Kevin O’Malley: author, artist, all around nice guy

I had the good fortune of running into Kevin O’Malley at a conference.  We happened to be standing at the same table.  I saw him doodling on a sheet of paper and struck up a conversation.  I found out he was a children’s book author and that he had recently been to the Mazza.  He was drawing what looked like an ostrich.  He asked my name and said he would look me up the next time he was in Findlay.

A little while later he stopped by the table again and gave me the ostrich picture, autographed and customized with my name at the top.  Cool.

Everyone in my group loved it and lined up asking for an autograph.  He doesn’t do autographs.  Instead, he drew a picture, put the name of the recipient at the top and signed the bottom.  I don’t know which was more amazing, the fact that he did a custom picture for every person that asked for one or that he could crank one out in less than a minute.

If you have an elementary child and are looking for a great picture book, get a copy of Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude.  It’s a clever and funny story about a boy and a girl that write a story together.  The girl wants it to be about a princess while the boy wants it to be able a cool motorcycle dude.  The combination makes a great story.

Watch the conference circuit for Kevin’s name.  If he is in your area, it will be worth the trip to see him.