Why CT is a great place to be a Children’s Book Author/Illustrator.
When we moved to CT in 2018, it was not so I could be closer to NYC publishing houses. Nor was it so I could have more diverse experiences in the children’s book market. But both of those reasons are why CT is a great place to be a Children’s Book Author/Illustrator. Here are some other reasons:
Conferences:
While I was living in UT, I could attend the 1 day conference in SLC for Illustrators. It was very local. I remember seeing not only the same portfolio from the same people year after year, but some of the illustrators brought the same postcards year after year. Which made me salty cuz I wanted to have new postcards from them. The people who they brought in often had the same style and it felt like we were in an art echo chamber. The school I went to was drinking from the same cool-aid as well.
While living in UT, I did go to the national conference in LA several times. I easily spent over $2000 on each conference. I remember the hotel alone was between $1000 and $1200. Flight times in and out often meant I had to stay another day or leave before the conference was over to catch a flight home.
In CT, in the past 12 months, I have attended 3 conferences that I could drive to. NE SCBWI, NJ SCBWI and the National conference in NYC. Altogether I probably spent $2000. The art is diverse in style and medium as well as subject matter.
CT also places me closer to Highlights. Highlights is a retreat center that specializes in workshops for writers and illustrators of books for children. Before I moved to CT, I couldn’t figure out how to fly into Highlights. Now that I can drive to Highlights, it makes it much more affordable. From my home in CT, it is only a 4 hour drive. The first time I went to Highlights, I spent $500 and made more friends there than I did at the National conference. I tend to make friends easier in the laid back environment of the retreat center. It is a magical place.
Society of Illustrators
After I moved to CT, I heard of the Society of Illustrators in NYC. Each year in November, they have a showcase of artwork from children’s books. You can see the best artwork on the walls. I can catch a train in the morning, go see the artwork, and catch the last off peak train home all in one day.
If you go in November, they might even have the catalog from the show still available for sale. Don’t go in January. The catalog will already be sold out…unless there is a pandemic on. This catalog is informative. You get to see the art directors and the artists and the publishing houses listed in the catalog. It gives you clues about who to reach out to as you promote yourself.
Tassy Awards.
I’m a pre-published author/illustrator. And I live in CT. Those 2 things make me eligible to enter the Tassy Awards. The first year I heard about it was during the pandemic. I entered and I was a finalist for the author/illustrator category for a wordless picture book. I received specific feedback on my art and it helped to change my direction on that project.
Eric Carl Museum:
I am not very far from Amherst, MA where the Eric Carl Museum lives. And my local library will give me a free pass to visit the museum. I remember living in UT and drooling over the Eric Carl Museum website wishing I lived closer so I could visit. I tried to plot a reason that we would need to be in CT just so I could go to this museum.
Other Resources I still can explore:
There are other artists, galleries, museums that I haven’t been to yet, but are close enough to be a few hours drive away. I love living in CT and I’m so glad that we are here so I can reap the benefits of this location for my children’s book author/illustrator career.