iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 19/06/2026

Life happens! Had to put writing on hold again as we empty our house before a much-needed reno, finding & moving into a rented apt (1 year), renting a storage unit & deciding what to put into storage, working w/builders & architect. Hoping to get back into regular work routine starting July. 🤞🏽

Smiling couple in front of apartment with moving boxes.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 04/03/2026

Scary but exciting! Starting this week, I'm putting all picture book ideas/projects on the back burner, turning down pb illus, focusing on my MIDDLE GRADE WRITING. For the past 15+ years, it's been other way around. Time to be proactive and (finally) get my MG projects finished. #KidLit cont'd

Five pencils arranged horizontally, each with a small black-and-white cartoon character drawn beside it to appear as if sitting at the pencil like a desk. Characters are using laptops or writing, with one character leaning back in a chair and another with a cat curled on top of the pencil. Illustration by Debbie Ridpath Ohi, ©2017, with credits along the left side.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 18/08/2025

6/ He's asked me NOT to get it critiqued or run it by beta readers, that he's happy to provide feedback. Goal: to get it into good enough shape to warrant a contract. So now I'm just WRITING. ❤️💛💙💚🧡 Wish me luck, eh?

Four-panel comic of a writer at her laptop. Panel 1: She smiles and thinks, “I’m having a good writing day,” with a blue angel saying “Good for you!” and a red devil saying “So what?”. Panel 2: The background fills with red, self-doubting thoughts while the devil whispers more negativity and the angel looks worried. Panel 3: The writer yells “STOP! I know that things may change tomorrow. But right now…” as both the angel and devil react. Panel 4: She calmly returns to writing, thinking again, “I’m having a good writing day,” with only the blue angel remaining. Art by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 08/07/2025

I'm using my @work.debbieohi.com acct for work-related updates. I promise NOT to post daily wordcount updates etc. 😜 Will aim for a post a week, I think, & will try to include tools/resources I am finding useful. If you're interested in what I'm working on, I encourage you to turn on notifications.

Screenshot of a notification settings pop-up labeled “Keep me posted.” A large red arrow points to the toggle switch for “Posts,” which is turned on. The “Replies” toggle is off. A blue “Save changes” button is visible below.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 30/06/2025

Wrote a longer post about gratitude, @jpchanda.bsky.social, and embracing my next career challenge: www.instagram.com/p/DLh5JJBuggH/ #Gratitude #KidLit

Two people sit across from each other at a restaurant table, smiling at the camera. The table has drinks, a glass teapot, and a water bottle on it. The restaurant is busy, with diners and waitstaff in the background.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 20/06/2025

This is the first time since 2011 that I've had no book contract in the wings. This is on purpose. After much angsting, I've decided to take a break from picture books so I can focus on writing middle grade. I'm both terrified and exhilarated. PLEASE WISH ME LUCK. #KidLit

A real-life paintbrush tip appears to pour rainbow-colored paint down onto a joyful girl with arms raised. The paint flows over her body and splashes outward. Illustration by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 20/06/2025

My go-to fountain pen is still my Pilot Falcon with a Soft Fine nib. The flex nib enables me to get a slight variable line width, and the pen is a reliable starter (e.g. even if I don't use it for weeks but pick it up, it still writes with no problem). I just wish it had a bigger ink capacity.

A fountain pen rests on a blank sheet of paper, with its ink forming a drawing of a barefoot girl in a flowing dress. The girl appears to be tugging on the end of her dress, which connects directly to the pen tip. Illustration by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 04/06/2025

I resisted for a while, but I've been lured to the side of Team #OxfordComma.

Cartoon of a woman speaking to a group of commas on the ground. She says, “I’m sorry, but I just can’t keep you all in my manuscript. It’s nothing personal!” The commas respond with speech bubbles: “Don’t listen to those Oxford comma haters,” “Pick on the semi-colons instead,” and “You serial comma killer!” The artist’s signature and website (Debbie Ridpath Ohi – DebbieOhi.com) appear at the bottom.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 02/06/2025

This week is first in a long time where my creative work focus is solely WRITING books for young people (current: a spooky middle grade), have no contracted deadlines, don't feel pressured to be actively promoting a just-released book, and I am not travelling. Enjoying this moment while it lasts.

