#addKidLitArt #kidlit
My Nepali nanny carrying my baby son on her back. She called this “bumpa”. I could never master this but I’m so glad he had her in his life. I’m a writer/ illustrator and hoping to make a story of this somehow - how it really does take a village to #love a child.

Taking a break from illustrating my book and drawing something different

I do my first draft by hand. Sometimes I start with illustrations. I had painted this picture of my mom and my son and it gave me an idea for my WIP “When You Were New” #authorillustrator #pb #kidlit #kidlitart #historicalfiction #partitionofindia

Watercolor pens and fine liners: Working on an illustration for my nonfiction pb Kokkarebellur: The Village of Painted Storks. #kidlit #addKidLitArt #authorillustrator

Work in progress for my PB Kokkarebellur: The Village of Painted Storks. Sometimes I’m not sure if I need more detail or if it’s time to stop. Thoughts? Also my Kannada script is rusty. #pb #pbwriterillustrator #kidlit

WHEN YOU WERE NEW: Nishant and Rahul absorb their grandparents’ stories about growing up in 1940s India. Amma had a happy childhood, but Nana’s family became refugees during the Partition of India. The boys learn about a little known genocide but gain empathy and compassion. #skypitch #pb #genocide

@skypitch.bsky.social Kokkarebellur: The Village of Painted Storks
A girl tells the story of a unique village in India where humans and birds have a peaceful, symbiotic relationship. The storks return every winter to nest and are the beloved “daughters of the village”. #skypitch #author/illustrator

Mehndi night- celebrating Karva Chauth when you are supposed to fast for your husband’s long life. We kind of forgot the fasting part, but the Mehndi was fun.