When I was creating this book, I knew I needed a sidekick that could add to the storyline. I chose a lizard native to the Sonoran Desert since the story takes place in Arizona. I did a sketch for the artist, Ashley Weinberg, and sent her a picture of the lizard in its actual habitat. Because my wonderful illustrator is from the Midwest, using this type of reptile was new to her as we tried to create just the right look and attitude for this lizard character.
One day during our weekly Zoom call, the illustrator was excited to tell me that she had just visited an exhibit where the same lizard we were designing was on display for the public. The photo below is the one she shared with me!
I laughed out loud when I saw it! He had given us exactly what we needed for the drawing to be completed.
Readers might be interested in knowing that the color of the lizard is accurate. What a fun project it would be to research this little guy!
Tricia Nichols 