Found object illustration of a smiling girl with long dark hair surfing on an orange surfboard. The wave is represented by a piece of curly kale, and the background is a plain white textured surface. Artist credit: Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 17/04/2025

Woohoo! Handed in final art for I'M BUSY, the newest in the I'M... picture books written by @michaelianblack.bsky.social and illustrated by me. Cover not yet public. There will likely be a few more tweaks, but the bulk of the art is done. 🎨🥳 #KidLit

Four children’s book covers with bold text and cartoon characters:

Top left: “I’M BORED” – girl leans on the word, looking bored.

Top right: “I’M SAD” – girl and slumped and sad-looking flamingo with a concerned potato.

Bottom left: “I’M WORRIED” – anxious potato between the words I'M and WORRIED.

Bottom right: “I’M SORRY” – girl holds an angst-ridden potato, with an angry-looking flamingo sitting on the word SORRY.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 28/03/2025

Hi! This is my work-only feed where I not only post JUST news & updates about what I'm working on, but where I also post comics, art, & art expts that are NOT necessarily kidlit-focused. If you're looking for my main EVERYTHING acct where I post #BlueSkyTips etc, see @debbieohi.com.

Illustration of a young girl in a simple dress speaking to a fairy godmother with a magic wand. The girl says, 'I appreciate the offer of a party dress, but any chance I could get a book contract instead?' A mouse looks on from the side. The artwork has a whimsical, hand-drawn quality with a watercolor texture in the background.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 02/03/2025

Another Procreate animation I did several yrs ago, sent to a young friend of who was pursuing sound engineering as a career. #Animation #Procreate

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 27/02/2025

Playing around with adding sound effects to an animation I created on my iPad (Procreate). I still haven't had time to learn Procreate Dreams yet. #Animation #Procreate #CreepyCute #DarkerArt

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 24/02/2025

Early experiment with paper collage, from my archives. #Collage #PaperCollage

A collage artwork featuring torn pieces of Japanese newspaper arranged on a textured yellow background. A black pen is outlining a figure that appears to be a girl, with visible Japanese characters on the paper pieces. The composition includes a red artist seal and a signature in black ink. The image credits "Debbie Ridpath Ohi" and her website, DebbieOhi.com, are visible in the corner.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 23/02/2025

"And then she opened the book..." Created with Procreate. #Animation #Procreate #Reading

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 11/02/2025

Radicchio smile. #FoundObjectArt I only learned recently I've been mispronouncing "radicchio" incorrectly in my head all my life.

Found object art consisting of a whimsical face illustration using pieces of radicchio for the outline of the face and neck. The eyes and mouth are drawn with black ink on white paper, signed "D. Ohi" at the bottom right corner. Art by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 10/02/2025

One reason I created this separate account is so I could post pieces like this one without having people ask me if I'm feeling ok. 💙 Going to use #DarkerArt tag as a way of categorizing this kind of art when I share, to make it easier for me (or others) to find/browse later.

Black-and-white illustration of a young girl sitting on the ground with her arms wrapped around her knees, head hunched over her knees. Her long, messy hair falls over her face. She leans against a wall in the shadows. Background is textured, and the digital ink line is etched, creating a woodcut-like effect. Artwork by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 07/02/2025

Illustration of sad-eyed dark creatures crowded together in the bottom third of the image. Against the grey and gloomy-looking sky above, one red balloon is floating away. One of the creature is looking up instead of down, watching the balloon with an expression hope. By Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 07/02/2025

One of the reasons I created this "work-only" Bluesky acct is so I could collect some of the art and comics that may not be as mainstream or have as much kidlit appeal, but of which I am personally fond. 😁 #DebbieOhiComics

Comic shows people looking above and below a table, looking puzzled. Caption reads: "Despite an intensive search, no one at the party was able to find Marcy's misplaced semicolon." Comic by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 07/02/2025

A #CreativeCollab with @rebeccaupjohn.bsky.social. Thanks to Rebecca for letting me vandalize her photo 8 months ago! #FoundObjectArt

Photo of a tiny plant growing up between two boards, casting a long shadow. A digital illustration has been added to make it look like a young girl is sitting on the edge of one board, feet dangling in the water. Photo by Rebecca Upjohn, Art by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only) @work.debbieohi.com · 06/02/2025

On tap today: Working on cover art for I'M BUSY, a new picture book written by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by me (with @simonkids.bsky.social). It's the newest in the I'M series of #KidLit books. I am sooooo identifying with I'M BUSY right now. 😜

Four book covers from the I'M picture book series by Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ridpath Ohi. Titles are I'm Bored, I'm Sad, I'm Worried, and I'm Sorry. Each cover has a different colored background, with the characters from the book interacting with the title text. Characters include a pig-tailed girl, an emotional potato, and a flamingo.

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