Author | Lightnews

Samantha Sader

@samwisebooks.bsky.social

440 followers 630 following 130 posts

Author/Illustrator with a Master’s in Biology. I write and illustrate STEM and nature related picture books. She/Her 🏳️‍🌈 samanthasaderillustrator.com seeking representation

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Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Feb 3

PB Party 2025!!! Wish my luck yall! My son inspires me to write and draw. I love teaching and making kids smile. My recent favorite book is “The Fire of Stars” #pbparty2025

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Jan 12

Diapers & Deadlines: Crafting a Child and Raising Dreams- Potty training is a real trip. From the concept of a swirling vortex from which nothing SHOULD ever return to understanding not to pee in your pants anymore… its a whole new world in there. #kidlit #scbwi #momlife #comic #parenting #toddler

A toddler sticks his face down into the potty asking if the deposit will come back.

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Jan 12

Penguin adventure. This was a first attempt at a design for a future kidlit postcard. I liked it even though it ended up with an entirely different vibe. #kidlit #illustration #scbwi #scbwiillustrators #authorillustrator #picturebook

A chinstrap penguin swims through clouds of fish and a jellyfish as sunlight streams through the water.

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Dec 14

Finished! I hope my parents like it! #longhorn #painting #country #texas #yellowheadedblackbirds #panhandle #art

Longhorn grazes in a pasture next to a fence with yellow-headed blackbirds.

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Dec 13

Thank you!!

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Dec 13

Update: Nearly done!! #longhorn #christmasgift #yellowheadedblackbird #panhandle #texas

A longhorn grazes while yellow-headed blackbirds hang around.

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Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Dec 11

Current WIP a painting for my Parents. Can you guess what kind of birds they will be?

Paint on canvas of longhorn and birds. Longhorn and birds still blank.

Longhorn and birds still blank but now fence has color.

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Dec 3

Haha I understand! I really want to start a channel where people can paint or draw along with me. My son is 2 and that’s not really feasible yet, but when he’s older hopefully I’ll have more time!

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Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Dec 3

Thank you! I have been trying to remember to make more of them.

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Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Dec 2

The photo on the right is the top frame for this page. Enjoying this style. I have always loved drawing comics. Storytelling through images has always been a passion of mine. #graphicnovel #kidlit #kidlitart #scbwi #scbwiillustrators

Graphic novel page with a girl excited holding a pinecone, then a CRACK, then she looks afraid/shocked, then a broken branch, and her falling.

A girl reaching for a perfect pine cone. She’s holding onto a tree branch.

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Dec 2

Working on storyboarding a graphic novel style page inspired by SCBWI Draw This Prompt: NERD. #scbwi #scbwiillustrators #processvideo #kidlitart #kidlit

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Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Nov 29

Im reading “A Drop of Venom” by Sajni Patel. It’s excellent!

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Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Nov 28

Process video for #Novembird #novembird2024 the watercolor wash goes down after the sketch. I use a kneaded eraser to remove excess graphite. Then I do the watercolor outline of the bird. Next is gouache to fill in the bird.

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Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Nov 23

I have a query in the Second Chance box, but I’d love to query you with my illustration portfolio!

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Nov 19

Folktale Week: Day 2 Gate! The robbers stood outside the gate of their den. Plotting how to take back their home from the monster. This was a quick sketch up... I hadn't planned on participating... #folktaleweek #folktaleweek2024 #brementownmusicians

A badger, fox, and rat wait outside the gate to their lair. It was taken from them by a hideous monster and they plan to take it back.

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Nov 18

Folktale Week! Today's prompt is mist. Out of the supernatural fog approached a monstrous ghoul! The robbers had no idea what had set up upon their hideout and they ran away in fear! #folktaleweek #folktaleweek2024 #scbwiillustrators #brementownmusicians

The Bremen Town Musicians stacked atop one another to scare the robbers from their den! Silhouetted against the sunset.

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Nov 18

All mine focus mostly on the natural world. I have a master’s in biology and so I focus mostly on that. :) What do you like to write about?

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Nov 18

Thank you! Yes! Love STEM! I’m working on a really exciting nonfiction PB right now! 😃 #nonfiction #pb #kidlit

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Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Nov 17

Hello! I am a picture book author/illustrator and I am querying. I’d love to be added to this list! Thank you!

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Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Nov 17

Thank you, Paul! I love painting birds. Nuthatches have always fascinated me with their gravity defying grip.

Reposted by Samantha Sader

Brian LaRossa @brianlarossa.com · Nov 15

I think book covers, perhaps more than any other category of communication design, embody the idea that:

“Design is not about making something look nice; it’s about helping something to look like itself—a natural vehicle for self-realization.”

brianlarossa.medium.com/design-as-a-...

Design as a Third Area of General Education

Note: this essay may also be found on Design Observer.

brianlarossa.medium.com

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Reposted by Samantha Sader

Nicole Garnett @teachertoauthor.bsky.social · Nov 12

🗣 Critique giveaway!

Hey #kidlit, it's the 12th! 🥳

This month, I'm offering 1 #PB critique from myself AND 1 from Peak Team Critiques w/ my partner @aprilberrybooks.bsky.social 🙌

To enter:
1. Follow April & myself
2. Repost this post
3. Comment w/ a GIF of something you're thankful for

Mine🙏 👇🧘‍♀️

a group of people are doing yoga together in a room

ALT: a group of people are doing yoga together in a room

media.tenor.com

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Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Nov 16

I’ll have to check them out! Thank you!

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Nov 16

Oh yay! I signed up for 2 classes just now!

Samantha Sader @samwisebooks.bsky.social · Nov 15

If an agent opens, then its a good time to query. I wouldn’t be surprised if its slow in nov/dec because of the holidays. I also recommend making your own spreadsheet to keep track of which agents at which agencies would be a good fit, so you can query them next. You can message me if you want.