Guest Blogger: Writer's Rumpus

https://writersrumpus.com/2024/02/09/embracing-connection-the-joy-of-returning-to-in-person-conferences/

EMBRACING CONNECTION: THE JOY OF RETURNING TO IN-PERSON CONFERENCES

This article (by Carrie Pearson) describes how we are beyond the Pandemic era of ZOOM-only conferences. Unfortunately, that isn’t entirely the case for me but I appreciate being included in two of the images in the post. I will be cheering on the SCBWI Conference goers from my home studio.

In 2019, I won the PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD (Honorable Mention) at the SCBWI Marvelous Midwest Conference.

The SCBWI Marvelous Midwest conference theme in 2019 was, “County Fair”. Here I am with my good friends: Jonathan Bing and Louise Aamodt wearing our costumes for the festivities. We had a ball!

Take two!

I recently posted my standing/walking/reading desk. Well, I took it all apart and redesigned it to stand completely free of the treadmill. When I walked, the treadmill jiggled and made reading the bouncing words on the page too hard. Look! Now with my new design, it’s easier to see the numbers on the control panel.

Why go through all this trouble? I want to read more, but I’m sitting too much. And, I need to exercise more, but exercise is boring. The desk for this treadmill is below my waistline and makes reading down there impossible. So, I made the desk really tall so I could read with my type of glasses without looking down.

I repurposed plumbing traps as feet to keep my reading tower from tipping over. I love it!

Cover Reveal & Enter to Win a Portfolio Review!

Thank you, Vivian Kirkfield for hosting our UNICYCLE DAD cover reveal on her blog! https://viviankirkfield.com/ Enter to win a portfolio critique #giveaway from ALICIA! And a manuscript review from SARAH HOVORKA. Go to Vivian's blog to enter. Vivian will draw a winner by the end of October.

UNICYCLE DAD

written by Sarah Hovorka and illustrated by Alicia Schwab
Amicus Ink, March 12th, 2024!
You can pre-order the book here.
 @amicus_publishing @authorsarahhovorka @viviankirkfield

Spirits Dancing Cover reveal

Here is the cover I designed. Preorder a copy of SPIRITS DANCING The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, and Living Connections to the Cosmos

Photography by Travis Novitsky, Text by Annette S. Lee

Minnesota Historical Society Press (November 7, 2023)

An exploration of human connection to the aurora, the Milky Way, and the wonder of the universe above us, with gorgeous photographs by a master photographer.

Read full description

I enjoyed designing this cover. Travis Novitsky’s photography is stunning.

Cover design: Alicia Schwab

South Shore Community Magazine

Massachusetts illustrator Olivia Pinney is featured in this article from the spring/summer edition of South Shore Community Magazine where Pinney lives. She was one of 16 illustrators (including me) that created art for Freeman Ng’s picture book THE HOUSE WE SHELTERED IN / THE MASKS WE WORE.

The book is about the pandemic and how the world learned to live during this challenging time in our history. A dual volume: two stories that start from each end of a flippable book. The flippable dual structure of the book seemed a natural expression of its yin-yang nature. The first poem, The House We Sheltered In, is inward-looking. It’s about comfort and security. The second poem, The Masks We Wore, is outward-looking, about the actions we took in the world to combat the virus.

Order your copy today at www.pandemicpb.com

White Bear Press

August 9, 2023: Fellow illustrators Annie Kuhn and Sara Nintzel are featured in the White Bear Press paper on our picture book, THE HOUSE WE SHELTERED IN / THE MASKS WE WORE.

They were some of the 16 illustrators (including me) that created art for Freeman Ng’s picture book.

The book is about the pandemic and how the world learned to live during this challenging time in our history. The book is two stories that begin at each end of the book and conclude in the center of the book. Freeman Ng lives in St. Paul and has been writing poetry for thirty years.

Order your copy today at www.pandemicpb.com

Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN

On June 23, 2023, my local paper, the Pioneer Press, ran a feature on our book, THE HOUSE WE SHELTERED IN / THE MASKS WE WORE, written by Freeman Ng and illustrated by 16 illustrators (including me).

The book is about the pandemic and how the world learned to live during this challenging time in our history. The book is about the pandemic and how the world learned to live during this challenging time in our history. A dual volume: two stories that start from each end of a flippable book. The flippable dual structure of the book seemed a natural expression of its yin-yang nature. The first poem, The House We Sheltered In, is inward-looking. It’s about comfort and security. The second poem, The Masks We Wore, is outward-looking, about the actions we took in the world to combat the virus.

Order your copy today at www.pandemicpb.com

Sun Sailor Newspaper

On August 18, 2023, my local Twin Cities paper, the Sun Sailor, ran a feature on our book, THE HOUSE WE SHELTERED IN / THE MASKS WE WORE, written by Freeman Ng and illustrated by 16 illustrators.

The book is about the pandemic and how the world learned to live during this challenging time in our history. A dual volume: two stories that start from each end of a flippable book. The flippable dual structure of the book seemed a natural expression of its yin-yang nature. The first poem, The House We Sheltered In, is inward-looking. It’s about comfort and security. The second poem, The Masks We Wore, is outward-looking, about the actions we took in the world to combat the virus.

