In December 2022, I created art for a few online winter prompts. These were just fun little exercises to make winter-themed art and post them online. I believe the first prompt was snow. I made the image (left) that would become the cover image for Kitty’s First Snow, a child pulling a little black cat on a sled. I got some likes on it so when another prompt came up, I used the same characters and created them making snowmen.

I did another one, then thought about turning the illustrations into a picture book. But it’s difficult to get a picture book contract because there’s a lot of competition and people still buy classics like Goodnight Moon and The Hungry Caterpillar. I contemplated independent publishing. I was curious about the process. But it seemed like high effort, low reward, so I scrapped the idea.

Then, over the summer, I came across information on applying for a creative grant through the state of Connecticut and thought, What the heck! If I get a grant, I’ll turn these illustrations into a book. And if I don’t get a grant, I don’t have to do a ton of work.

I got the grant! But that meant I had one year to turn a few illustrations into a picture book while also working on a graphic novel. And I wanted to have it finished and ready to go for the holiday shopping season. Let’s just say 2025 was busy.

I loved making the art. Navigating the world of independent publishing was confusing and challenging. I treated it like a learning experience and allowed myself to make mistakes. (I also employed Colleen Brunetti at Bannon River Books as an indie publishing coach.) And I did it!

Kitty’s First Snow was created with the support of an Artist Fellowship Grant awarded by the Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts.