The Odessa Chronicles.
What an honor it is to see my original watercolor art on the cover of a book!
A sweet blogging friend, Carolyn Shelton, challenged me a while back to create a painting of the one of the characters she and and her writing “partner in crime” (and partner in humor and heart and spirit), Colin Chappell created in their ongoing collaborative fictional story that was being shared on Carolyn’s blog. When I painted Odessa the barn owl as a special gift to Carolyn, she loved it. So I decided to paint the other characters that lived on Moonbeam Farm as well.
As the story grew, Carolyn and Colin decided to publish their series into a book, and they asked if they could use my art for the cover and inside the book. I happily agreed, and now Carolyn’s dream has finally come to fruition!
Odessa is a barn owl with an attitude who befriended Jaxon, a magical jackalope. The two of them met Dewy, a cat who desired a life of luxury, and the three of them moved into an empty farm.
Joshua Jeremiah Jonathan Jacob Jackson Pebblestone bought his dream farm. His life was going to be spent immersed in the peace and quiet of rural life… until he discovered three lodgers had already moved in!
The Odessa Chronicles is a 290-page collection of adventure stories about the friendship and antics of Odessa, Jaxon, Dewey, and the Man Servant at Moonbean Farm that is fun for children of all ages.
Thank you Carolyn and Colin for allowing me to be a small part of this adventure!
If you would like to purchase a copy of The Odessa Chronicles, you can purchase it here.
I have also written and illustrated a small book of silly rhymes and tales you may be interested in called Klaus the Mouse and other Silly Animal Tales. It is available on Amazon here.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
how wonderful – congratulations !
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Thanks Beth!
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That is so cool. Congratulations, Jodi.
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Thanks Mike 🙂
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Marvelous post, Jodi and hearty congratulations. Lovee the cover page of the book u have painted it so beautifully.
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Congratulations. Quite an achievement!
Hugs
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Thanks!
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Congratulations Jodi. You are doing great on your art work and creativity. Keep doing wonderful things!
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Thanks!
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This put a big smile on my face this morning! Thank you for your kind words and once again Congrats!! You did a beautiful job and have every right to be proud! These are precious characters to Colin and I and you handled them with love. Was so special to have you bring them to life through your paintings, especially since you were with them from the very beginning!
So glad that you took on my challenge. 🙂
Hugs sweet Jodi! ❤ ❤
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Thank you for giving me this honor sweet friend! Wishing you and Colin so much success! Enjoy this accomplishment!!
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❤ 🙂 <3!!
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Congratulations, Jodi! You are now among the notables. We are so happy
for you. Dick and Lois
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Thanks so much Dick and Lois!! Hope you are both doing well and hope to get to see you soon! sending hugs and love!!
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Many, many congratulations! I am so pleased for you. Please keep painting and writing!
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Thanks!!! 🙂
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Yay you! Congratulations!❤️
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Oh my goodness, Jodi, good for you! Congratulations!! You must be so proud of yourself!
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Dear Jodi – Who would have predicted that your lovely artwork would be such and important part of our book? In fact, who would even have predicted the book! I have seen some wonderful art from you these past few years and strongly encourage everybody to visit your site McKinneyx2Designs and browse. I especially love your flower renditions!
Great work Jodi. Writing “The Odessa Chronicles” with Carolyn was an interesting and very rewarding experience, Having your artwork on the cover (and inside) was the proverbial “icing on the cake”, and captured our characters perfectly. Huge thanks (and hugs across the miles)! Colin.
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Colin – I just accidentally deleted someone’s comment I wanted to reply to, and while in my “comments” folder found this lovely note from you in “pending.” I have no idea why it was there, and I apologize for not replying to this sweet note! I sure hope the book is doing well. It surely is a blessing to all who read and was a great blessing to be involved in it in a small way by contributing the art. Hugs back!!
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How exciting and congratulations to Carolyn and Colin! And congratulations to you for painting the cover picture! It is beautiful!
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Thank you PJ! ❤
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I’m excited for you JR! What an accomplishment!
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Thank you!! It feels great! Still feels like a dream. ❤
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LOL! I would feel the same way. Now you both need to start working on your second book! 🙂
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Ha Ha! 🙂
One never knows!
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Even if you don’t do a second book for awhile it has been quite an accomplishment to finish your first book! I’m really proud of ya’ll!
