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Zara Gonzalez Hoang Illustration
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RECENTLY

It's been 6 years since my dad passed away. So much has happened in 6 years. There are so many things I wish he hadn't missed. I started working on children's books after he passed away. He never saw a book published with my name on it. He doesn't know that A New Kind of Wild was inspired by (and dedicated to) him. He never met my second son. He doesn't know how much my first reminds me of him. But, he also didn't have to see his beloved island pummeled by Hurricane Maria and its people ignored in its aftermath. He didn't have to suffer through four years of President Trump and he didn't have to be terrified for his life, every single day this pandemic has been raging. There's so much that I wish he could have been here for, but there is so much that I am grateful he hasn't had to experience. Death is bittersweet and grief can be confusing. I wish he was here and I am thankful he is not. If I could have him back, I would, but since I can't, it helps to think about all the things that would have caused him pain that he didn't have to experience. It balances out all the things that cause me pain because he isn't here. Te amo Dad. Join us tomorrow for our first Mi Casa is My Home reading! We'll hang out, read and possibly even have a little dance party. Free registration here! https://www.brooklinebooksmith.com/event/picture-book-hour-laurenne-sala-and-zara-gonzález-hoang (link is also in my bio) This is a page in my sketchbook of some early character designs for Lucía and her siblings / cousins from Mi Casa is My Home. I like to talk to myself in my sketchbooks, so that "much better" is because I wasn't really liking my first character sketches of Lucía and this page was where I finally felt like the character was starting to become who she would be. When I am doing initial sketches, I tend to just doodle and see what comes out. Sometimes things work out and I have a thread I can follow and sometimes I just need to keep doodling until something clicks. I’m a bit late in posting because yesterday was Rosh Hashanah, but A belated Happy Book Birthday to this sweet book! What a way to start the New Year with this brand new book full of familia and fabulous words by @salisima! So so thrilled to have been a part of bringing this book to life, I felt like Laurenne wrote this book for ME! Thank you Laurenne, Melanie and Hayley (and the rest of the team for making such a beautiful book!) MI CASA IS MY HOME is out in just a few weeks and to celebrate, we are doing a preorder giveaway! Four winners will receive signed copies of the book and one winner will get a family portrait drawn by me! Preorder the book at any bookstore then pop over to the link in my bio, fill out the form, upload your receipt and you will be entered to win! Kirkus said some really nice things about Mi Casa is My Home, the sweet book about family and home that @salisima wrote and I illustrated. It comes out in one month and two days! You can preorder it now (link in bio) Really thrilled with how this book came out...will be sharing more behind the scenes (and a special preorder giveaway) over the next few weeks!

Monthly(ish) ramblings about illustration and books





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