Order your copy today at www.pandemicpb.com

SUN SAILOR NEWSPAPER

YAY! We have an article in the local SUN SAILOR paper covering Minnetonka, Excelsior, Eden Prairie, Plymouth, Wayzata, St. Louis Park and Hopkins, Minnesota.

https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_sailor/free/plymouth-author-contributes-to-dual-volume-picture-book-about-pandemic-life/article_89a8fe90-0a30-11ee-b0fc-3b8c74887e72.html

The House We Sheltered In / The Masks We Wore is a dual volume: two stories that start from each end of a flippable book. Each poem begins at the cover and ends in the middle of the book.

Three Daughters Press, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-9906197-9-6

Written by poet and author Freeman Ng and illustrated by a team of 14 artists:

Alicia Schwab, Annie Kuhn, Brigitte West, Cheryl Ann Warren, Eshanthie Tyner, Gabriela Vega, Haley Grunloh, Jessica Chrysler, Juliana Castro, Rebecca Hoenig, Ruby Michelle, Sara Nintzel, Olivia Pinney, and Wendy Roble.

Buy this book!

COVER REVEAL

TICKET TO GLIDE : THE TWIN CITIES’ 50 BEST SPOTS FOR KAYAKING

If you are a kayaker, you are in for a treat! Minnesota is the “land of 10,000 lakes.” There are countless great places to kayak in the Twin Cities alone, but how do you know where to go? Bob Shaw describes the Twin Cities’ fifty best spots for kayaking in this guidebook.

Alicia Schwab used her information design skills to create concise maps of different areas of the greater Twin Cities metro, including major roadways, hundreds of lakes, marshes, ponds—and the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix rivers.

More information on where to buy this book is coming soon!

Reading Wednesdays

I’m reading for research. Look at the #libraryloot I’ve been hauling to the studio! Can you guess which one of these books is a biography?

I support #FReadom (pushing back against book banning).

THE QUICKEST KID IN CLARKSVILLE, by Pat Zietlow Miller; illustrated by Frank Morrison
SHY WILLOW, by Cat Min
DINOSAURS DON’T HAVE BEDTIMES!, by Timothy Knapman; illustrated by Nikki Dyson
GO TO SCHOOL, LITTLE MONSTER, by Helen Kettleman; illustrated Bonnie Leick

Reading Wednesdays

Picture books in German

Das Märchenbuch zum Vorlesen (Fairytales to Read Aloud), by Catrin Frischer and Karsten Teich

Hase und Bär (Rabbit and Bear), by Ute Krause (a flap book)

Der allerbeste Gütenacht-Kuss (A Goodnight Kiss), by Nanda Roep and Marijke ten Cate

Eins-zwei-drei, kleine Hexe, flieg herbei! (One-two-three, Little Witch Flies By!) by Risemarie Künzler-Behncke and Betina Gotzen-Beek

Der kleine Maus, die süße rote Erdbeere und der Dicke Hungrige Bär (The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big, Hungry Bear), by Don and Audrey Wood

Reading Wednesdays

It’s spring and all about BUGS AND NATURE. Look at the #libraryloot I’ve been hauling to the studio! The theme this week is: “nature”.

TEENY TINY TOADY, by Jill Esbaum; illustrated by Keika Yamaguchi
CRICKET IN THE THICKET: POEMS ABOUT BUGS, by Carol Murray; illustrated by Melissa Sweet
THE HONEYBEE, by Kirsten Hall ;illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
THE GOLD LEAF, by Kirsten Hall; illustrated by Matthew Forsythe

Reading Wednesdays

FAIRY TALES

It’s March and I’ve been reading for research. Look at the #libraryloot I’ve been hauling to the studio!

I support #FReadom (pushing back against book banning).

CINDERELLA SKELETON, by Robert D. San Souci; illustrated by David Catrow
ELEPHANT IN THE DARK, by Mina Javaherbin;illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
PRINCESA AND THE PEA, by Susan Middleton Elya; illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
FIONA’S LUCK, by Teresa Bateman; illustrated by Kelly Murphy

Reading Wednesdays

Humor! LOL

Looking for a laugh-out-loud book? The theme this week is “humor”. These books will tickle your funny bone.

I’m always reading for research. #libraryloot.

BEWARE THE MONSTER, by Michaël Escoffier; illustrated by Amandine Piu
THAT STINKS!, by Alan Katz; illustrated by Stephen Gilpin
GREAT, NOW WE’VE GOT BARBARIANS, by Jason Carter Eaton; illustrated by Mark Fearing
BONAPARTE FALLS APART, by Margery Cuyler; illustrated by Will Terry

Reading Wednesdays

Middle grade and Graphic Novels:

Tuesday, August 9th is National Book Lovers Day. I am a sucker for picture books but this week, I switched to reading older books for my reading-for-research series. And check out my middle grade written by A. G. Roberts. https://www.aliciaschwab.com/books#/lite/ #libraryloot

ONE TRICK PONY, by Nathan Hale;
THE SOMEWHAT TRUE ADVENTURE OF SAMMY SHINE, by Henry Cole
THE NOTEBOOK OF DOOM (SERIES): SNEEZE OF THE OCTO-SCHNOZZ, by Troy Cummings

by A. G. Roberts and Alicia Schwab