I get many ideas for my art and writing from my two cats, Willow and Monkey, my grumpy rabbit, Toby, and Hermann (The Wonder Tortoise). I also find inspiration from observing nature, usually out my kitchen or studio windows, and on my early morning walks. A squirrel with a stubby stump of a tail showed up in my garden for a while and inspired my story Naomi No-Tail. Another squirrel appeared a year later and had even less squirrel tail than Naomi. I named her Bridget Bobtail and filed her away in my mind for another story. I also love cute toy characters that make me imagine conversations, stories, and whole worlds around them. My toy mice and rabbits have become my friends and serve as wonderful story starters or sketch practice on days when inspiration is waning. And, of course, looking at the work of other illustrators is always inspiring. Most recently, I have been poring over books by Lisbeth Zwerger, Catherine Rayner, and Christopher Denise. I also love the Mouse Guard books by David Petersen. I love the mice!
