Aquarium with Giant Lobster

Drawing - Avery

Dear Avery,

It is terrific that the giant lobster living at your aquarium is green. I’ve received many drawings of red lobsters, but only cooked lobsters are red. I also noticed that you’ve drawn a thermometer and attached it to the giant lobster’s tank. Correct water temperature is another important detail to consider so that marine animals stay healthy. With all the details you’ve included, I think you must be an excellent writer!

Or a scientist!

Happy reading,

Jessica

Woodblock Lobster

Drawing - Colin

Hi Colin,

Your drawing of a lobster fascinates me. It looks like a traditional woodblock print where you draw on a flat block of wood, carve out the lines, roll ink onto the woodblock, then press the inked woodblock against a clean sheet of paper. Think of a stamp. It works like that. Very elegant.

Happy reading,

Jessica

How Lobsters Get Around

Drawing - Madison

Hi Madison,

What I really like about your drawing of a giant lobster is that you’ve made me feel what it would be like to actually be a lobster. Lobsters don’t see all that well. They mostly get around by smell and by sensing movement through their legs, and you’ve given this lobster plenty of legs to depend on. That’s what a good writer does. A good writer will make the reader feel what it is like to be a character in a book. Well done!

Happy reading,

Jessica

Giant Lobster Waves

Drawing - Jerri

Dear Jerri,

Your drawing of a lobster waving amongst the waves is quite comical. I’m so glad to hear that you learned a lot about how to plan stories and that you enjoyed my visit. Also, thank you so much for your well wishes for my career. Much appreciated!

Happy reading,

Jessica

Favorite Character

Drawing - Veronica

Dear Veronica,

I liked your step-by-step illustration of what you’d do with a giant lobster. I also really liked your question, “If you could be any character from your books, which character would you be and why?” One of the characters I’ve created is Mr. Creelman, a groundskeeper at a historic cemetery. He’s a gruff older man who is no-nonsense, believes that life is for the living, and has an enormous capacity to forgive. He appears in my mystery novel, The Spotted Dog Last Seen.

Happy reading,

Jessica

Superhero Lobster

Drawing - Riley

Hi Riley,

I just love how you’ve drawn marine creatures to look like superheros, including a giant lobster. I was really pleased to learn that you’re on page 9 of writing your story, and that you were planning on writing 40 pages, but you were interrupted because you had to play hockey last night. I also face many interruptions while writing. Just try to pick up where you last left off.

Happy reading,

Jessica