iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Mel Cordan (she/her)

Brian LaRossa @brianlarossa.com · 02/10/2026

Good morning, illustrators! Next month I’ll be joining @scbwi.bsky.social San Francisco to chat about discoverability with my fellow Scholastic AD, and friend, @dbuu.bsky.social, and also offering a limited number of portfolio/reviews. Will be a Zoom. Join us! #kidlit www.scbwi.org/events/sfsou...

scbwi.org

Deep Dive into Discoverability for Illustrators

Are you an already-published illustrator looking to get more work or trying to get more eyes on your illustrations? Join us for a conversation with Brian LaRossa, Véronique Lefèvre Sweet, and Doan Buu...

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Reposted by Mel Cordan (she/her)

Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Hello AD’s and Editors! My name is Mel & for #kidlitartpostcard day, I’ve been adding some mock cover work to my #middlegrade portfolio. Please consider me for your book cover projects! Rep’d by @annmrose.bsky.social #kidlitartpostcardday #thegoldencompass #melArt🔥#fantasy #mgcover #bookcover

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Reposted by Mel Cordan (she/her)

Sue Safianoff @suesaf.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Hello #kidlitartpostcard day! My name is Sue and I have lots of stories to share. This is just one of them! Please contact my agent @christaheschke.bsky.social for dummy books! #illustration #kidlitart #kidlit

An illustration that says ‘Sue Safianoff. Author - illustrator’. The image depicts a ghost and a cat painting and fixing up a haunted house lit by a full moon in the background.

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

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Reposted by Mel Cordan (she/her)

Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator @dianaacastle.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Have you ever gotten so competitive at summer camp that you ripped open a time portal just to win the 'dino badge'? 🦖🏕️🪄 #KidLitArtPostcard #summer #kidsummer #dinosaurs #magicportals #illustrator #KidLitArt Rep by @litagentsaritza.bsky.social @andreabrownlit.bsky.social 💼 www.dianacastleart.com

Three kids stand in a dirt clearing with pine trees behind them. A black girl and blond haired boy look comedically scared as they stare at the hispanic girl standing in the middle. She is standing on top of a box that says #1 and is pointing at herself proudly. Behind her, a magic portal shows a dodo bird flying through and a dinosaur snarling and looking at the dodo.

The text above reads: Diana Castillo, Author/Illustrator.
-picture books
-early readers
-chapter books

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

What a great thing! Thank you for the opportunity. I’m working on my middle grade portfolio for cover work. Here’s the latest:

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Reposted by Mel Cordan (she/her)

Brian LaRossa @brianlarossa.com · 03/09/2026

Hey illustrators, How about this, to celebrate the 1st #kidlitartpostcard of the fall season (Labor Day is so late this year!) I’m going to offer a free 1 hour portfolio review + coaching session via Zoom. To enter share 1 image from your portfolio below and a winner will be chosen at random. 💙❤️

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Mock Middle grade book cover with titles

Mock Middle grade book cover without titles

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Reposted by Mel Cordan (she/her)

Gina Perry @ginaperry.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Reminder #kidlit friends: this Thursday, September 3rd is #KidLitArtPostcard day! www.ginaperry.com/postcard

ginaperry.com

All about KidLitArtPostcard — Gina Perry Children's Book Author and Illustrator

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Reposted by Mel Cordan (she/her)

Eric Smith @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Cover reveal days are such fun, huge days for authors. But you know who they can also be huge for? The illustrators. Don’t forget to credit them. Cover reveals always blow up outside of an author’s bubble, and someone who sees it could be that artist’s next gig. ❤️

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Reposted by Mel Cordan (she/her)

KidLitGN @kidlitgn.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

#KidLitGN's pitch event for agented & unagented GN creators is 9 weeks away. Find out more at: kidlitgn.com

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

My otter piece being featured on kidlit411 this week. 🥰

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Reposted by Mel Cordan (she/her)

Victoria K. Chapman (she/her) @weyakindesigns.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

It’s #KidLitArtPostcard day! Hot off the press, a new summer piece. I’m Victoria K. Chapman, author/illustrator of PBs. I love animals, conservation, mindfulness, nature nonfiction & imagination. Rep @joycesweeney.bsky.social & Rosa Frasier @seymouragency.bsky.social www.weyakindesigns.com #kidlit

A child swims underwater with a purple snorkel mask on and a yellow striped bathing suit. She is looking at a Caribbean coral reef with yellow and black striped fish, sea urchin, sea stars, and a green sea turtle in the background. Her hand is outstretched toward the viewer. Art by Victoria K. Chapman.

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Next month I’ll be unveiling some new work for my middle grade portfolio. Until then, here’s a spread from my gn pitch, “Faith’s Leap” - my Chicken Little story with fleas.

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Hello #kidlitartpostcard peeps! I’m Mel - author/illustrator of picture books and middle grade graphic novels. I love whimsical worlds with anthropomorphic animals, mythological monsters and expressive kids solving big problems. Rep’d by @annmrose.bsky.social links in bio #kidlit #melArt🔥

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Just a reminder before #kidlitartpostcard day that my work is hand made. #melArt🔥 #kidlit

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Reposted by Mel Cordan (she/her)

Gina Perry @ginaperry.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Get ready... #KidLitArtPostcard is this Thursday, August 6th! For more info visit: www.ginaperry.com/postcard

Text reads: This Thursday is... KidLitArtPostcard - illustration of an orange cat in a cardboard box with bits of cardboard, tape and paper on and around. Art and event by Gina Perry

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Reminding myself that the best path forward is one with intention, where I get to be my authentic self.

