Friends of SHE IS STILL MAMA: Mother's Day 2015 Update

Dear Friends of SHE IS STILL MAMA,

Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are mamas yourselves! I'm happy to update you on the progress of my children's picture book about a young child whose Mama has breast cancer: SHE IS STILL MAMA on CrowdRise.

After the SCBWI writers and illustrators conference, I did another revision of the manuscript, and then let my work on this book take a rest. Perhaps those of you who write, are artists, or who engage in any creative pursuit, will understand the cycles appearing in how I work -- just like a breath, I have a burst of inspiration and energy and then a period of complete letting go. There's no way to realistically stay in that creating mode constantly. It flows like waves. At first, I was nervous about the silence in the pauses. I thought I wasn't working hard enough. But I have since learned to trust and embrace the digestion and integration that needs to take place in an artistic process. Of course, a pause on one manuscript leaves room to work on another and to write brand new stories, but that's a different update!

What's Next?
I want to let you in on a new goal in my publication process. While I made and stand by a firm commitment to seeing SHE IS STILL MAMA in print by choosing self-publication, at the same time I am pursuing representation with a literary agent. If I can get support and visibility in the trade publishing world, SHE IS STILL MAMA will have a much greater reach to families facing breast cancer (and hence, more donations to my chosen non-profit!). So, I am working both sides, and whichever happens first wins! And no matter what, your donations are contributing in a concrete and meaningful way towards this project. Whether to help me distribute, market, and buy art supplies or go directly to the non-profit, every single dollar will make SHE IS STILL MAMA a reality. Of course the ultimate goal is to get this book in the hands of families who need it. I look forward to keeping you posted!

Will you donate to help me reach my goal?

Every single donation (large and small) directly serves to put SHE IS STILL MAMA into the hands of children and their families who need it.

You really can make a difference. Huge thanks to all of you who have donated!

Please consider Donating Now

Want to know more about SHE IS STILL MAMA?

I have decided to self-publish my picture book so that I can give directly to women and men who are living their lives with cancer. From free yoga and art classes, to "Look Good, Feel Better" seminars, workshops for family and consults with nurses, Katz Cancer Center helps real people facing cancer every day. All of their services are free of charge without question, for anyone with cancer, either undergoing treatment or fully recovered.
(http://www.dominicanhospital.org/Medical_Services/Cancer_Care/052801).

SHE IS STILL MAMA is written for the young child (2-6 years old), and provides a unique view into the topic of breast cancer. Very few books approach this subject with young children and yet, there are hundreds of thousands of women diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Since 1999, incidence rates of certain types of breast cancer have increased in younger women (Breast Cancer Facts & Figures, 2009-2010, American Cancer Society). Mothers with breast cancer are in need of targeted support for their young children.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support,

Karen 

Friends of SHE IS STILL MAMA: March 2015 Update

Happy Spring! I am so pleased to update you on the progress of SHE IS STILL MAMA, my not-for-profit children's book about breast cancer. 

I recently returned from a hugely inspiring conference hosted by The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. It was a breakthrough weekend for me -- as illustrator particularly. I decided at the last moment to present my portfolio and I'm so glad I did. I had a chance to come out of my shell and introduce my artwork in front of 100 people. I've never been more nervous! Showing my art is such a vulnerable experience. I also had the opportunity to meet and work with Caldecott Honor Award winning illustrator, E. B. Lewis. I learned so much about illustrating picture books. Authors and illustrators alike are equal storytellers: one tells through the word; the other tells through the pictures.

My current approach to illustrating SHE IS STILL MAMA is working with my daughter's watercolor paintings from kindergarten. Using the watercolor as a starting point, I add layers of chalk pastel to create the scene. Here is a peek at the process!

What's next?

The story text is in excellent shape. I received insightful feedback from my critique group, which I am working on incorporating. I'm also moving forward with illustrations, taking what I learned at the SCBWI Conference and kicking everything up a notch! I now have the confidence to make big strides toward a winning picture book.

Will you donate to help me reach my goal?

Every single donation (large & small) directly serves to put SHE IS STILL MAMA into the hands of children and their families who need it.

You really are making a difference. Huge thanks to all of you who have donated!

https://www.crowdrise.com/sheisstillmamaahand-drawnchildrenspicturebook/fundraiser/karenroos1

Want to know more about SHE IS STILL MAMA?

