Milanka wrote & illustrated
BABY DRAGONS OF LJUBLJANA, and illustrated PREOCCUPIED FAIIRY, & EMERALD ISLE LEPRECHAUNS
Gnome & UnGnome Facts About Milanka:
Milanka is a children’s book author/illustrator.
Milanka is a recipient of the R. Michelson Galleries Emerging Artist Award and has served as the co-illustrator coordinator for the New England SCBWI from 2015-2021.
She lives in Massachusetts by a lake, where you can find her sketching swans, ducks, and all kinds of wildlife for her next picture book.
She illustrated “Noodles and Albie’s Birthday Surprise” written by Eric Bennett, which won a Mom’s Choice Gold award in 2018.
Absol’s Q&A with Milanka:
Hello Milanka! Thanks for being our LEGEND of the WEEK!
Tell us what magical or legendary creature you’d be if you could?
I don’t think I want to be a dragon but it would be so cool to have a pet dragon. Then I could still be myself and I could fly on my pet dragon’s back to so many interesting places!
Can I come? Actually, scratch that, I’m not a fan of anything taller than a mushroom.
How did you come to be a part of Gnomes & UnGnomes?
My friend and critique partner, Leanne, told me about the Loft and about the mythological creatures anthology, which became the book, Gnomes & UnGnomes. I was fascinated because of my family history and coming from a region that is so rich in mythology.
Oh, fun! And what inspired your baby dragon poem? I assume it has something to do with your family history?
My poem, Baby Dragons of Ljubljana, is about the dragons of Ljubljana, Slovenia, a city that is famous for its dragon bridge and for baby dragons (olms, a type of aquatic salamanders which resemble dragons) found in the Postojna Caves. As a child, I emigrated from this region which was then known as Yugoslavia.
What’s great in your life right now that you want to share, personal or professional?
I am excited about a picture book that I illustrated which just came out in January 2023, HARRY CAN HEAR, written by Fynisa Engler. I loved drawing the main character, a cute little hedgehog, Harry, who brings awareness to hearing loss and normalizes the use of hearing aids in children. I am also illustrating another picture book with all kinds of dogs, PARTY AT ARNIE’S, which will be out in 2024! And I am looking forward to celebrating the release of GNOMES & UNGNOMES!
That’s exciting! I look forward to reading your books. Thanks for your time, Milanka!
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