Attending the 2024 Reuben Awards by the National Cartoonists Society in San Diego

Firstly, I was so suprised to be nominated for the Divisional Award in Book Illustration for my work on Princess Pru and the Ogre on the Hill with Owl Kids and Maureen Fergus. I have always dreamt of attending the awards and stepping on the stage and getting the award. Although I didn't win the award (it went to the amazing Mad artist Tom Richmond!), just being there among other humorous illustrators was incredible.  I hung out with so many cool people. To mention a few, Scott Ketcham (Dennis the Menace), Jeff Keane (Family Circus), David Blazek (Loose Parts), Johnny Sampson (Mad Magazine), Tauhid Bondia (Crab Grass), Phil Witte (Funny Stuff: How Great Cartoonists Make Great Caroons), Nancy Beiman (Fur Babies), Milburn Taylor (Texas Cartoonist), Hilary Price (Rhymes with Orange), Peter Maresca (Origns of the Sunday Comics),  Lynn Johnston (For Better of for Worse), Kevin Segall (collector), Andrea Beizer (Alice), Mark Parisi (Off the Mark) , Sam Viviano (Mad Magazine), Johnathan Lemon (Rabbits against magic), Chuck Dillon (Monopoly) and Dan Misdea (New Yorker Cartoons). Just writing all these names down made me realise what an amazing event it was. I think it was really important for me to attend the event as a nominee, and I hope to be one again soon!