April 29, 2014

Toonswaggn' the #BConnectedConf.

I went to the BConnected Conference in Ottawa (our nation's capitol!). The people made this event all that it was.

You know how when I go to a conference I like to do toonswag? Well, I was pretty wasted from making my book but when Dino Dogan from Triberr, got on stage my fatigue disappeared and the drawing practically drew itself.
"It's ALL about size!"

He definitely qualifies as animated. Dino's a fountain of information, expression and unbridled friendliness!

This is Julie Elsdon-Height, the woman behind the blog Sober Julie.


She did a session on photography, and though I was busy trying to capture her fantastic 'look' I did glance up to see a couple of amazing photos of Mocktails she'd created (look, she's got a book on Mocktails!). This woman is living sober, but she's so much more than that; she's wonderful. We shared a taxi one morning and I'm grateful for that because even just a few moments with someone away from the conference hubub can mean so much...*waves at Julie!"

I was at the BConnected Conference to hangout with people, but also to speak.


We often hear about blogging sessions on how to do SEO, how to do content marketing, how to work with brands and so on. Everyone says we must engage and be authentic and create community. But few offer tips or a framework on how to effectively reach an audience through emotional storytelling. So I do sessions on empathy and visual storytelling - I gave a talk on using emotional triggers and I used some parenting stories from my blog as examples.


It's a wonderful feeling to be looking out at all the faces and see them watching my animation on the screen and not yawning at all.


More toonswag:

This smiler is Lyne Proulx, founder of the Ottawa Mommy Club online parenting magazine.


She organized the BConnected Conference with a rocking social media team. It was their first big event and I found it to be intimate, focused and classy. Lyne is gracious and polished and (as I found out after the conference was all over) she has an EPIC sense of humour and will go out of her way to make sure you have your swag bag.

One thing I love-love-love about conferences is meeting people I know from the Innerwebs. There were many that I wanted to draw but didn't get a chance, but I did hug Christine-Lee McNaughton in person from Life On Manitoulin.

Christine is warm and real - just like she is online - and she was also one of the conference AmBassadors. This gal lives on Manitoulin Island, which is a unique place in Canada that I want to see. Christine! Can you hear me? Get the guestarium ready. And no more hydroplaning!

Have you ever met someone in a series of coincidences? It's like that for Heather Boyd and me - every time our paths cross, something coincidental happens and this event was no exception.

Heather is a very talented wire jewelry artist: I met her when I won a pair of her camera earrings at an ELAN schmoozer here in Montreal. When she came to meet me in Ottawa, she surprised me with these:

Dayum it feels GOOD to have an alter ego dangling from my ear.

Look familiar?

Go see Heather Boyd Wire - she has totally cool jewelry and cake toppers and she can even do amazing personalized stuff. Obviously.

So Heather offered a pair of her camera earrings to BConnected as a door prize and guess who won them? They picked my name! But since I already have a pair, plus these gorgeous tailor-made earrings, I insisted they draw another name. I am nice!

Heather actually won a prize herself, which was a Wii Fit and a WiiU and a bunch of related gear from Future Shop, one of the BConnected sponsors. She insisted on giving it to me (I did not argue) and that's why this happened:

Don't try this at home.
Photo by my long suffering and loyal BFFF TrashCanRoxanne.

I know you're wondering WTF did you do to the Wii JC??

But that's another story for another day.




April 28, 2014

Disco Hamster Syndrome.

Do you wake up in the middle of the night with disco lights flashing in your eyes? You may be suffering from Disco Hamster Syndrome (DHS).

I'd do more of these gifs but they make my eyes bleed.

My friend Mona has her own personal hamster. She doesn't get much sleep, but her DHS does give her lots of great writing mojo for blogging. Her kitchen adventures alone are gaze-worthy - she should have her own damn cooking show (if you can call it 'cooking' heh heh).

Moxie-Dude is one of the blogs I check out whenever I wake up with disco lights flashing in my eyes. Also Mona is a rockin' press-release writer. I'm just saying.


