Hero Background (with text)

"Behind the book"

A behind-the-scenes video detailing the process of writing and illustrating Home in the Woods.

Eliza_AuthorPhoto_2020

Eliza Wheeler is an illustrator and author of books for kids, teens, and the young at heart. Her book Miss Maple’s Seeds was a NYT bestseller, and her book Home in the Woods was dubbed “Gorgeous” by the New York Times book review. Eliza is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Mailing List Sign-up

Sign up for my newsletter “Creativi-Tea Time” for a 1-2 minute bite of inspiration for creatives, 1-2x month

Screen Shot 2020-05-01 at 7.23.49 PM

Autumn—Process

September 11, 2020

When drawing certain things over and over, I’ve found it helpful to make a crude model that I can capture at different angles and light it to show where shadows will fall. I made this little paper model of the shack for my story ‘Home In The Woods’: For the scene marking the arrival of autumn, I was able to find the right lighting and angle for that composition. I pulled the photo that I took using the iPad right into the thumbnail sketch and refined the perspective in Procreate. Also in Procreate, I made a quick rough color study.…

Write to Marvel

September 11, 2020

I’m inviting kids and readers of ‘HOME IN THE WOODS’ to send a letter or drawing to the real Marvel! Marvel is 94 years old at the time of this writing in 2020. She was a 5th grade school teacher for many years, and she had a big influence on instilling in me a love for picture books as a child. She would love to hear from you if you liked her story! Send digital copies of letters and drawings to Home In The Woods Book @gmail.com. Your letter or drawing will be printed and sent to her by snail…

Learn. Grow. Support Black Lives.

July 16, 2020

What heart-breaking times. I pass these murals daily in my Minneapolis neighborhood (on plywood coverings on local businesses lost during the Covid19 shutdown): As a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, I join them in putting out the call: “The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators stands together with the African-American community in our unequivocal stance against racial inequity and prejudice. We deplore the legacy of tragedy, pain, cruelty, and fear that have resulted from long-standing explicit and implicit racism.  We must examine and dismantle racism. Our members create books that will influence what kind…

HOME IN THE WOODS book video

April 28, 2020

When I was finishing the art for ‘Home In The Woods’, I had this idea to make a “little” book video to help share some behind-the-book stories. When my husband Adam agreed to make it, I had no idea it would become something so beautiful in and of itself (I should have known). It’s 13 minutes long, good for a lunch break. I hope you enjoy it! A million massive thank you’s to Adam Wheeler for all the talent, time, and love put into this. See his work at https://theworkofadam.com And huge thanks to Alex Reeves at Point of Blue…