Jeanne Balsam is an illustrator, writer and one of my favourite bloggers. Now she’s launched a new line of Christmas and holiday cards, and a special journal she’s created.
If you’re looking for interesting Christmas and holiday cards or a gift, may I suggest you check out her site on Etsy?
Jeanne’s love of drawing goes back to early childhood.
“I’ve been drawing pictures all my life from when I was a small child. I started focusing on children’s book writing and illustrating shortly after I graduated from art school, and I’ve worked on and off doing a variety of illustration over the years, including pet portraiture for a while.”
She created French Bulldog illustrations for the quarterly magazine, Just Frenchies, for many years, and fell in love with the breed. She would like to have a Frenchie pet of her own, when “the circumstances are right”.
Her shop on Etsy is brand-new and Jeanne is delighted that it’s taking off so quickly.
She’s also working on other projects:
“I have written a lovely piece that I will illustrate with Frenchies and make giclée prints. I can’t imagine I’ll have time to do this before the holidays, though. I am currently working on the graphic design of a picture book for a lovely client along with numerous other graphics projects. And I still have my eye on being a published picture book author and illustrator, too.”
Through her blog, I’ve watched Jeanne grow in her field in recent years. I’m impressed with her achievements and look forward to her continued success. Please check out her work:
Discovering that becoming a blogger meant I was joining a worldwide community. A community that cares, and helps.
I became a blogger because my daughters thought I needed to “get myself out there”. I was struggling with the effects of a head injury and damage to my body; I’d become ashamed of myself and extremely reclusive.
Blogging helped pull me out of hiding by giving me pen-pals all over the world. As I read their stories — or their comments on mine — we started getting to know and care about each other’s projects and well-being. They inspired and uplifted me.
Helpful insights: Bloggers such as Gallivanta, Clare Pooley and Lavinia are likely to share a helpful insight, fact or contact in their comments. I always take note!
Writing Tips: Bloggers share tips to improve our writing — blogs or books. Props to Michael Dellert, Sue Uttendorfsky, and many others.
Connections: The best story I know is my own. Chris Graham connected me with Jo Robinson to illustrate Myrtle the Purple Turtle. A great partnership was born. I’ve been recommending Jo as an illustrator and editor ever since.
Recognition: Blogger-reviewer-author Kev Cooper reads many books and started the Diamond Book Awards. Other bloggers give book/blog awards too.
Promotions: Sally and Chris are the best I know, generously promoting what seems like hundreds of authors each year. How they find the time, I don’t know, but — take a bow, you two!
Deliberately Buying each other’s Books: All my purchases/requested Christmas gifts from family are books from small presses and especially by indie authors who blog. I borrow books by the big-name authors from the library.
Giving feedback on Manuscripts: When the draft is done but you’re still not sure and a blogger gives feedback, that’s a major gift.
Reading and Reviewing each other’s books: When a blogger reads my book then reviews it on Goodreads, Amazon or even better – their own blog — that’s a gift! Take a bow, everyone who does this! Thanks to bloggers who’ve done this for me.
Spreading the Word: We spread the word about each other’s books in circles beyond blogging. Lavinia Ross and Gallivanta: Thank you for spreading the word about Myrtle in your own circles and beyond.
Praying/holding faith for each other: We celebrate other bloggers’ “wins”. Invariably, we also learn about their life struggles. When my husband was critically ill, bloggers around the world expressed concern. Many were praying. And when my blogger friends or loved ones face troubles, I do the same.
Cynthia Reyes 