Mary Jo Beswick

Mary Jo Beswick was a professional artist for twenty years before turning her talent for creating whimsical paintings into creating picture books for children. Her debut picture book, Lonely Lola Ladybug published by Bellastoria Press, won 1st place in the 2016 Vinnie Ream's Awards from the National League of American Pen Women. Born and raised in Huntington, Long Island, she has lived in seven different states since adulthood and five years in the south of France, where she began painting and writing. Today she lives on the Northern Neck of Virginia near the Chesapeake Bay with her husband, Barry and their golden doodle, Ozzie.

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

In my heart and soul I am a creative person. There is nothing I like better than taking an idea in my head and creating something tangible from it...something that can be seen and touched and enjoyed by others. It is a joyful process, full of possibility and pleasant surprises.

Why children's picture books? Three reasons:

1- I have a natural connection to the simple sense of happiness that makes a child skip instead of walk. It is present in my paintings and it is through painting that I discovered I have it. My ability to express happiness visually is a gift, at least for most adults, so I feel I was meant to share it.

2- I have always felt the desire to touch a lot of people in some small way. My paintings affect a small number of people in a positive way but books have the capacity to affect a LARGE number of people, especially children, in a positive way. I especially like the idea of children and parents connecting while enjoying the books that I create.

3- I want to create children's picture books that are first and foremost fun to read and also offer some lesson of value for children. It may be something as simple as a new point of view or as important as a life lesson but the message is subtly woven into the words and pictures of a good story