Feel free to skim to whatever section catches your interest…

What do I do?

I make stories for picture books, story books, comics, and graphic novels. Different forms for different stories, but all variations of words and pictures, working together. Or at play, if you prefer.

Why do I do this?

First, because I’ve always loved books, and stories. Reading them, making them, sharing them. My head is always chock full of stories in various stages. I need to write them down to get them out, make room for other things. (New stories!) I also happen to love book people. Those in the business, making books, but also the ones out in the world, reading, and sharing and caring for books. I love being around people who love stories, and think about how they work. To me, it’s a view into the world through a different mind, another imagination. It feels like some crazy E.S.P. magic. Fun magic, or important magic, for the understanding that can happen when you see from a new point of view.

How did I get started?

Nothing unusual, unless you count truly pig-headed persistence.

I read a lot. Wrote a lot, Drew a lot. I joined SCBWI, went to conferences, took notes. Joined a critique group. Worked on my craft. Sent out lots and lots of art samples and stories. Collected lots and lots of rejections.

Stuck with it. Stuck with it some more.

I started getting nibbles–requests for more samples, different stories. Then–more rejections! And a few illustration jobs. (The first being from Ladybug Magazine, then Cricket.) Then, at long last, books started happening. Every project is a whole new deal, with new challenges, which keeps things interesting. I still attend conferences, and critique group. I’m happy to say I’m still learning.

Education:

I attended Reed College and the Pacific NW College of Art, where I majored in pondering, doodling, and avoiding marketable skills. Not a great plan, but I worked at it, and kept at it. I’m still at it, scratching, scribbling, thinking all the deep thoughts. Working in the real world, and my imagination, at once.

My workspace:

I “work” in a studio we built mostly from scrap, in the shade of a tree I brought home in my pocket.

carolyn@carolyndigbyconahan.com
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