In the world of books, there’s an Evil Empire lurking. With over 75% control of online book sales, Amazon is squeezing out indie bookstores and small publishers, making it harder for many voices to be heard. But there’s hope! You! It is just as easy to order books online from bookstores or publishers, even authors themselves! This way you are supporting creators and small businesses and not… more yachts for Vader.
Join the Rebellion! Support indie bookstores and publishers who value creativity, transparency, and community. Every book you buy from an indie is a strike against the dark side.
In honor of #kidlitpostcard day I wanted to share some exciting news!
Mike Mongo's Kid Astronaut Training Manual: A book aimed at young readers who dream of exploring the stars, written by @mikemongo and illustrated by me will be out in stores on March 1! Sharing the cover from the book here, pre-order it now to discover what's inside! /w/mike-mongos-kid-astronaut-training-manual-mike-mongo/1148281680?ean=9781963981087
I had a blast making all the art for this book, and can't wait for everyone to read it! Special thanks to @paintbond from @fairsharepublishing for making it all happen!
Represented by @advocateart01
#kidlitpostcardday #kidastronaut #indianillustrator #losangelesillustrator
It’s my birthday, and I’m giving away 53 books to families in Minneapolis.
If you’re keeping your child home from school right now, here’s how to get a free book:
1. Go to fairsharepublishing.com to see our titles
2. Email [email protected] with the book title you’d like and your Minneapolis address
3. You don’t need to share your name if you don’t want to
Completely free. One book per household. Available until all 53 books are sent out.
If you know a family in Minneapolis who could use this, please share.
You helped make a lot possible in 2025 for Fair Share Publishing!
We published our first nonfiction middle grade book. Hired creators through open calls to increase the opportunity to be published to a wider range of artists. And we signed with Lakeside Books for distribution - which means our books are now easily accessible for indie bookstores and libraries to order through their existing systems.
But the best part is watching readers connect with these stories.
2026 will be exciting with three more books on the way, all still printed in the United States.
What were your favorite moments from 2025? Let me know in the comments.
Albert Einstein was bored in school.
That wasn’t a flaw. It was a sign.
If your kid can’t stop thinking about stars, rockets, or the edge of the universe… don’t let that curiosity go untapped.
🚀 Mike Mongo’s Kid Astronaut Training Manual is a 120-page book of space missions, mindset training, and real astronaut wisdom — made for kids ages 8–12 who dream big.
🎁 Available now in a limited early release — just in time for the holidays.
👉 Order now from Fair Share Publishing and give the gift of possibility.
Portfolio Chats are back this Friday, October 17th!
I’m excited to be returning as a mentor for Portfolio Chats—a free initiative founded by @owendaveydraws that offers 30-minute one-on-one portfolio reviews for artists from marginalized and oppressed communities.
When? This Friday, October 17th
These chats are open to artists of any ability and at any stage of their career. Each free session is your time to use however you’d like—ask questions, get feedback, talk through your goals, or just connect.
My slots often fill quickly, but there are many other fantastic mentors involved as well. To sign up, head to the link in @owendaveydraws ’ bio or copy this link into your browser: 👉 /s/free-30-minute-portfolio-chat
If no sessions appear, it likely means all slots are currently booked—these go fast! But don’t worry: Portfolio Chats runs every month.
Let’s keep building a more inclusive, supportive creative industry. I’m looking forward to connecting with some of you this Friday.
It’s great to be back teaching again at Parsons! I taught for 16 years and then took several years off, so it feels wonderful to be back sharing creative energy and ideas with students.
“Throwing this one back into the ocean…”
This 4x5 ft oil painting is the last of a series I created years ago in my Red Hook studio, a side project I started while deep in a long portrait series. I needed something looser, more exploratory durning that series. So, every couple of weeks, I’d swing by the fish market section of the old Fairway next door. The fishmongers would be setting up for the day, and I’d buy whatever caught my eye—take it back to the studio, set it on a newspaper (yes, that’s the Times under there), and paint as much as I could before it got… less than fresh. Then over time I would finish the painting from the photos I would take of it.
This one has been my favorite. It’s stayed with me longer than the others, which all sold before I ever managed to show them together. But I’m moving back to the city next month and won’t have space for all of my art collection. So, after years of living with it hanging on my wall, I’m ready to let it go.
If you’re interested in giving it a new home, feel free to DM me for pricing details and delivery options.
Last night’s 7th Annual CYD Spelling Bee for Grown Ups was an unforgettable evening of inspiration, joy, and serious spelling energy.
The event included an impassioned speech by our incredible Bee Master, New York 1’s host of “New York Tonight” Cheryl Wills, who summed up the night perfectly:
“I have left here inspired to do even more.”
I think it’s safe to say we all felt the same way. Thank you.
We also heard directly from CYD students in a moving conversation with our Executive Director, Michael Roberts—sharing their journeys, challenges, and the power of support.
And then, of course, there was the Bee itself: full of cheering, laughter, and some seriously tough words. I’m proud to say I helped my table’s team… by not getting on stage this year. You’re welcome, team.
This event raises critical flexible funding for CYD’s students, staff, and programs—and just as importantly, it brings new people into our growing community of supporters.
Huge thanks to the amazing CYD staff, volunteers, and committee members who brought this night to life. Special shoutout to our unstoppable development team—Megan, Remy, Shanae, and Lisa, our committee leaders Dean Backer and Michael Braun, and our phenomenal Board Chair SoVonna Day-Goins (who I was lucky enough to snap a photo with!). #cydbee7
🎟️ Learn more and RSVP here: /2025-spelling-bee/
Can’t make it? Every donation—no matter how small—makes a huge difference.
💛 Donate here; https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/comprehensive-development-inc/cyd-annual-fund-2024-25-donation-impact
I feel incredibly lucky to be part of Comprehensive Youth Development (CYD)—an organization that’s doing life-changing work for students in underserved communities, quietly and consistently, day after day.
CYD is literally embedded in the schools it supports, providing the kind of hands-on, holistic support that helps young people not just graduate, but thrive.
If you want to see what that impact looks like firsthand—and have a good laugh while you’re at it—I invite you to join us for our Spelling Bee Fundraiser on May 21.
You’ll hear from students, connect with a powerful community—and watch corporate execs get humbled by some seriously smart teens.
🔗 Learn more about CYD: /
Another painting from the studio move… this is from an old series I did called “Mouthscapes” They were portraits of the interiors of people’s mouths that due to their scale (this is 5feet by 4feet) transformed into cavernous interiors. The shift of scale felt very similar to how the inside of our mouths feel disproportionately large to ourselves when we felt with our own tongue. And the idea of dental records being one permanent form of identification fit well with my exploration of identity and portraiture. 👄🫦
