Fifteen Years Ago Today...

Fifteen years ago today, on February 13, 1998, I walked into the old Candlewick Press office, on Mass Ave in Cambridge, for the very first time. This was the day I found out that Candlewick wanted to publish my book, Sebastian's Ball, which I had written and illustrated as my senior thesis at Bates College. This was the day my dream of being a children's book author-illustrator came true.

There were a few milestones in the months leading up to February 13, 1998, like when I met my agent, Rosemary Stimola, in June of 1997. Or when Rosemary emailed me in early February saying that "something was happening" with Candlewick, but she "still had a bit to go".  But fifteen years later, I think of that meeting at Candlewick on February 13, 1998, as the day my career as an author-illustrator began.

I realize this anniversary probably means way more to me than it does to anyone reading this. But I just wanted to use this semi-public forum to say a great big THANK YOU to all the great people at Candlewick who I've had the pleasure of working with during these past fifteen years.

And hey, look at all these books we made together!

Zachary's Ball, 2000

'Twas the Night Before Christmas, 2002

Oliver's Game, 2004

Mudball, 2005

Jack and the Beanstalk, 2006

Iron Hans, 2007

Lady Liberty: A Biography, 2008

The Gingerbread Pirates, 2009

Henry Aaron's Dream, 2010

Over the River and Through the Wood, 2011

There Goes Ted Williams, 2012

Becoming Babe Ruth, 2013

I won't ramble on any longer, because I'm busy working on my next Candlewick book RIGHT NOW!