The Cat King

"The Cat King's Daughter" by Lloyd Alexander, published in Cricket Magazine, Feb. 2013

Artwork Copyright, Jennifer Black Reinhardt

When the art director from Cricket magazine asked me to illustrate an upcoming two-part story I told her that I really had too many other commitments at the time.

"But it's funny," she said, ..."and there are cats." I couldn't resist.

So, please find in this month's issue of Cricket magazine, some illustrations by me for a fun story called, "The Cat King's Daughter," by Lloyd Alexander.

Carus Publishing is the umbrella company for kid magazines for all ages; Cricket, Babybug, Ladybug, Ask, and Spider. They do a phenomenal job of consistently hiring illustrators at a time when it would be less expensive and more cost effective to seek out other resources. So just a little shout out of thanks to them for using a wide range of styles and mediums and exposing our kids to the wonderful world of illustration each and every month.

Deadlines period.

I take deadlines seriously.

I have learned later in my professional life that others do not.

It really comes down to whether you see a deadline as a guillotine, or a mere suggestion? Deadlines to me are akin to my mother counting to three. 

Did I know what would happen if she made it to three? 

No. 

Did I want to? 

No. 

And there it was--- 

Not worth the risk.

If I miss a deadline, I must be subconsciously convinced that something terrible will happen. My hand will fall off, or my teeth will pop out, or... I don't know?

Perhaps it was growing up with a father who had us to the airport 3 hours early for our flight.

You had a deadline.

Needed to be prepared. 

To face it. 

To meet it. 

To fulfill your obligation.

I've been working on one for a children's magazine. Can't show you too much. Top secret world of children's publishing, you know...

But I will make it. 

I take deadlines seriously--- period.