2024 RECAP of ELIZ-Aaaaaadventurez
Too many trips, but happily SO MANY NEW FRIENDS
2024 was a year with an epic amount of excursions! I decided to do this post as I wanted to make a log of highlights for myself!
HONESTLY, I had hoped to do posts about each trip, but that ridiculous dream did not happen with all the paint strokes in between each adventure.
And I AM OK with that.
As there is only so many hours in the day.
PLUS CHECK ME OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
DEAD FROM BACK-TO-BACK PICTURE BOOKS…
yet I still make time to walk my dog Tuna.
In MY SLEEP.
Otherwise this was me…
between tossing goldfish at my kids. :)
So I shall recap some of my favorite moments that got me through one of the BEST, and HARDEST years of my life.
Hugging Kenard Pak
He’s been such a mentor to me in Publishing, and I wrote more about it here on instagram. I’m not going to re-do here except to say WAHHHHH!
Spring Break in Japan!
Was a last minute family trip, and it couldn't of worked out better! We had a friend over there for the year who invited us, and we found cheap tickets!
My family, and I visited Ghibli Museum, Super Mario Land, the most epic of playgrounds, and I could go on, and on, and onnnnnn….
Bologna Children's Book Fair!
The only thing that could of worked better for the Japan trip if I wasn’t going to Italy less than 2 weeks after.
Which I know, I know….complaining about going to BCBF. LAME.
BUT, I had decided on the Bologna trip the previous year, as I thought I would have a slow 2024….which. definitely does not happen once you win an ALA award in January.
BUT IT’S AMAZING WHAT SALTED PISTACHIO DAIRY-FREE GELATO can do to improve your energy levels.
What I decided was important for me at Bologna was connecting/reconnecting with peers.
K-Fai Steele, and I finally got to embrace in person. I ate tons of meat with Isabel Roxas. And I made Lisa Brown, and Jacob Grant spit out their drinks laughing.
Hanging with my dear friend Rivkah LaFille’s agent Janna Morishima who does awesome workshops at KidComicsUnite.
Reunion with my Austin amigas Rachel Bostick, and Shelley Ann Jackson.
AND getting inspired by the ART!!
(I wish I had the names of these illustrators, but the line to see the art was intense for grabbing that info unfortunately.)
When I was there, I realized I hadn’t completed a new picture book dummy in a long time. I had been feeling very overwhelmed with so many ideas taking space in my brain.
Then as I was staring at all the art, I realized I wanted to get back to making something for ME.
A story just to make me happy. And that realization made me happy. :)
I ended up doing critiques at the festival as well. Which I always enjoy as I LOVE helping others find a way with their process. I only do them at conferences, as otherwise my time is reserved for mentoring with Las Musas.
TLA 2024
I did not expect to attend TLA, but when the ALA Awards were announced I got scheduled in. Which I wasn’t sad about.. except for it being a few days after Bologna.
But, I LOVE this event as I’m Tejana, and I love my Texas Teachers & Librarians.
We are all cut from the same breakfast taco.
I did a great post on instagram about it here.
But, I didn’t post a photo of me with one of my faves Dan Santat! He’s been such a constant supporter of me in my career, and I’m so grateful to him.
And here’s a questionnaire I filled out!
MPIBA SpringCon
I’ve never been to this event, but the Booksellers were so kind. PLUS, the best part was connecting with Micah Player, Christina Soontornvat, and Meggie Ramm!
ALSO, my dear friends Jeanette, and Vee from my stop motion days came into town, and accompanied me there!!
Which was lucky as the hotel was haunted!
(Luckily I used my trick of proclaiming to any ghost before I go to bed, that they must write me a 10 page love sonnet before they try to scare me.
SO FAR, GHOST-FREE!!)
But luckily never Wax figure Keanu free!!
Or Texas Mexican dinner free!
READING ROCK STARS - Fort Worth
This was one of my favorite schools as the Librarians killed it with the decorations. I felt like I was in a world of my drawings.
I did a longer post about it here, but READING ROCK STARS is the BEST!!
ALA Summer 2024
So I actually DID DO A POST about this one as it was so special since I received an ALA Pura Belpré Illustration Honor. But here’s some extra photos….
Getting pan dulce with the awesome Kokila Editor Joanna Cárdenas.
This librarian showing me her tattoo of her kid’s drawing at my signing!
And another of me hanging with the AMAZING Bethany Barton, and my award!
Visiting my publisher Kokila!
I reviewed the proofs for author debut MISTACO in person!
What is this the 1970s?!
I even took a nap there after my 1970s six martini lunch.
Luckily I woke up just in time to give almost everyone hugs at KOKILA!
Sadly, I missed my badazz Editor Namrata Tripathi, but I left her homework.
MILKWOOD FALL 2024
I would actually LOVE to eventually do a more detailed post about Milkwood. Sophie Blackall has created a very special place for us children’s book creators. I needed some healing as an artist, and it provided it!
Which she said her goal was that.
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, SOPHIE AND ED!
The retreat I attended there was a BIPOC Graphic Novel Workshop, and gave me the jumpstart I needed. HUGE GRACIAS to Ruth Chan, and Sharee Miller for being our amazing teachers. Also, so much love to this inspiring group of peers that attended with me.
Vashti Harrison, Lala Watkins, Monique Steele, Dana Sulit, Danielle Dai, Keisha Morris, Rae Crawford, Stef Choi, Micael Nuñez
Be on the lookout for all their work!!
