After a very full 2024 of bringing 4 books into the world (my graphic novel Fake Chinese, the picture book Seven Samosas, Counting at the Market and the board books Kaiona Guides the Lost and Lea, Goddess of Canoe Builders), relishing the experience of starting anew.

This Lunar New Year is the Year of the Snake. I am finding inspiration in these scaled reptiles as a metaphor for creative growth—embracing change and expansion and shedding old skin that no longer serves.

Right now, my studio is full of joyful messes. Hello, paints, printing supplies, pens and inks and pencils, I’ve missed you so much! And Hello typewriter! Relishing the click clack of you as I play with words.

Cheers to new beginnings and remembering the “play” part of creative “work”.