IamA first time published author, Stacy Bearden. My book, a children's picture book I wrote and illustrated, was just released on 9-1-17. It's titled "Boudreaux the Louisiana Mosquiteaux" AMA!

Are you from Louisiana?

I sure am. Born and raised in Louisiana. I wouldn't live anywhere else!

Love it! Growing up we had a dog name Phydeaux. I'll defiantly have to check out the book for my goddaughter.

Thanks! If you order it from my website I can autograph it to her!

Fun title- did it ever get changed or was it the same from the beginning? I know that titles get changed sometimes.

Thanks. The title and most everything I wrote was kept as-is. The art went through multiple revisions. Pelican is a Louisiana based publisher, so the title was perfect for them. I'm really branding this book for Louisiana, and partly because I pitched it to Pelican Publishing who specializes in Louisiana books.

Any advice for aspiring illustrators? Did you focus on art or writing in school?

I have a degree in Piano Education. The advice I can give illustrators is to draw every single day. Draw things in which you aren't necessarily interested, and make them appealing. Try to illustrate some short stories for practice. Comic books are great teachers, too.

Thanks! Follow up: who are your biggest illustration influences?

I'm going to go with comic book artists here. Jim Lee, Raphael Grampa, Alex Ross, Todd McFarlane, Otis Frampton, McQuary.

How many books/pieces did you write before you felt like you were ready to try and get one published?

I write short stories, but this was my first attempt at a children's book. I'm a pianist by day, so this started as a fun way to use my art for a larger project. I just did this and gave it a shot. Sometimes things work out!

Wow, very cool! Thanks for answering and congrats.

Thanks so much.

I am not from America and do not get the reference with the title. What is the reference?

Mosquitos are plentiful in Louisiana. So much so that we jokingly call them the state bird. The name Boudreaux is a common Cajun name.

Thank you for the explanation! :)

Thank you for participating!

How did you go about getting published? Like what was the technique, how did you find publishers?

I think this was meant to be, because I looked for a Louisiana publisher, mailed it in, and they asked me to not sign a contract with anyone else until they talked with me first. But as I said above, I was a Louisiana author/artist pitching a Louisiana book to a Louisiana publishing business. It was the first and only publisher I sent the book to, and I realize that is NOT typical.

Did you do the story or the drawings first?

For this one I knew the outline of the idea I wanted, so I did all the art first. The story, being for ages 3-8, was not complex. It's about the mosquito meeting the animals along his way to learn what he eats. Either way would have worked.

When did they start allowing people to read in Louisiana?

I think just before they published my book, so I'm pretty lucky.