| e's news: October 2023 Forward | Web Version | Subscribe |
Thanks to all who have decided to join me! In the tradition of Romper Room's Magic Mirror - I see Tara from Freedom Prep, Tran, Carmen, Lori (hi!), Emma from the Cochrane Public Library, Malanika, Angel, Carl, Cynthia of the Montgomery Public Library, Karen, Ms. Toni, Michele, Colleen, Muriel from the Glencoe Primary School, Marja, Erika, Librarian Lynne from the Township of Union Public Schools, Grandmom Elizabeth, Nathan, Sophia, Christine, MJ, Danielle, Cyndi from Dysart Schools, Gayle, Ms. Meghan from the Armstrong School District, Rhonda from the St. Landry Parish School Board, Chantal, Molly, Kelley from Auburn University, Christina from Monrovia Elementary, Tabitha, Elizabeth from the Girl Scout Daisy Troop, Nancy, Sarah, Sophia, K.K. from the Shanandoah Country Public Schools, Scott from the Concord Child Development Center, Erin, Wanda, Fatima, Karen from Tami's Tender Times, Tanya from Pleasant Hill Church, Sandra, Gabrielle from the Mamaroneck School District, Debbie from the North East Carolina Prep School, Chrissy, Charlotte, Joanna from the Nice International School, Kee from the International School of Kuantan, Micki, Sam from the Near North Schools in Canada, Alix (Hollins grad - Hi!), Zoe, Alex from the University of Edinburgh (my alma mater - hi!), Sarah (Winthrop grad - hi!), Sara, Mary from the Joy School, Teacher Tammy, Maria, Jill, Teacher Sharon, Linda from St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Anne from Libraries Tasmania, Julie, Octavia from H. H. Beam Elementary, Karen, Anna from Benson Hill Elementary School, Joann from the Bacon Memorial District Library, Hollybeth, Elisa (Winthrop friend - hi!), Rosemary, Judy, and a few others who didn't include their names.
Welcome - I'm glad you're here!
Did you know that I'm happy for librarians and teachers (and booksellers) to use my images to decorate their spaces or use on free handouts? All I ever ask in return is that you please "check out" (HA!) my books to see if any might be a good fit with your readers.
If you still have any questions about usage of my images, especially commercial use, visit my angel policy page or email me at elizabeth at dulemba dot com. Meanwhile... on to the news!
| COLORING PAGES |
I have to set you up for Halloween since it's just around the corner, and all the decorations are already out! (Click here for more Halloween-themed coloring pages and CLICK HERE for lots more coloring pages in general!
Or, please consider a one-time donation if you just love this one image:
| HOLLINS UNIVERSITY NEWS |
in Children's Literature and Illustration at Hollins University in gorgeous Roanoke, Virginia; and I'm so looking forward to helping drive exciting opportunities for everyone and welcoming international students as well! Many, many thanks for all the love and well wishes on Facebook!! I love that Hollins made an actual webpage advertising my new position! (Click the image above to see the whole thing.)
I've moved into a newly renovated ground floor apartment in an old Victorian house in the historic district downtown, close to all sorts of fun stuff, and I even have one of our program students as an upstairs neighbor - it's "Hollins South"!
It's taking a minute for me to get my feet under me in this new life chapter, but I have exciting things planned, which include getting my newsletter back up and running - so I hope you'll stay tuned! (And subscribe if you haven't already!)
I am now a Virginian! (I actually lived in Virginia until I was five.) I can't tell you how happy I am to be back! Every time I crossed the state line I noticed the verdant greens and majectic mountains and it simply fills my soul! So, I'll share some of the lovely things I see as I experience awesome Roanoke. CLICK HERE to see some great photos!
It's been a while since I last blogged. After my husband passed, I rather fell out of the habit. But life is offering me a new chapter at Hollins University and this one will put me back on the social media pony... We're growing our MFA in Children's Book Writing and Illustrating program from the only summer sessions model to offering a year-round program model as well, and I will be spear-heading the endeavor. (If you want to know more about it - please email me at dulembaeo at hollins.edu or CLICK HERE).
I am settling into my new home. I'm near all the fun things to do in Roanoke and only a 15 minute commute to campus. The best thing is that Virginia has always felt like home to me. CLICK HERE or the image above to read more.
I'll bet this room looks familiar to many of you! It's the stage setting for the Hollins' Theater's upcoming performance of Goodnight Moon - The Magical Musical. I had to drop off something to the theater department the other day, and have been reading the biography of Margaret Wise Brown called The Great Green Room by Amy Gary, so imagine my shock when I walked around the corner and saw this! KISMET! Performances will be October 6-8th, 2023. CLICK HERE to learn more.
