Huge congratulations to Joana Pastro on the release of her debut picture book, LillyBelle: A Damsel NOT in Distress, illustrated by Jhon Ortiz! To celebrate, Joana is sharing some fun facts and photos and having two awesome giveaways.
Edited to add: MORE PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN AWAY ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29!!!
Scroll down for a new Rafflecopter where you can win one of two incredible prizes from illustrator Jhon Ortiz!
1. He’ll create an avatar for one winner. They’re so much fun to use on social media! Check out the one Jhon created for himself.
2. An illustration of LillyBelle with a person the winner chooses. How amazing is that?
I can’t wait to see who wins these prizes–which will be sent via e-mail. If you already entered the original Rafflecopters, the only new option is following Jhon on Twitter. If you did all the options on the other…click that you did them here, you don’t have to do them again.
If you haven’t added your response to the Twitter prompt, I hope you’ll do it now! It will not only give you lots of extra entries for Jhon’s generous giveaways in the Rafflecopter below…but Joana and I will also choose our favorites to win these prizes on Thursday:
*Query critique from Joana
* Picture book critique or 1/2 hour Zoom chat with me
* Query critique from me
When faced with the danger of giants, ogres, and witches, other damsels might quake with fear…but not LillyBelle!
At the School for Damsels, LillyBelle enjoys many damsel-in-training classes, like cake baking and vocal training, but the rule that a damsel must be in distress . . . not so much. When she’s captured by one villain after another, LillyBelle will need to use her charm and her wit to save herself and prove once and for all that damsels don’t have to be in distress–all in time for tea!
A fun way to earn extra entries is to share your answer to this prompt in a re-tweet of this Twitter post:
We can’t wait to see your responses! Feel free to add an illustration or GIF if you’d like. Don’t forget to add #PBParty.
You can scroll down to enter the Rafflecopter at the bottom…but I hope you’ll check out these amazing fun facts Joana shared first.
I wrote the first draft of LillyBelle as a short story on October, 22nd 2015. Five years ago! I signed the contract for publication on October, 23rd 2018. My conclusion: October seems to be a lucky month for LillyBelle!
LillyBelle looks a lot like my daughter. It was pure coincidence, and I love it!
My sister in Brazil made the LillyBelle crochet doll. And she didn’t rest until it was absolutely perfect!
Girl power and friendship are recurrent themes in my picture books.
I caught my first agent’s eye by participating in #PBPitch.
I wrote my first book when I was six years old. It was called THE STONE DUCKLING.
Everyone knows I love to read and write, but my stress relief activity is dancing. I’ve done ballet, jazz, belly dancing, tap dancing, hula. Before the pandemic I had been taking Broadway jazz class for about six years. It was my therapy!
I love learning about art history and Ancient Egypt. One day, I hope to use those in a book or two.
I’m an architect and urban designer, but haven’t worked with it since my second child was born.
I lived in England for two years as a child.
Jhon Ortiz, the illustrator of LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS is from Spain.
Here are more amazing photos from Joana.
I love these photos. You’ll discover the first Lillybelle fan art from Andressa Jung–such talent! In case you’re wondering, Joana’s writing buddy is Violet, her morkie, dressed as Captain Marvel.
Enter to win one of two awesome new prizes by illustrator Jhon Ortiz.
One person will win an avatar and another winner will receive an illustration of LillyBelle with a person of their choice.
The winner of a copy of LillyBelle: A Damsel NOT in Distress with a signed bookplate and fun swag is… Laken Slate!
a Rafflecopter giveawayThe winner of a picture book critique from Joana Pastro is… Erin McCabe!
a Rafflecopter giveawayHuge congrats to the winners! I can’t wait to see who will win the 5 new prizes. Enter by October 28 at 11:59 PM EDT. Winners will be shouted out in this post and on Twitter. Good luck, everyone!
Much like LillyBelle, Joana Pastro loves a good tea party . . . or any party, really! When not writing, you can find Joana baking (and eating) delicious desserts, singing as loud as she can, or twirling around the house. Also, like LillyBelle, Joana thinks good manners are of the utmost importance – just ask her kids! LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS is her first book. Her second book, BISA’S CARNAVAL comes out in Fall/2021. Born and raised in Brazil, Joana now lives in Florida with her husband, her three kids and one rambunctious Morkie. Visit her at www.joanapastro.com, and on twitter @jopastro.
Jhon Ortiz is a 3D character animator and illustrator represented by Lemonade Illustration Agency. His main goal in animation is to create credible, funny and memorable characters, and to achieve that he works every day to improve his skills.
He likes rigging and modeling too, but there´s something in animation that makes him very happy. He’s a curious person so he’s always in search of knowledge.
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