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

*raises hand* Me! I’d be interested. Please check out my gn portfolio: www.melaniecordan.com/graphic-novels And check out my other genres to see my range. My agent @annmrose.bsky.social is a romcom author so she knows the genre well.

melaniecordan.com

Graphic Novels | MelCordan

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Good to know. I will start stocking up on sacrificial lambs. 😆

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

In the fall I plan to send out promotional art, & I’m reworking a part of my portfolio for it. But I’m not sure what is the best method for book illustrators these days. Snail mail postcards? Emails? Social media? And which social media? Where are AD’s & Editors spending their time? #kidlit

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The fact that Democrats aren’t insisting on an in-person meeting with turtle head…with cameras rolling, is infuriating.

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

I love the ADHD brain. Here I am, updating some editor/ad lists, and suddenly I’m brainstorming an app idea.

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Thank you. I know maya for animation and i can model basic shapes but I’ve wanted to learn Blender for ages. I signed up with Patata School. If I don’t create structure to my learning, I’m dead in the water. What I like about them, is their focus on using Blender for 2d and illustration purposes.

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

For a current project, I need to draw architecture from every angle. I’ve taken lots of perspective classes, including one from the famous Marshall Vandruff, & yet my skills are lacking. It’s time. Blender, I can no longer put you off. Time to learn how to use you for world building.

static.klipy.com

Jonah Hill Wtf

ALT: Jonah Hill Wtf

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

I jumped back in there and I’ve seen some positives… Twice now, I’ve seen ground swell opposition start as a murmur, grow, and instigate a movement that made a difference. But yeah, mostly it’s a soap box for people to rant. 😆

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

She asked me to do a final polish pass of the MC so she can see what I’m intending. So i did a quick model sheet showing my 3 phases of production. #melArt🔥 #middlegradeArt

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Among other things, working on revamping my MG portfolio to include cover work. I took a class with Emily @ illustration Initiative & the coaching session has been fantastic. Working on a series of 3, & she’s making sure they are stylistically the same for all 3 covers. 1-2

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

For #kidlitartpostcard I wanted to take a sec and announce my new agency, Marsal Lyon Literary! I still have the same agent, @annmrose.bsky.social so give her a ping! I am working on some new books, portfolio pieces and just uber excited to share them with you. melaniecordan.com #melArt🔥 #kidlit

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

But just a heads up; i’m going to be focusing on my goals for the next 6 months. Please don’t be offended if i say NO. But no one is going to look out for me and my time but me. 2/2

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

I am not a transactional person. I don’t expect quid quo pro when I help people. But lately there seems to be a steady stream of asks in my DMs, either wanting collaberation or just advice, and normally i give for free. 1/2

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Current illustration flex: I designed some characters for a YA gn. Then it was suggested that the book's voice feels more MG. Mel, can you make the characters younger and the design feel more MG? Why yes. Yes, I can.

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

As someone who animated on FN and in other CG-driven projects, I can say wholeheartedly that my animated flower pot is way more charming than AI-driven drivel. Now imagine 1000 artists, putting that much love and passion into their own flower pots...

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Reposted by Mel Cordan (she/her)

Ryan Estrada @ryanestrada.com · 24/06/2026

A cartoonist named Daniel "Des" Rolando Sanchez Estrada was tried as a terrorist and sentenced to 30 years in prison for having anti-Trump comics in his car. Prosecutors connected him to a 2025 anti-ICE protest he didn't even attend because he was in the same book club as others who were.

A photo of Daniel "Des" Rolando Sanchez Estrada, who looks like a cuddly and rad dude, smiling while holding a sketchbook full of drawings of baby hippos.

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Hallloooo I like spooky! Here are some samples for middlegrade and be sure to check out my comic page. www.melaniecordan.com/middlegrade www.melaniecordan.com/graphic-novels If interested, please email my agent @annmrose.bsky.social ann@marsallyonliteraryagency.com

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Happy 5th anniversary #kidlitartpostcard !!! Theme is who we were as children, and this older piece epitomizes it. Loud, imaginative, and energetic & Godzilla was my hero. One birthday I got an action figure that was the best.toy.ever!!!! Rep’d by @annmrose.bsky.social #kidlitart #melArt🔥

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

“E” is for… crud? Ok, maybe not. Seriously, Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I’m Mel. I am an animator and author/illustrator. I love character design, whimsy and I’m interested in pb’s,mg’s and gn’s. I’m repp’d by @annmrose.bsky.social #kidlit #kidlitArt #melArt🔥

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Scores so low, digging would strike oil.

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Reposted by Mel Cordan (she/her)

Ann Rose @annmrose.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

There are a lot of #MSWL posts going around and I love that! I just want authors to remember NOT to self reject. Your book doesn’t have to be a perfect match to a MSWL If the agent takes fantasy and you have fantasy take your shot! ❤️ Don’t stress it!

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

I’m in the time of life where my doctor is pushing protein, movement and weight training. My response was this AM to eat a big bowl of granola with flax milk. Hey. The milk was protein enriched?

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

I got a check from that settlement. It wasn't a small one.. and guess what? It wasn't even a FRACTION of the money I would have made had those studios not been in cahoots.

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

So I jumped him instead. And 29 years and two children later, we sit here in a boathouse, with a wood stove to warm our feet, listening to cool tunes and sipping hot chocolate. What a fricken wild ride.

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

We split the party early to go back to the sailboat he was living on. I thought his invitation to go row out to see the Chinese boat in the harbor was an excuse to hit on me. Little did I know, he was as innocent as the sky; he truly wanted to show me a cool boat.

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Mel Cordan (she/her) @melcordan.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

29 years ago, I declined a date with a boy, only to invite him to an art party in a warehouse where I was meeting up with girl friends.

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