We had a wonderful summer at Hollins this year, filled with that Hollins magic I keep telling people about. There is just too much to say and too many pictures to share here, so CLICK HERE or the image above to get a full wrap up about it all and see awesome fun photos, including when Ashley and I saw a BEAR!!!
My Pearson Teaching Award made it possible for me to return to Scotland again, to visit friends, give a conference talk, and see if the magic is still there without Stan by my side. I'm happy to report that it WAS! And I had a fabulous trip!!! To read about my entire trip, and of course see great photos, go to:
Day 1: I'm back!
Day 2: HIGH Tea with friends (and a secret)
Day 3: in Glasgow!
Day 4: Dear Friends and a Proper Memorial
Day 5: Farmer's Markets and Tapestries
Day 6: The Vinnie, The Star Bar, Parting Stones, Tears, and Friends
Day 7: with Maureen in Glasgow
Day 8: Porty Beach and an emotional day
Day 9: Fruit de Mer and Seagulls!
Day 10: Food, Museums, and a Friend
Day 11: Last full day in Edinburgh
Day 12: Last few minutes in Scotland
If you've wondered where I've been, or why I've been so quiet... my dear husband, Stan Dulemba, passed away on November 2nd. While he hadn't been well for a long time, the end was sudden and unexpected. Now, I am learning how to live forward while honoring the wonderful life I had with Stan. We had FUN and so many adventures, many that I've shared with you, dear readers.
So, here is what I did and am doing to honor my husband. I had Stan's ashes turned into "Parting Stones," much like river rocks. I plan to leave them in beautiful and significant places around the world. It will take me the rest of my life to disseminate them all. But they will remind me to live, or as we often said, to live out loud. Stan's adventures will continue with me. CLICK HERE to read more.
| CREATIVE THINKING |
ON NEW CHAPTERS
Life went pear-shaped for a while. I started teaching in a very stressful environment (loved my students, but the job was hard), while finishing my PhD. Then the pandemic hit. Then my husband got sick and passed away... I miss him.
But I am now in a job that lets me really concentrate on what I love and specialize with what I'm best at: children's books!
So, even though I'd rather be diving into this new chapter with Stan (November 2nd will be one year), I would have wanted him well, and well, those aren't the cards we were dealt. Through it all, I've learned how chaotic and messy life is, and how important relationships are - in all shapes and sizes.
Looking back, I realize I've achieved almost everything I set out to do with this ride called life. So, I have lots of amazing memories and no regrets.
And I look forward to an amazing new chapter doing a deep dive into the things I'm most passionate about. And lucky me, I get to share my passions with others! As the new Director of Graduate Programs in Children's Literature and Illustration at Hollins University, which is now moving to a full year-round offering, I get to help nurture that passion in others. I'll be traveling to welcome international students to our gorgeous Appalachian Mountains (they will now be able to get Visas to study in our program full-time), where they will be able to find the joy in children's books that I have for all these years. They will be able to take what they learn back to their own countries, to tell their own stories and spread a joy for reading and literacy around the world. Teaching is a position of service, of giving back, and is so fulfilling. Truly, at this point in my life, I can honestly say that what I want most is more of the same, please!
I hope you'll stick around and join me on this ride. I'm glad to be back to blogging, to finding joy in the small things and sharing them with you. Be looking for more interviews, book news, and featured books, coming soon. I have so much to share!
Quote of the Day: "In the end,
only three things matter:
how much you loved,
how gently you lived,
and how gracefully
you let go of things
not meant for you.
~ Buddha
One of the reasons I create my coloring pages is to draw (ha!) attention to my books. Word of mouth is my best advertising, so I'm counting on you to help spread the word! Click the covers to learn more.
I create my coloring pages for teachers, librarians, booksellers, and parents to enjoy for free with their children, but you can also purchase rights to an image for commercial use, please contact me. Meanwhile, if you have questions about usage, please visit my Angel Policy page.
WHO AM I?I am an award-winning illustrator, author, teacher, blogger, and speaker (including TED). I have a PhD in Children's Literature from the University of Glasgow, an MFA in Illustration from the University of Edinburgh (I blogged about my Scotland adventures extensively HERE), and a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Georgia. I have about three dozen titles to my credit including A Bird on Water Street, awarded Georgia Author of the Year, and my latest picture books written by New York Times Best-selling author Jane Yolen. I was the Illustrator Coordinator for the Southeastern SCBWI Chapter and a Board Member for the Georgia Center for the book for about six years. Currently, I am Director of Graduate Programs in Children's Literature and Illustration at the gorgeous Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. I've been blogging since 2007. And if you're reading this, you know about my newsletter. Thanks so much for spending time with me!
| Thanks so much for reading! |
All Artwork © Elizabeth O. Dulemba,
- Y'all play nice, Okay?