My own children inspire much of the work I do these days. They are honest editors and designers, and are sweetly deluded into believing that their oft-published dad is world famous. Most of the newspaper work I've done, unfortunately, has been consigned to recycling bins many times over.

A growing desire to illustrate books for young readers brought me to my wonderful agent, Wendy Mays at Wendy Lynn & Co. (wendylynn.com). Through her representation and encouragement I've embarked on a journey I hope to continue for as long as my eyes can see and my hands can hold a pencil, pen or brush.

Illustration has been my passion from the time I held that first pencil. After a degree in illustration from the University of Kansas, a Master's degree in Education from the University at Buffalo, and after being published in one newspaper or another for a quarter of a century, I'm eager to meet the challenge of the next project pairing words and pictures.

Lon Eric Craven