05/04/2026
Finding the right illustrator for my story Oliver Pippin has been more challenging than I expected. Bringing Oliver to life in the right way has felt incredibly important to me.
Then something unexpected happened while sitting in my Texas School of photography class.
When Corey McDonald walked into the room, I recognized him right away. I’ve admired his work for years—his attention to detail, his styling, and the level of care he puts into everything he creates. In my mind, he’s always held a bit of a “celebrity” status.
I had mentioned a couple of times throughout the week that I’d written a story about a little mouse, but it was more of a side note… not really the focus of why we were there.
On Thursday night at dinner, the conversation naturally opened up… and somehow turned into the possibility of Corey illustrating Oliver.
Tonight, we spent a couple of hours on Zoom, and I got to watch him begin bringing this little guy to life.
It’s hard to even put into words how that felt.
I love how two very different artists, with very different skills, can come together to create something bigger than either of us could on our own. This story is a piece of my heart, and I’m so grateful to watch Oliver take shape.
Two creative voices coming together to create something we hope feels lasting… maybe even something that finds its place in Christmas for years to come.
It’s a reminder…
you just never know who might become part of something meaningful in your life.
Sometimes it’s someone you’ve admired for years.
Sometimes all you have to do is ask.
And sometimes… it turns into more than you ever expected 🤍
