Short Front Legs won the 2024 New Mexico Arizona book award!
Short Front Legs: observations of the human species from a tired mother–yep! That tired mother is me, and in this book–I cover parenthood and all the silly things us humans do around raising kids while growing up ourselves-whew!
This coming-of-(middle!)-age story asks why evolution favors us humans–especially with all the unnecessary human-things we do: from crazy ambition, insisting on perfect holidays, to owning pets and crazy beauty standards.
Filled with comics and anecdotes, this lighthearted book looks at those born, bred, and buttered in today’s society: typical homosapiens trying to let go of their own childhoods while becoming parents themselves. You know, doing the whole thing of three bedrooms, two baths, and a loft. Cough, a Zoloft.
From an adolescent to an adult, this narrative is filled with anecdotal proof that humans are, well, strange creatures. This book is a must-have for new parents, the young and confused, and those who would like to ask why, why on earth do humans thrive, when nature selects?
About the Author
I am raising three younglings in the high mountains of Northern New Mexico. I am a tired mother, but also a graphic designer and a lover of all things outdoors, like hiking, snowboarding, mountain biking, and camping with my family.
I have way too many creative side projects—including this book, and my storefront that shows my graphic design and artwork on New Mexico wildlife, the famous World War II physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, and pickle ball—all original designs that can be printed on a variety of things such as t-shirts, mugs, and totes such as an Abert’s Squirrel shirt that says, “Squirrels just want to have fun,” or a pickle ball mug that says, “Holey Balls.” Who doesn’t need that?
Other book projects
Picture books!
Goodnight Los Alamos, by whitney Spivey, received the New Mexico Arizona Book Award for best picture book!
Below you will find my picture books inspired by my kids that you can read for free! (Just scroll through the gallery!)
Upside Down is inspired by my oldest child, Daphne, who loved hanging upside down and doing gymnastics. The second book, The Book of Huggles is inspired by my middle child, Donna, who was always giving hugs, especially to her little sock monkey. The Book of Beeps was illustrated by my daughter Daphne, after we got this idea to make a book for her little brother Eli.