Vashti captured this picture of me right after I was done with my silly faces. : )
MAKING TACOS FOR MY AGENT
On one of my too many fall trips to NYC, I arranged to make breakfast taco feast for my Agent Stephen Barr, and his family. As I had wanted to do so ever since we sold my author debut picture book MISTACO back in Spring of 2023. I didn’t get a pic of the tacos, but I did make a ridiculous feast. Cooking for those I love is how I show how much they mean to me. Maybe it’s a Mexican woman thing?
Anyway his lovely wife said I must of been up early cooking and I was!! I was also up late washing dishes! (Sorry Stephen, as I know you wanted to help.)
But it was so worth it as I felt such deep satisfaction, and happiness from it.
As I’m really grateful to him as he has worked so hard for my stories, and for me as I struggle at times with all publishing asks of us artists. Of course I’m grateful to my publisher, but he was there for a long time first, and that’s something that deserves to be honored.
With queso, and our combined kids screaming at earth shattering levels.
Mamá’s Magnificent Dancing Plantitas Book Party!
I went to Long Beach to support my author Jesús Trejo for a Bookstore event to celebrate the sequel to Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock, and he killed it with this video of the event here!
And I killed it with pictures of the amazing fried shrimp tacos he took me to grab after a school visit.
And here is some of my drawings from the school event.
Sadly they did not get to enjoy tacos as well. T_T
Oh, and we recorded an episode for Jesús’s new podcast. CHECK IT OUT!!
Los Angeles Libros Festival
This was my first time attending, and it did my heart good to be surrounded by so many wonderful Latine creators.
PLUS YOU GET A CHURRO, AND YOU GET A CHURRO!
Amazing lunch with some dear amigas that made my day!
And hanging with Pedro Martín, and Aida Salazar in the Library break room is my goal for every future festival.
Plus my Milkwood buddy Stef Choi met me for hotel bar popcorn, after I declared myself too dead to venture farther in the lobby after 2 days of festival events.
FINAL NYC VISIT &
KOKILA ANNIVERSARY PARTY
THIS was my final trip of the year, and I was sooooo ready for it to be my LAST.
Luckily I started off with some painting with my niece to re-invigorate me.
From there I met my previous-previous Editor Maria Russo for lunch with previous Editor Jill Davis!
Had the bestest pastries with the AMAZING publicist Linette Kim!
And met up with Selina Alko and Abby Hanlon for more cookies!
THEN ON TO PARTY TOWN!!
I saw a publicity version of MISTACO and LOST MY MIND!!!
(Basically it was just a cover, and no inside pages. As it hasn’t been printed yet. It was just so they could display the book. BUT IT FELT SO REAL TO MEEEEEEE)
Also, Publishers Weekly captured this amazing photo of my Agent Stephen cracking up at me getting Simran Jeet Singh to hold up my book for it!
I could hug my Art Director Jasmin Rubero 100 billion times, and it would still not be enough!
ALSO, ran into two of my favorite librarians from ALA!
Finally, I was part of a panel that evening titled “Laughter makes Life Long Readers”. You can tell I’m serious when I take off my glasses. Gracias to Akeem S. Roberts, Preeti Chhibber, and Joanna for putting up with my silliness.
Anyway, just felt so proud, and right to be among all these Kokila creators at the end of the night.
TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL
I borrowed these photos from the awesome Rachel Más Davidson as I didn’t get as many photos as I hoped to here!
Jesús, Erika Jones , Breanna Carzoo, Rachel, and some chingona.
Then us again with the amazing Beth Mills, and Micah Player.
But I did get this very important one of me drawing Mermaid Harry Potter during the Illustrator Draw-Off! Thanks Michelle!
A leaf super hero from our Reading Rockstars Visit!
AND MARCELO VERDAD!! Send me better pictures of our romance cover!
As we are the epic love affair picture books has never asked for,
but definiteLY DESERVES!
Texas Humanities Book Fair
This was my final event of the year, and I couldn’t of asked for a better one as I just got to hang out with Breanna Carzoo for it!
Plus I did free holiday portraits which was the best! NO REFUNDS!!!
You can read more about them at my instagram post!
BONUS: SCHOOL VISITS
Finally, I really can’t remember them all, but I do remember this group of Kindergartners tried to carry me away.
And they almost succeeded as I’m very tiny in real life!!
FINAL THOUGHT…..
You know all the above was amazing, and I see how it could be impressive, or inspiring to other illustrator/authors.
BUT, I’m going to be real here.
I also suffered a breakdown from overworking myself in the Spring.
Burnout more than a few times.
AND a raging river of ANXIETY I’m still trying to paddle out of.
There was so much growing pains this year as I realized I did not have the self-worth to accept a lot of this success. Plus, I was stuck in starving artist mode, and looking to others for my validation.
When the only validation that could get me out of the river has to come from me.
I want to say all this as it can appear like everything is wonderful at times, but it can also very, very, very much not be.
I’ll talk more about my mental health journey one day, but for now I will say I’m feeling soooooooo much better.
But, it took a lot of work, and I’m still working on it, and slowly untangling a lot.
I'm saying this, because I want you to know if you are struggling as well,
you're not alone.
And I'll be here to make you fall over laughing as we enter 2025 together.
And hopefully I'll be able to handle everything better, with some serious nachos, and silly zen.
Sending love, and the best of pencils your way. ; )
Your smile in every pic, Eliza! <3 What a year! And would agree, time to write a Romantasy hhehe!
Wow! What a year!! You deserve a looong nap :)