Why I'm starting another Substack newsletter

In which I also explain my obsession with red balloons

Welcome to The Red Balloon, my new Substack newsletter!

If you accidentally stumbled here while looking for practical advice on writing and illustrating children’s picture books, you probably meant to find my Picture Books 101 series on Inkygirl, my first Substack publication.

I joined Substack in April 2023, and am loving this platform: the clean user design, simple interface, and supportive community. Also, so much excellent writing!

Most people familiar with my work know me mainly as a children’s book illustrator who has also written a couple of picture books herself. The truth is more complicated. In my first career, I was a systems programmer for a bank, but my husband convinced me to quit my corporate job to pursue my creative dream of writing novels for young people. Here’s how I got my first children’s picture book contract.

Since 2010, I’ve been focused mainly on children’s picture books. I’m currently finishing the art for my next solo picture book with Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (I WANT TO READ ALL THE BOOKS), scheduled to come out next year. I have another picture book illustration book project queued up, but I’m waiting for the official contract before announcing details.

Over the years, however, I’ve been missing long-form writing more and more, especially personal essays. I used to have a blog back in the early days of the World Wide Web, where I felt free to talk about anything….not just kidlit or kidlit-friendly topics. I also want to be able to post art in my other illustration styles without people assuming that I want to draw a picture book using that style.

Why “The Red Balloon”?

My father used to borrow a projector and films from the Brampton Public Library for us to watch, when we were kids. The other neighbourhood children would come over for these movie screenings.

One of them was the 1956 Oscar-winning short film, The Red Balloon, directed and written by Albert Lamorisse. In researching this film for info to include in this newsletter, I came across the film on a Movie Classics channel on YouTube. Not sure if it will be viewable outside of Canada, but here’s the embed:

As a child, I was SO enchanted by everything about this film, but especially the ending. I won’t give away spoilers, but encourage you to watch it yourself. If you'd rather just read the plot, feel free to browse this Wikipedia article. There is also a book adaptation from the movie, which a friend later gave me as a gift:

I’ve thought a lot about exactly why this story made me fall in love with red balloons. Part of it, I know, is nostalgic….remembering those cozy movie sessions in the living room in our small house, the soothing thrum of the projector my father borrowed from the library along with films for us to watch. The Red Balloon was one of my favourites.

To me, the balloon and its story was about finding hope, even in the darkest places.