minutes later, there it was on the table. I bid on it and won! So, here it is … in a place of honor in my studio … to remind me … always remain unique.
Notice my Van Gogh and Charles Dickens action figures. Van Gogh actually has a detachable ear.
