Helen the Transartist is my first book, and I started writing it way back in January of 2000. I was working as a CPA, (certified public accountant) at the time and was inspired by Elaine's drawings of Dancing Chickens, which she made in first grade. At first I wrote only part-time, as I had a full-time accounting practice. I liked accounting because I like figuring things out, and my clients were a super nice group of people.

But in October of 2000, I found out I had breast cancer. Finding out I had cancer was like having the floor fall out from beneath me, then the roof and walls of my house crashing down on top of me. Now, four years later, I am still here and doing great!

Cancer made me decide to become a full-time writer and retire from accounting. Fortunately, my husband, Alex (who is a really wonderful guy) backed my decision, and now my writing career is a family project. Part of our family is Felix, pictured with me here.

anita@helenthetransartist.com

This picture isn't of me... it came in a frame we bought. That is my cat, though. His name is Cyprus Eucalyptus Oberlick. My sister, Elaine, demonstrated her computer ability by deftly adding pupils to the eyes of Mr. CEO.

As for me, I am a high school senior, and after graduation I plan on attending the University of Arizona and majoring in art. I want to be a fashion designer, so will go to graduate school to learn more about clothing design. I am not ashamed to admit my favorite character in Helen the Transartist is Narcissa, as she was the only one with any fashion sense!

The pictures I drew for the book were mostly the Sand People, Cupids, Narcissa, and her sisters. In the manuscript Mum had written, all the characters had the most un-inspiring and downright dreadful clothing--the whole lot of them. I gave it a go and redesigned the outfits, but Mum said it "didn't fit their character." However, I redrew Erin, from her shorts and T-shirt, to how I thought a Cupid should dress and Mum did change the text!

jill@helenthetransartist.com

Well, in this picture I'm holding my cat, Squinky. I got her for my birthday in October of 2002, when I turned 14.

Squinky is almost 2 years old now. I named her Special Stripe, but then everyone started calling her "Squinky." The spelling of her name changes, depending on how she's behaving. When she's being nice, or doing cute things, we call her Squinkie. When she's attacking your hand(which occurs frequently), or scratching you, her name changes to Squinkeay. Squinkie is a very cute way of spelling the word Squinky, and Squinkeay is an ugly-looking word. All these words are homophones; they are spelled differently, but are pronounced the same way.

Well, about myself: I'm a sophomore in high school, my favorite classes are math and art, and I am the treasurer of the Honor Society. I play the piano, and my favorite composer is Erik Satie. I've been taking lessons since I was six, so now I can play really advanced songs.

elaine@helenthetransartist.com