Bonnie illustrated the poems
JACKALOPE, UNDINE’S DANCE, KRAKEN, ŻMIJ THE SLAVIC DRAGON, BOOKSHOP PROPRIETRESS, SIREN’S SONG, ATIVARAS, & CALADRIUS
Gnome & Ungnome Facts About Bonnie:
Bonnie Kelso (she/her) is an artist, muralist, and children’s book author-illustrator.
Her name is pronounced, bah-nee kel-soh.
Her debut picture book Nudi Gill: Poison Powerhouse of the Sea released March 7, 2023, from Gnome Road Publishing.
Bonnie is obsessed with the ocean and everything related to it, even mermaids and Krakens!
She serves as the Illustrator Coordinator for the Nevada Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Bonnie is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and a former exhibit designer for the Smithsonian Institution.
In her free time, you can find her curled up with a book or enjoying a hike in the desert with her family.
Absol’s Q&A with Bonnie:
It’s a pleasure to meet you, Bonnie! Thanks for being our LEGEND of the Week!
Ready? Get Set? Go! (Gnome tip: We pronounce “go” “oh!”)
If you could be any legendary creature, who or what would you be?
I would be a mermaid. Wait, I already am a mermaid. At least I feel like one when I’m snorkeling.
I feel like I’ve seen you around the world?
Yes! I’ve actually traveled around the world TWICE!
My legs are short, that would take me around 200 years!
Can you tell us a little about how you came to be a part of Gnomes & UnGnomes?
When my colleague Kristen Wixted invited me to participate in this project, I was so excited I fell out of my chair! I remembered reading the last Writers’ Loft anthology and wishing I could have been a part of it. I feel honored to have my art included with so many talented authors and illustrators.
Yes, I’ve seen your incredible ocean art. We’re sure glad to have you as part of this one though. Tell our readers how you chose the poems you wanted to illustrate?
I chose poems that I have a special connection with. I love the ocean and everything in it, so I knew I wanted to illustrate a sea monster. Lucky me, I got to illustrate the Kraken and a few mermaids! I currently live in the desert and thought it would be fun to illustrate a jackalope. I see their relatives often when I hike with my family. Also, Kelso is a Scottish name, so when I read Ellen Cohen’s “A Bookshop Proprietress,” I had a vision of this bookish Loch Ness Monster right away. I’ve been to Edinburgh, Scotland, but never to Loch Ness. It’s one of the many places on my ever-expanding bucket list.
What’s great in your life right now that you want to share, personal or professional? Some wins?
I’ve recently become a muralist. It’s been such an amazing adventure creating public art on a large scale. The experience even inspired me to write a middle-grade novel about a young muralist. It’s still in revision, but I hope to find a publisher for it one day.
What are you working on now?
I have three picture book projects in the works right now with Gnome Road Publishing. GRP has been a delight to work with and I encourage others to submit to them if they have the opportunity. Besides NUDI GILL, I illustrated Heather Kinser’s IN A CAVE which will release next Fall. Then in 2023, SEA SMILES is coming out. I’m hoping to keep the momentum going. My fabulous agent, Liz Nealon at Great Dog Literary, is helping me with that now.
Tremendous! Gnome Road Publishing is my FAVORITE! Bravo!
writersloftpress.com 