Gillian Eilidh O’Mara
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lightonthesea.bsky.social
Gillian Eilidh O’Mara
@lightonthesea.bsky.social
Author/illustrator with Walker, Candlewick, Faber, HarperCollins, Penguin, Puffin, Rocky Pond. USA Today Bestseller. Rep Jennifer Laughran @ Andrea Brown Lit. Scottish & Irish and living in England.
I think I’d like to make a book all about sleeping. Or maybe I just want to sleep more. 🥰 #kidlit #kidlitart
June 12, 2025 at 10:16 AM
June 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
It’s paperback publication week for ‘The Night Whale’ by Bryher Mackenzie and I, with Walker Books. Such a lovely project to work on ♥️. #kidlitart #kidlit #picturebook
June 9, 2025 at 8:50 PM
How everything feels in the world lately. #kidlit #kidlitart
June 9, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Everything is a lot, isn’t it?

#kidlitart #illustration
June 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Never weary of painting my whale dreams 💙🐋
June 7, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Feeling quite fancy about appearing in my first proper literary festival soon ♥️🐋✨
February 4, 2025 at 9:47 PM
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” – Nelson Mandela

#illustration
February 4, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Winter light #illustration
February 3, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Leaving the storm behind ✨
January 31, 2025 at 5:55 PM
A sketch of my neighbour, who became a painter in her seventies
January 31, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Ohhh hi I totally forgot to keep up with this app… is it still brimming full of #kidlit people here? Anyway, here’s a few recent-ish doodles. How’s everyone been? ♥️
January 6, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Sparkly recent things ✨

#kidlit #kidlitart
July 28, 2024 at 5:42 PM
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."- Carl Sagan.

Oh, how I think about this quote a lot.

#kidlit #kidlitart
July 19, 2024 at 8:43 PM
Our County Durham village now has 32 new published authors and illustrators after the class of 8-9 year olds I’ve been working with all year launched their very own book yesterday! What a day! 🥳♥️✨
July 16, 2024 at 4:26 PM
Planning a travel from UK to Maine and Nova Scotia/PEI next summer and very much open to doing workshops, book events and collaborations while there, so feel free to say hi if a Scottish illustrator with whimsical tendencies is your thing ☺️♥️ #kidlit #kidlitart
July 13, 2024 at 9:18 PM
Thrilled to reveal the cover of ‘Girls Belong in Space’ by amazing author Ashlee Hashman and I, a lyrical celebration of the mighty women of the space programme (including soon-to-be first woman on the moon, Christina Koch.) Published by Harper on March 18th, 2025.

#kidlit #kidlitart
July 11, 2024 at 2:14 PM
Hi #kidlitartpostcard day ✨! I’m Gillian O’Mara; a Scottish light-chasing, daydreaming author-illustrator, published by Walker, HarperCollins and others. I love nature, luminous things, poetic and lyrical things and rich colour and texture.Pleased to meet you all ♥️ Rep’d by @literaticat.bsky.social
July 11, 2024 at 11:54 AM
Really enjoyed doing a takeover of Walker Books social feeds this week, not least because Bryher and I get to announce that we’re making a second Walker Book together too 🥳

#kidlit #kidlitart
July 10, 2024 at 6:44 PM
#kidlit people, I have a favour to ask. I have a class of 31 kids releasing a book they made next week and would LOVE to gather some well-wishes for them from authors and illustrators via a quick video or voice message. If you’re willing to send a shoutout to Willow Class, let me know ♥️🙏🏼
July 9, 2024 at 9:59 AM
Always feels right when the North Sea is in sight

#kidlit #kidlitart
July 6, 2024 at 7:37 PM
A Marmalade Jar full of stars… a personal homage to daughter of Dundee and discoverer of nebulae and supernovae, Williamina Fleming.

#dundee #millsobservatory #marmalade #williaminafleming #kidlitart #kidlit
June 30, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Something fun for 2025/26, and I’m going to head to Maine in summer 2025 to work on it, which means I’m open to possible USA collabs, workshops and events next summer while over there from the UK ✨✨✨

#kidlit #kidlitart
June 29, 2024 at 7:51 PM
June 24, 2024 at 8:53 PM
Hey #kidlit, what are your favourite picture books or illustrated books about rivers and seas?

#kidlitart
June 23, 2024 at 7:07 PM