Rebby the Gallant is Back on Track, New Cards, and a The Best Mural in the World.

If you have the winter blues, don't forget the days are getting longer (up here on the Northern Hemisphere at least) and Spring is just around the corner. There are awesome things happening in the Land of Stones! In this newsletter, you'll get an update on my second book, Rebby the Gallant and I'll give you a sneak peak at two illustrations. Next, you'll hear all about my new beautiful greeting cards, including the new line of John J. Cards, tell you all about the clearance sale on my website, and leave you with images of the incredible new mural painted on my building by local art phenom, Hillary Kent.

This portrait of Rebby the Gallant, by J. W. Julian is the main character in the second book in the Elusive Baby Bunny Series.

I'm back in the Studio Writing and Illustrating Rebby the Gallant!

After a much-too-long hiatus, I have finally gotten back to writing and illustrating my second book in the Elusive Baby Bunny Series, Rebby the Gallant. I introduced Rebby the Gallant (pictured above) in Chapter Three of my first book, Ebby the Magnificent where I use a story about Rebby's heroic adventures to explain to Ebby (and the reader) what an Elusive Baby Bunny is capable of doing. Hint: it involves saving an entire village. Rebby is a prequel of sorts to Ebby. He is born about 60 years before Ebby in the Land of Dragons (which is what I call the Northern Italian Alps and Slovenia). Rebby will have an entirely new cast of characters, but I promise they will win your hearts. As with Ebby, Rebby the Gallant is full of adventures, friendships, strange places, and kindness. And, like Ebby, Rebby will be violence and cruelty free and full of beautiful illustrations. I still have a long way to go, and I don't know when I will finish writing and illustrating this second book. I hope to have it ready in time for Christmas, but 2025 is going to be a very busy year, so no promises. I intend to use the same amazing printer in Croatia, Denona, d.o.o. to print another heirloom quality full-color hardback volume that you will want to keep and pass down for generations. I'd love to hear from you if you are interested in getting a copy (or two). For one thing, it will help motivate me to finish it.

I did this painting several years ago after traveling to the Tyrolian Alps in Northern Italy. I was struck by the greens, purples, whites, and blues that were everywhere. I am using a slightly modified version of this painting as an illustration in Rebby the Gallant.

This beautiful watercolor painting of a charging Rhinoceros is one of eight (8) incredible art greeting cards painted by John J., which will be available for purchase on my website in the next week or two, or ordered from me directly. Keep checking back if they're not there right away or send me an email at jessica@jwjulian.com if you want them sooner. John J., also known as "Sweetie Pie" in extremely close circles (OK, OK, only in my eensy-beensy circle of one), has been busy in the studio creating one masterpiece after another and wants to share them with you! He is keeping his painting skills tuned for the THREE (yes, three) maps he will be painting for Rebby the Gallant!! Stay tuned for more excitement!

Shown here are the newly improved "Ebby the Magnificent" Card Collection and the "Sunset" Collection, two of the new sets of cards available now at my online store www.jwjulian.com.

Now there's even more in "store" for you!

I am so pleased to introduce you to my new handmade art greeting cards. I have switched from the dark craft paper cardstock to a new cream colored cardstock and added more colorful rhinestones to each card. The cream background really makes the pictures POP. With over 30 original paintings to choose from, and 8 different card sets, picking your new favorite has just gotten more fun! The cards are blank inside, making them perfect for any occasion.

You will also find more Giclee prints, available in 11 x 14" prints or you can custom order the size you want.

Additionally, all hand embellished canvas prints in stock are on sale for 50% off while they last!

Don't see your favorite paintings (including my most recent ones) in a card or print on the website or you would like to create your own card set? No problem! Just contact me and tell me what you want and I will make it especially for you at no extra cost. Now is the perfect time to stock up in Elusive Baby Bunny merch for every Bunny on your list!

Introducing the Best Mural in the World

Last summer I received a call out of the blue from a local muralist wondering if I was interested in having a mural painted on the parking lot walls of my building in Uptown Vancouver. I was more than interested! In fact, it was something I had thought about doing for years. A few days later I met with Hillary Kent, the most lovely, talented, exuberant artist you could ever want to encounter. We talked about our mutual visions for the mural and agreed it would have something to do with nature and animals. Each business picked an animal or plant to represent them and Hill would put them all together.

She started the project just as I jetted off to the Land of Stones, but kept me posted along the way. Two community painting parties got the background finished in a jiffy, then Hill set about to create the larger-than-life-sized paintings. Take a look at some of the animals she created. If you are interested in getting a mural done, or if you want to look at (and possibly purchase) some of Hill's amazing artwork, visit her website: https://www.hill-yeah.com/

We LOVE our readers and LOVE getting reviews!!

Reviews are a great way for you to tell other people about the book and are extremely important for independent self-published authors. If you enjoyed Ebby, please consider sharing your thoughts with your friends, your book club, your colleagues, on Amazon, Goodreads, with me, or wherever you write reviews. As an independent, self-published author, word of mouth is my BEST advertisement. This is a review I received last year.

Happy reading and hoppy adventures!

J. W. Julian