April 24, 2014

JC Little authors second book, "Motherhood".

Do you like the title of this blogpost? I thought I'd try out some magical SEO.

My second book, simply titled Motherhood, is now available on Amazon (paperback and Kindle) and Createspace. You can find out all about it by clicking here.


I haven't officially press-released it yet, but because Mothers Day is right around the corner, it's kind of leaking early to give you a chance to order it in time.


This book will make a wonderful Mothers Day gift; it will last longer than flowers or a bottle of wine, or a card. And best of all, your mom will know in her heart that you truly understand what it means to be a mom.


I think I look pretty good for having just given birth. They say the second time is easier.


April 19, 2014

Book cover sneak-peek! (and Goodreads Giveaway)

Where was I? Oh right, so my next book, Motherhood, is set to launch on April 28th. JUST IN TIME FOR MOTHERS DAY.
"This is the universal story of motherhood, from the gentle moment of birth to the inevitable letting go. In the playful and poignant simplicity that is her signature style, JC Little has captured the tender bond between mother and child. A timeless and wordless picture-book for mothers, sons and daughters of all ages."

Some of you might remember the bare bones of the story as blogpost. I want to bring it to a wider audience, so I fleshed it out into a book with completely new drawings.
  1. This book is wordless. Pictures only. And if you get the Kindle version, the page flips animate. So it's like watching a little film. Feel free to hum a little soundtrack to yourself as you read.

  2. It's for all ages. It's the kind of book that might be given by anyone experiencing mother-appreciation sentiments. Sons and daughters can give it to their moms. Moms can give it to their sons and daughters to help foster an understanding of the experience of motherhood. I'd want to give it to a new or expectant mom, a teen or young adult leaving home for the first time...and children who like to make up the words to the story themselves. I loved doing that when I was small.

  3. NB: some teenagers react to this book by sobbing on the sofa and needing cuddles.

  4. Did I mention that this book will make a perfect Mothers Day present? It'll be available as a paperback. Think of it as a really, really special card. I even included a clear page at the beginning for you to write or draw a little note (I am nice).

  5. This is happening:


    Goodreads Book Giveaway

    Motherhood by JC Little

    Motherhood

    by JC Little

    Giveaway ends May 01, 2014.
    See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
    Enter to win

  6. If you'd like to review the book ahead of Mothers Day or soon after, please reach out to me for a review copy. I would be honoured...and humbled.

As always, I love you all very much.



April 9, 2014

Next book coming soon.

Just a quick hello as I am waist deep in stuff over here.


I'm just putting the finishing touches on my next book, which will be available for print and Kindle from Amazon around the third week of April. 

The book is called Motherhood and it's a finessed, expanded and completely redrawn version of my award-winning (totally) blogpost of the same name. This book will have no text, pictures only. And I'm publishing it through my company, Little Animation, just like The LAST Snowman.

Here's the inside title page:

Coming soon...in time for Mother's Day, as a matter of fact.


So yeah, that's what I've been doing. What have you been up to?


April 4, 2014

I will BConnected.

Mostly I draw stories but sometimes I do speaking. I tell the stories that I've drawn and show some animation and stuff. Next weekend, I shall sally forth to do just that at the BConnected Conference in Ottawa.


BConnected is Canada's first social media and networking conference targeting mom and dad bloggers. I'll be talking about creating empathy in blogging to make a human connection. Naturally I'll incorporate some of my playful and poignant parenting stories to illustrate. I'm planning on making it a very fun (and also deeply meaningful) session.


For those of you in or near Ottawa, I'd love to see you at the National Arts Centre - there's some wonderful speakers at the event Saturday and Sunday April 12th - 13th, 2014. I'll be doing my thing on Sunday morning at 10:30.

Please share this and I will be your best friend.


April 1, 2014

The Optimistic Crocus.

Just when you thought winter was going to last forever...














April Fools!