Getting Illustrator Recognition

About standing up for ourselves as artists

Every so often I do a google search for various things: my name, my design company name, and my book titles. Yesterday I did a search for the book I illustrated for Pelican Publishing, The Mermaid's Gift by Claudia Cangilla McAdam. I came across something interesting and wanted to let you know how it played out. I found a fun website selling my book. There's a wonderful review of the book and a nice ending note about how beautiful the illustrations are. But... my name was nowhere to be found.

This is a problem I've noticed around the web on various sites and social media. Often times illustrators don't get the credit they deserve whether its for illustrated books, posters, packaging etc. Being an introvert, it's not easy for me to speak up. So, part of my campaign to make sure illustrators are getting recognition is:

Be Bold and Brave

©Traci Van Wagoner, all rights reserved

So, I contacted the website and politely pointed out the problem and informed them that illustrators, especially for picture books, need to get credit as well. Guess what? They responded. They added my name! Yay! The last paragraph of a beautiful description and review now reads:

This gorgeous picture book beautifully illustrated by Traci Van Wagoner is an inspiring  gift for all ages!

I'm sending a shout out to Isabella Centofanti at Italian Children's Market for not only carrying my book, but also doing the right thing.
Thank you!

Always keep in mind, it can't hurt to ask.

Have you noticed an overall lack of illustrators getting credit? Any other illustrators out there notice this problem? Have you done anything to help get illustrator credit? Artists unite.

The Mermaid's Gift, Pelican Publishing, 2015

 "The Mermaid's Gift stands out among the many versions of this tale for its showing (not preaching) of the very qualities we hope to instill in our children: love, courage, faith, and perseverance."
Italian Children's Market



More posts about The Mermaid's Gift.
See sketches, process and more.

Click "Books" to find additional links for purchasing the book

Booker T. Bear Adventures

Coming Soon!

Booker T. Bear, Let's Go Series Books 1-4
Presented by The Library Store
Written by Jen "Jellyfish"M.M.
Illustrated by Kurt Keller and Traci Van Wagoner

My partner and I have had a wonderful time this year adventuring around the world with Booker T. Bear and his dragonfly friend Dahlya, seeing new places, learning new big words, and trying fun new snacks. We illustrated four books in the series as well as the images for the website which will be live soon. The first book will be available in December. I'll post more details when I get them as to where and when you can buy these fun books. Stay tuned!

Special Guest: Gary Metivier

In honor of Grandparents Day, I thought it appropriate to do a guest blog post Q&A featuring the author of the picture book I illustrated, Cody and Grandpa's Christmas Tradition, Gary Metivier.

Cody's Grandpa shares his memories of his experience on Christmas Eve in Vietnam when a bright star appeared through the clouds, giving the soldiers hope. All of the men promised to look for the star every year and remember each other and those who didn’t come home. Cody makes a new tradition with whole family joining Grandpa to look for the star. 

This is a touching inter-generational story we hope will become a Christmas tradition in homes all over the world. And now to the Q&A.



Q: What inspired you to write this story?

A: I was speaking at a wonderful veteran's day school event three years ago in small community. The school had asked the children all to invite a veteran in their life. At the end of the program, a Vietnam veteran came up to meet me to thank me for writing my last book Until Daddy Comes Home and Saluting Grandpa to highlight children's relationships with their grandparents. He wanted to tell me about the Christmas that he spent away from home and how they all thought "at least if we looked at the stars--we could be closer to our families who were under the same stars that night." His story stuck with me and inspired Cody's story.

Q:  Did you serve in the military or have a family member who did?

A: I am from a family of twelve children. My father served during Korea--although he was stateside. One brother and one sister served. I like to say I am at least serving to some extent by sharing our veterans story on the page and through my work in local news.

Q: What are your family Christmas Traditions? Veteran Day traditions?

A: The meat pie in this story was a big time tradition in my house growing up--as was the family gathering at Christmas eve. We would go to midnight mass--then come to eat meat pie and open presents. I obviously covered my meat pie in ketchup!

 Q:  Do you have a special memory with one of your grandparents you'd like to share?

A: Unfortunately I was raised far away from my grandparents and when I did see them there were so many people around. A month before my pepere died (French for Grandpa) I did get to spend some incredible one on one time. I was a bit burned out by work and school--and spent a month with him in Massachusetts. We started our own mini traditions watching the tonight show and the news every night before bed.

Q: This is a Christmas tradition brought back from Vietnam. We now have soldiers coming back from current conflicts, what sort of traditions do you see coming from that?

A: Many of my family's traditions pre-date the current generation. In fact, the meat pie goes back several generations. I think maintaining some of the long-standing traditions comforts both the old and young in ways we can never understand. I think, regardless of the conflict, today's service members will try to keep that going--and like I am doing with my family (and Cody with his) adding a few twists and new traditions along the way.


Gary Metivier is an award-winning author and journalist. A television-news anchor, he enjoys covering a variety of subjects. The author of Saluting Grandpa: Celebrating Veterans and Honor Flight, Metivier lives in Davenport, Iowa, with his wife, two sons, two dogs, and one pot-bellied pig. 

Connect with Gary Metivier

Facebook / Twitter 

Thank you so much, Gary, for taking the time to answer a few questions and sharing a little behind he scenes of the creation of this wonderful story celebrating Christmas traditions as well as helping us to remember our veterans.

And thank you, readers, for joining me here. I hope you've enjoyed today's post, and I hope you will buy our book which will be available online at Amazon, B&N.com, Pelican's website and hopefully in a store near you September 15th. Buy the book to see the meat pie Gary talks about. Cody and Charlie are not huge fans of that tradition.

Please feel free to share any of your family traditions with us in the comments, and don't forget to hug a grandparent today and let them know how much they mean to you. Happy Grandparent's Day!

