Skipping Painted Stones
An entertaining art blog based in rural Iowa and written by author and artist Haley McAndrews.
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11/12/2024 0 Comments Cover Reveal: Eisdreya: Leaving Lazea
As foretold in a post earlier this year, I am finally tearing the dark curtains down to reveal to the world what I've been working on for a few years now - a series of short stories and novel(s?) set in the fictitious continent of Eisdreya!
After indie publishing three children's picture books and one illustrated haiku book (I like to say Toaster Haiku is for all ages) under my actual name, I wanted a bit of a separation between my illustrated works and my non-illustrated fiction (which is meant for an adult audience.) The solution? A pen name, of course! When I decided to use a pen name, I was torn on how much of a secret it should be. I mean, nobody knew who Banksy was for years! But on the other hand, I've seen books in stores that straight up say "Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb" and what's even the point then? I know authors use different pen names for different genres... And while I do have a paranormal romance that I wrote in college and would like to resurrect some day, juggling two names has nearly been too much for me to wrap my head around. Before I get too deep in my struggle of creative identities (let's be honest, it's probably a future blog post) I've decided that for my own sanity I'm going to be totally open about being both Haley McAndrews and D.C. McAndrews. My first official release as D.C. McAndrews is a short story titled "Eisdreya: Leaving Lazea". The main character is a female water fairy named Rema A'Lazea (Ree-mah Ah-Lah-zee-ah) who dreams of traveling and exploring the world outside her small woodsy river town. But if she leaves, will she be leaving more than just her hometown behind?
I created the cover myself - and it's been a long time since I've put this much time into a single digital piece! I didn't track my exact hours of work for it, but I know it was around ten or twelve hours, give or take. It's the first time I've ever illustrated dappled sunlight, which was definitely a stretch for my Photoshop muscles.
My plan at this point is to release my fantasy writing as ebooks with the possibility of print in the future, but let's not hold our breath on that. I'm going to release two short stories in the Eisdreya series in 2025, with the second one to be announced yet. "Eisdreya: Leaving Lazea" is now available for pre-orders on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. as well as being released to digital libraries like Overdrive. The official release date will be March 4th, 2025. I'll also be selling prints of my covers at my in-person art events (signed by D.C. herself!) You can follow me as D.C. McAndrews on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for the Red Stone Art Studio email list to be one of the first to know when I'm working on new projects!
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A few months ago I was listening to the Moms Who Create Podcast. The episode was an interview with author Allison Olson, who was talking about adoption (her own and the adoption of her child, as well as her book about adoption.) Olson said something along the lines of writing what you know... And after a quick internet search I knew I needed to write a children's book about a blended family, based on my own family. Where Do My Brothers Go? is about a 4 year old girl, Jeannie, who has an older sister and two older half-brothers. Jeannie and her sister live with their parents, but their brothers share their time between their dad's house and their mom's house. It's written in a simple, easy-to understand way, and explains that even though Jeannie doesn't get to see her older brothers every day, they still love her very much!  The illustrations are bright and colorful. I drew each by hand with pen, then scanned and colored them digitally. They depict Jeannie spending time with just her sister and parents, playing sports, and going on vacation (sometimes her brothers come along and sometimes they don't.) It also shows her brothers spending time with their mom in a positive way.
This book is near and dear to my heart. I talk a lot with my own 4 and 6 year olds about how I am not their brothers' mommy. I know it will be some years yet before they really understand what having a blended family means. But until then, I want them to know that no matter what our family looks like - they are so, so loved! The official release date of Where Do My Brothers Go? will be late August of this year. Keep an eye out on my social media accounts for the announcement of pre-orders, coming soon! 2/6/2024 0 Comments Cover Reveal: Toaster HaikuA short collection With pictures and everything! All Toaster Haiku. That's right, this year I am releasing TWO books, my first book of poetry and my third children's picture book (but more to come on that one later!) My Toaster Haiku book consists of nearly 40 illustrated haiku poems, all featuring toaster-related subjects, of course!  Insert angelic chorus here. The release date for Toaster Haiku is set for April 1st, 2024, just to nail it home that these poems are not to be taken seriously! (But seriously, that is the release date.) It's a silly book, with whimsical black and white ink illustrations and poems about burnt toast and crumb trays. If you're a fan of my toasters, you will definitely want to add this one to your collection!
While it's not meant specifically for children, Toaster Haiku is an appropriate read for all ages. It's even a good length for bedtime! Toaster Haiku is currently available for pre-order through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or you can get signed pre-order copies through my Etsy shop here. It's priced the same as my first two books, at $9.00 each (plus shipping.) Have you read my books? I would greatly appreciate it if you left an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, or Barnes and Noble (or your other favorite bookseller's website!) As a self-published author, reviews can make a huge difference for our books. Plus, we just love to hear what people think!📖 |
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