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The Origins of an Idea
Get a behind the scenes look at the beginnings of an idea for a picture book inspired by nature in the city. I was delighted to wake one morning to the noisy going-ons of a mourning dove couple setting up home in my top floor window in the back of the building. Over the first summer of the pandemic I was privileged to watch the development of two families from the same couple and was inspired to write a story about it and how it effected my life and brought a new sense of won

Traci Van Wagoner
May 223 min read
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Good Morning, Mourning Dove
Another picture book creation journey begins where a pair of mourning doves nest in my window, and I pose a question: bars or no bars on the windows?

Traci Van Wagoner
May 152 min read
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Introducing Highland Cow
A new animal has joined the parade! Highland cows, or hairy coos as the locals in Scotland call them, are just so dang cute I had to...

Traci Van Wagoner
May 9, 20241 min read
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In the Beginning...
An Animal Parade World Introduction Animals from around the world coming and going in a fun parade around the house, office, dorm room...

Traci Van Wagoner
Apr 24, 20242 min read
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Year of the Dragon
A behind the scenes look at my dragon art and the creation of my 2024 Traci VW Creations Year of the Dragon Calendar

Traci Van Wagoner
Feb 8, 20242 min read
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A Christmas Star
Written and illustrated by Traci Van Wagoner Inspired by a story told by Grandma Mead on many a Christmas Eve. My breath blew out in...

Traci Van Wagoner
Dec 24, 20234 min read
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Boomer is Here! The final children's book is now available.
IT’S OFFICIAL!!! Many of you have watched and waited and shared in the journey from initial text dummy to final book for Boomer the...

Traci Van Wagoner
Mar 30, 20232 min read
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Look Out! Boomer is Coming!
Update on the book making process following Boomer's journey from sketches to final book.

Traci Van Wagoner
Mar 14, 20231 min read
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Boomer Update
You are all due an update for Boomer! Time has gotten away from me with so much of my attention at the drawing board with this project,...

Traci Van Wagoner
Dec 1, 20222 min read
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KidLitArtPostcard
When the pandemic started, art directors and editors were not long in their offices to received illustrator's promotional postcards, so...

Traci Van Wagoner
Oct 6, 20221 min read
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BOOMER Coloring
Let the Painting Begin! The sketches have been approved, and now it’s time for the paint play to start! Splish, splash! I've started with...

Traci Van Wagoner
Sep 6, 20222 min read
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Boomer Character Development
One of the best parts of illustrating children's books is developing the characters that live within those books. I've had a ton of fun...

Traci Van Wagoner
Jun 16, 20221 min read
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A New Picture Book Project
Great news! I'm illustrating another picture book! I'm thrilled to be diving into illustrating a new picture book, Boomer, written by my...

Traci Van Wagoner
May 19, 20221 min read
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#50 Precious Words
So, I wrote a little something for 50 precious words hosted by Vivian Kirkfield. Then I remembered I had this cute monster I created a...

Traci Van Wagoner
Mar 5, 20221 min read
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Bear Hug
In case you need a hug! We could all use more hugs now days, and bear hugs are extra snuggly good! I had some Paint Play fun creating...

Traci Van Wagoner
Jan 22, 20221 min read
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Wonderful New Year!
Happy new year! Wow, here we are already a couple weeks into a brand spankin' new year! Thank you for joining me in my creative journey...

Traci Van Wagoner
Jan 16, 20221 min read
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Once Upon a Crepé Paper Ball
My favorite childhood Christmas memories are a family tradition created by my Dad, the unrolling of the crepé paper ball. We did this...

Traci Van Wagoner
Dec 7, 20213 min read
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New Picture Book on Submission
I apologize for my lack of posting lately. I've been busy, busy painting and creating art for two big games which successfully...

Traci Van Wagoner
Nov 17, 20214 min read
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Hiring an Illustrator for your Children's Book
​I hope this will be helpful to both the authors seeking to hire an illustrator and illustrators working with authors who are...

Traci Van Wagoner
Jun 2, 20214 min read
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50 Precious Words
Vivian Kirkfield hosts a fun challenge #50PreciousWords. This is a fun challenge for all writers and in particular children's book...

Traci Van Wagoner
Mar 2, 20211 min read
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