AN OLD DREAM - HOLLY SCHINDLER

I've always been drawn to anything artistic. I was writing stories at my child-sized rolltop desk when I was in the first grade. I took about a hundred art courses in high school, and was always walking the halls in some sort of weird vintage garb with clay under my nails and paint stains on my backpack. I played music--piano when I was little, then guitar in high school (an Ozark Mountain Daredevil taught me to play).

I went after the writing. In a no holds barred, headfirst dive kind of way. This month, my fifth traditional novel, SPARK (a YA) released:

My fourth YA and fifth traditionally published book. Wooooh!

Seeing my work on store (and library) shelves has literally been a lifelong dream come true. But other sides of me are crying out not to be neglected anymore...Mostly, that kid with the paint-stained backpack is getting impatient, getting tired of being ignored.

Sooo...

I'm taking another headfirst dive. I've purchased my drawing tablet, and I'm learning the ins and outs of digital art. I'm adding illustrations to my own work.

I'll be honest: I have no idea what I'm doing. Previously, I'd worked with paints and pastels and pencils. But this is also true: I have never had such a great time bumbling along in AGES! There's nothing like being at the start of a brand new adventure, of getting back to an old love, breathing life into an old dream...