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Thank you! Your words mean a lot! ❤
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Thanks PJ! It is fun and exciting. I hope they have lots of success selling it. I know they poured their hearts into it. I’m happy for them. 🙂
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I’m happy for them too. 🙂
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Congratulations, Jodi! You must feel honoured to have your art work become part of a published book. I am so happy for you.
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Thanks Peter! I do feel so honored 🙂
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That is so cool for you!
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Congratulations Jodi, you deserve this! 😎
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YAY!! Jodi!!! 😃🙌 So happy to see your beautiful owl on the cover of their book! And inside photos of your paintings too!! 😍 WOWZA!! How cool is that?! 😎 So happy for you! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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It is pretty cool – huh?! 🙂 kinda surreal! Feels like an honor ❤
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Couldn’t be happier for all of you! The cover is beautiful! He’s very inviting to want to pick up & read. You just make blessings happen Jodi! I hope its a Best seller. Each of you Enjoy this beautiful moment of success & achievement!
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Thank you very much for your words! Carolyn
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You are so very sweet Dena! I hope it is a best seller too – for Carolyn and Colin! They worked hard and poured their hearts and souls into this sweet book. I feel honored to be part of it 🙂
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Nice to see your lovely watercolour on the cover of a book Jodi…
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Thanks Evelyn! It is kind of a hoot 🙂
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LOL… !
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How awesome!! ❤️❤️ 😀
Congratulations, Jodi!👏👏
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Jodi, congratulations! Fantastic owl painting cover and those inside! Your creative talent shines through! 📚 Christine
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Thanks so much Christine!
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Pingback: Its been 4 years! – Randoms by a Random
Jodi, I just wish I had the talent you have … what beautiful pictures to grace this book. Just wonderful!! 💕
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Oh Fiona – you have SOOO much talent silly lady! If I could write like you, I would write volumes of books!!
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Too kind Jodi. Just one book would be good at the moment. Or even one blogpost. Wretched muse is dancing on a distant shore and refusing to accept that it’s time to come home!
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Odessa dates back before I joined WP! Such a delightful discovery and what a wonderful book cover!!!
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Thanks Liz!!! It’s so fun to see 🙂
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Wow! Beautiful art work. How lovely to be published.
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How exciting! (And I ordered Klaus last week!!!)
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Awww! Thanks Colleen 🙂 Hope you and your littles enjoy!! ❤
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I have no doubt 🙂
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❤
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What a beautiful cover. Congratulations!
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Thanks!!!
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Wonderful Jodi!! I celebrate along with you! (K)
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Thanks kerfe!
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Cool cover. Congratulations!
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Thanks so much!!
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Congratulations Jodi, this cover is your beautiful style at it’s very best. You must be thrilled.
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It is a bit of a thrill ☺️. Thanks Sharon!
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This made me smile! Well done!
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Thanks Kathy ☺️
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Congratulations!! 🙂
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Thanks ☺️
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How exciting and well deserved!! Go Jodi!
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Aww. Thanks Beverly ☺️
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Congratulations! Gorgeous as always
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Thanks Lynn ☺️
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How lovely for you to allow them to use your art! Great blog post.
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It was an honor. ☺️. Thanks.
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Congratulations on being the illustrator on this new book! I love the cover of it…your paintings are so cheerful that they always make me smile. I always knew you would be a great illustrator for children’s books, both the ones you write yourself and books written by others. And I was right!! (Which believe me, is a rare thing.)
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Lol. You are too sweet and funny. Thanks for your encouragement and support and humor Ann!!! 😉☺️❤️
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Amazing!! Congratulations!
—
http://www.areweadultsyet.com
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awwwh! thanks!!! 🙂
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How exciting – congrats!
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All of the characters from Moonbeam Farm are familiar to Benjamin : “My Jodi painted them for the book!” He knows “Oh-dessa the Owl, Dewey the Cat, the Man-servant and the bestest one, Jaxon the Jack-a-lope.” I love how he says Odessa and jackalope. Benjamin sends kisses and a neck-buster hug, as he says “it’s a doozy!” A book of your own and your art in another book are fantabulous achievements. We are so proud of YOU!! Thank-you x 2!!
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Benjamin is such a sweetie! Wish I could hear him say Odessa and Jackalope 🙂 And yes you are very right they are fantabulous achievements for Jodi! No other better word! 🙂
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Oh how I LOOOOVVEEE those neck-buster hugs!!! Thanks Benjamin!!! ❤ ❤
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Congratulations Jodi, what a thrill!
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Thanks!!☺️
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Hi nice reading youur blog
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