I have an exciting announcement to make.

Little Pink Dog Books, Armidale, NSW, Australia are going to publish my very first children's picture book in which I am both writer and illustrator.

The book is called Edward's War and it will be hardback, full colour. This is their first book publication so very exciting for all of us.

You can read all about Little Pink Dog Books on their website: https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/
and their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LittlePinkDogBooks/

Edward's War will be published in 2017!

2016! What will it bring?

Ahhhhhh! Last year was really difficult, financially and emotionally. My elderly mother is getting very frail and losing her memory.

But, this year the show has to, not only go on, but grow and succeed.

Let's start with a finished pen drawing.

This is a triptych called The Doll Maker's Wedding that I submitted a week or so ago into the Art Takes Manhattan competition.


 

I've just posted the finished pieces in the Melusine series. Now I'm starting something quite different.
This is the Doll Maker's Wedding. Another pen drawing. You can catch up on its progress on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fionamcdonaldbooks

Catch up on pen drawings

This is Melusine's house finished.

Melusine at Swimming Creek, Nambucca Heads

Melusine in a landscape inspired by Eugene von Gerard

2015!

Happy 2015. This is going to be a very productive year. My first deadline is in ten days when I deliver the finished illustrations to Two Fearsome Fairy Tale From France, retold by Adele Geras and published by Christmas Press. I think it is coming out in May.

I am working hard on a novel for YA audience which will be out of my usual fantasy, however, possibly classified as sci fi. I have to finish it and see if a publisher wants it, but at least I will be writing.

My toy shop, Granny Fi's Toy Cupboard is moving from Uralla, NSW, Australia, to Armidale (all of twenty kms away). The grand opening is the 23rd January.

And I would really, really like to do some painting. The picture above is from the early 90s. I dug it out of a folder last year I think and actually quite like it.

And thank you everyone who makes these lovely comments about my work. I'm sorry I don't et round to publishing it sooner. 

Another pen drawing

The night before last I began another detailed pen drawing. I'm only working on this at night just before bed. It has Melusine in it again. I don't know where the narrative is going, but isn't that just like a novel?

What I would like to do is a huge pen drawing, perhaps next year.

Finished new drawing

Here she is. Melusine. HAs anyone thought who the mystery man behind the curtain might be?