November Reading

At this point, I only need to read 4 more books to hit my goal of 52 in a year. Small goals, I know. Here's what I got up to last month:

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

Mercy by Jodi Picoult

I really shouldn't have read Dark Places. I found it incredibly disturbing and difficult to get through. I've been reading Dean Koontz since I was in junior high or earlier, and even dipped into Stephen King at that age, and I now read a lot of crime novels and others that could be considered "messed up," so I'm not a stranger to disturbing subject matter. But this book...wow. I had to skip parts because it was just too...I don't know. I'd like to read Gone Girl, but I think I'll have to wait a little while before I do, in case it's as dark as this one.

So it's no wonder I needed to lighten up a bit with Nicholas Sparks and Kristin Hannah. (Really enjoyed Magic Hour.) I kinda swerved back onto the darker side with Mercy, but I don't think I'm staying long. I'm loving the book I'm reading now, but, as it belongs to December, you'll just have to wait until the end of the month to find out what it is!

And, speaking of books, the 22nd Annual Children's Book Illustration Art Show & Book Signing is this Saturday!!! I can't believe it's already been a year since the last book show at Chemers Gallery (a year ago today, to be exact). We will be hosting 5 incredibly talented illustrators and 3 fabulous authors at Saturday's show: Michael Hague, Brett Helquist (whom you may recognize as the illustrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events!), Molly Idle, Stacy Innerst and John Parra, plus Kathleen Hague, Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer. Such amazing talent all gathered under one roof!

This week will be crazy - more news to come after December 7th.

Life is what happens

Seal!

Jellyfish!

Turtle!

James and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary with a day out at the Aquarium of the Pacific. I think we looked at everything there was to see, including a tank of super-awesome nautiluses! (Yes, I like putting "!" after every kind of animal.) Our day out in Long Beach was really restful. On our actual anniversary we went out to dinner and both had kind of weird food combinations. I don't really think the restaurant got it right when they were coming up with their menu. Here's a hint: if you offer a "warm potato salad," most people will assume it's like a German potato salad with vinegar and bacon, NOT potato salad made with mayonaise served hot. (Gross.) At least we both had semi-questionable meals.

Chemers Gallery was honored this week at the Orange County National Philanthropy Day luncheon, which was super exciting! We were chosen as Outstanding Small Business, and were nominated by Chapman University and The Wooden Floor, both of whom have been beneficiaries for our annual children's book illustration show. There were 8 honorees altogether, and over 900 people attended. What an amazing day!

Speaking of the children's book illustration show, this year's happens in less than two weeks...OMG.

September Reading

Hello, October, where did you come from? 

The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards

Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell - I started this while riding on a bus through Stoke Newington in the middle of what for England could be called a heatwave. Imagine my surprise when one of the characters in the book began his walk home through Stoke Newington and my husband's local park in the middle of a heatwave...totally surreal.

You would think right about now that I had chosen my books specifically for the key on the front cover. This would be an incorrect assumption.

The Brave by Nicholas Evans - see? No key.

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket - call it research

And now begins my favorite time of year at work - the preparations for our annual children's book illustration show! We will be featuring 5 children's book illustrators and their original artwork, plus providing books to pre-order for signing and dedication by these illustrators. This all culminates in a day-long opening reception on December 7th, where about 100 original illustrations are displayed on the walls AND the illustrators (and even a few of the authors!) will be in attendance to sign books, give talks, demonstrations and lectures!

Can you guess how excited I am?