I have decided to self-publish my picture book so that I can give directly to women and men who are living their lives with cancer. From free yoga and art classes, to "Look Good, Feel Better" seminars, workshops for family and consults with nurses, Katz Cancer Center helps real people facing cancer every day. All of their services are free of charge without question, for anyone with cancer, either undergoing treatment or fully recovered.
(http://www.dominicanhospital.org/Medical_Services/Cancer_Care/052801).

SHE IS STILL MAMA is written for the young child (2-6 years old), and provides a unique view into the topic of breast cancer. Very few books approach this subject with young children and yet, there are hundreds of thousands of women diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Since 1999, incidence rates of certain types of breast cancer have increased in younger women (Breast Cancer Facts & Figures, 2009-2010, American Cancer Society). Mothers with breast cancer are in need of targeted support for their young children.

Tattoo Update

On April 6th, I will get my first tattoo. Over the years, I've been intrigued by tattoos, and even open to them. I just never felt connected to a particular image or symbol that I wanted on my body for the rest of my life. 

Now, I find myself in a position where a tattoo is not only a statement, but a reclaiming, a redefining and a healing of my body and my soul. 

A lot of women (but definitely not all) who have had a mastectomy undergo reconstruction. And one of the things that we have to face is the nipple situation. A reconstructed breast doesn't have a nipple. This is added later, either created by a plastic surgeon or a tattoo artist. There are 3-D nipple tattoos that look quite natural and are very popular. 

For me though, there are a few things going on. First, I have one natural breast and nipple and one reconstructed breast (no nipple). So, it would be challenging to create a symmetrical nipple that has the matching skin tone to my real nipple. But to be honest, I never even got that far. Because I don't feel like my reconstructed breast is a breast at all.

In my mind, I definitely do not need a nipple. It's been almost two years since my mastectomy and reconstruction, and I'm just barely getting reconnected to this part of my body. I'm not sure whether this will ever feel like a breast to me. (So, hint: no nipple tattoo for me.)

My tattoo artist is Kristy Quinones at Black and Blue Tattoo in San Francisco. She is working with my inspirations to create the perfect design for me. The artistic elements are particular to my breast cancer experience, and at the same time transcend that journey and speak to my life as a whole. I can hardly wait. 

* Photo Credits: all photos are from p.ink/personal ink Pinterest boards https://www.pinterest.com/personalink/

Boob Ink

I'm planning my mastectomy tattoo. Some of you might be surprised by this. Here's how it happened. 

I met a lovely friend, a fellow breast cancer survivor who came to look at some shoes I was selling. She didn't buy the shoes, but we found we have some common ground in life. Different shoes but similar path. She recently had her mastectomy tattoo done by a P.ink artist in San Francisco. P.ink stands for Personal Ink and provides tattoo ideas and artist info to breast cancer survivors. https://www.pinterest.com/personalink/

My new friend inspired me to start thinking about a new phase of my healing process. I've gone through surgeries, treatments and they've left their marks on my body. I've had reconstruction of my left breast (although it doesn't feel like a breast anymore to me), and I've sat with it the way it is for over a year. I really don't want to do a nipple construction (see above comment about not feeling like this is a breast), and haven't thought much about body art. Until now. 

I am just starting out in my process. First I looked at bunches of mastectomy tattoos and could easily point out what I don't want. No offense at all to other women's choices. It's so personal. But some of the art and placement just doesn't appeal to me. 

Slowly, images starting coming to me. Things that have special meaning to my particular transformation, ignited by a breast cancer diagnosis. I'm collecting inspirations on my Pinterest board here: http://pinterest.com/karencroos/body-art/

Do you have a tattoo? What inspired you to do body art? 

Future Wings

I just have to think that -- along with everything in life -- there are multiple facets to this cancer thing. It isn't just a physical dis-ease. There are soul and spiritual elements which present an undeniable call for growth and transformation. Is breast cancer a spiritual journey? Is any dis-ease or illness a potential awakening? 

I discovered a lump and was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma on Good Friday, 2013. I had surgery on May 16, 2013. Left mastectomy. I began chemotherapy on July 5, 2013. Adriamycin, Cytoxan, Taxol. This is a blog about my experiences, treatments, thoughts, feelings, decisions... as I walk through the fire.