Individual Artist Project Grant

Through my stories and illustrations, I hope to chip away at the systemic sexism and patriarchy that shape some of the power dynamics prevalent in this society. I hear women and girls often say, ?I can't do? ?or ?I can't be?? and in their voice and intonation I hear something else, ?I want to? but maybe I'm not good enough.? Where does this come from? I might speculate that part of it comes from models given in stories they've watched, read and listened to since they were very young. The heart of this canon is the ?Fairy Tale?. Through an entertaining and engaging narrative for children (and the adults who read to them) I want to examine and possibly reinvent what it means to create a "fairy tale life", so that all children, but especially young girls, might no longer think might have to barter their voice or change who they are to be loved. In addition to this large ambitious endeavor to impact society, I hope to engage with my community at the local level by presenting my process to 9th-12th graders at the end of year Symposium at the Harbor City International School in Duluth. I have an open invitation from the instructor, Sarah Lindahl, who leads an annual unit in Writing for Children every May. Beyond the project scope, but stemming from its origin, I plan to also participate in Duluth's community centered 20/20/20 art tour (2024) and schedule a book event and reading at my local independent bookstore, Zenith Books (upon publication). I have a set of tangible goals and intermediate deadlines for this project as outlined in the timeline. First, I will write a draft of the picture book manuscript by 10/1/22. From there I will sketch out the entire book by 12/1/22. Based on these sketches I will create three finished illustrations from different parts of the story to indicate to a potential publisher what the final book will look like. With the manuscript, sketches and three final art pieces I will be able to give this to my literary agent to begin trying to sell to a publisher by 3/1/23. I have worked with several publishers in the past, two of which have noted this summer that they would like to make another book with me. This grant would give me the time and materials to help me create the proposal. Finally, I would present and share my process with 9-12th graders at Harbor City International School in Duluth. I have demonstrated the ability to write, illustrate and successfully sell eight original book proposals as trade picture books and early readers since 2014. In doing so, I have developed relationships with editors at major publishers who have expressed a desire to continue working with me (Putnam's Sons (Penguin) and Anne Schwartz Books (RandomHouse) specifically). I also participate in a critique group which will provide feedback and support. In addition I have a literary agent to lean on for editorial feedback and to facilitate the submission process once the proposal is complete. This is my full time job and I take it very seriously. I will know this work will be a success when I have secured a book contract. If together with support of my agent, we go out on submission by early spring of 2023, this book will likely go into contract by summer or fall of 2023. While the timeline is estimated and dependent on a lot of factors out of my control, I would hope the book would be published in 2024. Because of the nature of publishing and lead times necessary to produce and print a picture book, it could possibly be 2025.