Coming Soon!

I am very excited to announce that Cody and Grandpa's Christmas Tradition is coming out just in time for Christmas and Veteran's Day with a release date of September 15, 2016. Keep an eye out for it in book stores near you and online.

Cody and Grandpa's Christmas Tradition can become your family tradition as well. It's a wonderful story to be shared especially around Veteran's Day and the Christmas holiday.

Check out the Book tab above for links to where you can buy my book! I would love to hear what you and your family think about it.

Cody and Grandpa's Christmas Tradition by Gary Metivier, illustrated by Traci Van Wagoner

Cody and Grandpa's Christmas Tradition Cover Reveal!

I am excited to be able to share the cover for the picture book I illustrated, Cody and Grandpa's Christmas Tradition by Gary Metivier. I love Christmas and all the family traditions that come with it. I have many fond memories of my family's Christmas traditions, so when I first read Cody and Grandpa's Christmas Tradition, I was thrilled to be considered to illustrate the touching tale. It was particularly fun to have been painting this cover and the interior spreads during the Christmas season last year. This is a very touching tale that tugged at my heartstrings. I hope my illustrations stir fond memories in you too.

Coming September 1, 2016

Cody and Grandpa's Christmas Tradition by Gary Metivier, illustrated by Traci Van Wagoner

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company, Inc. (September 1, 2016)
• ISBN-10: 1455621706
• ISBN-13: 978-1455621705
• Release Date: September 2016 
• Pre-order at Amazon here

Book Summary
A boy and his grandfather remember those who served.
It’s Christmas Eve, and Cody’s family has all gathered for their traditional Christmas party—all except Grandpa, who is sitting quietly in his room, looking out his window at the cloudy sky. Grandpa tells Cody about his time in Vietnam and the Christmas Eve when a bright star appeared through the clouds, giving the soldiers hope. All of the men promised to look for the star every year and remember each other and those who didn’t come home. Cody makes a new tradition: now the whole family will join Grandpa in looking for the star. This touching family story, accompanied by rich illustrations, tells the importance of traditions and honoring those who served their country.

Quotes:

“Those who survived Vietnam came home with a wisdom that only war can teach but a wisdom whose truth must be shared and passed on to our children and their children. Unfortunately, many of us returned from war unable to find the way nor the words to share what we had learned. Gary Metivier has found a way . . . has found the words to share some of those lessons about life.”
—Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor Recipient
Sergeant, Ret. 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces

“Christmas in a combat zone is a time to reflect and look back. It was a pause in the chaos . . . a time of peace. After reading Cody and Grandpa’s Christmas Tradition, I was filled with the memories of my brothers.”
—Capt. William “Hawk” Albracht (Ret.)
US Army Special Forces, Recipient of 3 Silver Stars, 5 Bronze Stars, and 3 Purple Hearts

About the Author:

Gary Metivier is an award-winning author and journalist. A television-news anchor, he enjoys covering a variety of subjects. The author of Saluting Grandpa: Celebrating Veterans and Honor Flight, Metivier lives in Davenport, Iowa, with his wife, two sons, two dogs, and one pot-bellied pig. 

Connect with Gary Metivier

Facebook / Twitter / 

About the Illustrator:

 Traci Van Wagoner earned bachelor of fine arts degrees in illustration and advertising design from Utah State University and in toy design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. In addition to book illustration, Van Wagoner writes, designs toys and characters, and paints portraits. She is a long-standing member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Van Wagoner lives in New York City, where she and her husband run their product development company, Imagine That! Design.

Connect with Traci Van Wagoner

Website / Facebook / Twitter /  Pinterest

 

Your thoughts:

And there you have a taste of what is to come. I hope you are as excited as I am to see the book in print. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Are you looking forward to reading this book when released? Do you have Christmas family traditions close to your heart? Do you have a relative who served in the Vietnam war? Feel free to share in the comments.

Candy Canes in Bethlehem

I'm celebrating a not so little thing today. My illustrated picture book, Candy Canes in Bethlehem, is out! Yay! Eat a candy cane and celebrate a little bit of Christmas with me today on this fine May Day.

Pauline Books & Media

I did it! I did it! I finished all 24 illustrations for Candy Canes in Bethlehem before the deadline. I've been painting pretty much non-stop since late November when I got approval on the sketches. Yesterday, I sent the few revisions needed for final approval. Boy, does that feel good. The publishing date is May 2012. I'm not sure of the distribution channels, but it is being published by Pauline Books and Media. I'll post more when I know more. This is a really cute Christmas story that shows how different cultures around the world celebrate. It's been a blast to illustrate.  I love Christmas, and I love painting multicultural kids.

Here's a sneak peak at the cover and what's inside.

Cover Art

Decorating for Christmas

An Australian Christmas

© Van Wagoner

Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings!

It has been a good and productive year. Many exciting things in the works for the upcoming year. Submissions will begin on my middle grade book, Thunderbird Dreams, and I will be busy painting like a mad woman for the first couple months to complete the artwork for the picture book in works for Pauline Books and Media. It's all good, and I'm happy to have plenty of little things, and big things, to celebrate.

© Van Wagoner

Flying on books!
I have a few things to celebrate in the book world. First, A new picture book illustration job for a multicultural Christmas picture book. Yay! Two, I just finished the last edit on my middle grade novel, Thunderbird Dreams. Double yay! And three, I also finished a picture book Christmas holiday story about saving trees! I love books, I love writing, and I love illustrating!

Promotion for a fellow writer

 7/6/2010 TOO PICKLEY! hit bookstore shelves.  Go get one for yourself! A portion of her proceeds benefits The Children's Hospital in Denver. 
She will be having a launch party in August. Be sure to check it out. http://jeanreidy.blogspot.com.