A Little Art on World Turtle Day

I had a successful career in the arts long before a pathogenic germline mutation changed everything. So, for a little break from my hereditary cancer advocacy infographics that I've been posting here for the past few years, here’s a look at some of my Testudines illustrations for today.

The top left image was my first children's magazine cover, done as a 20-something just beginning my freelance illustration career. (Back in the days when getting a gig from an editor or art director a couple thousand miles away involved either a long-distance phone call or a snail mail letter. And when someone liked your work, you got fan mail!)

If you want to color a picture today, you can go here to download the Sulcata Tortoise coloring page.

Or here to download the Desert Tortoise coloring page.

The How to Draw a Turtle page is here.

The sleeping tortoises are from the children’s book, Coyote Claus: A Southwest Desert Tale, published by Sunbelt Publications. (BTW, I donate ALL royalties from the sales of the Coyote Claus book to help the hereditary cancer community fight cancer.)

You can learn more about World Turtle Day here.

Bringing Families Together to Prevent Hereditary Disease

Knowing and sharing family health history can be life-saving. The same genetic variant that may increase the risk of cancer or heart disease can be shared with grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins — even cousins several times removed.

Art created by me as a volunteer advocate for the ConnectMyVariant May newsletter.

The Importance of Telling Your Cancer Story Honestly

“Incidence is increasing for many common cancers, including 6 of the top 10,” according to the American Cancer Society. But there has not been a lack of cancer conferences, walks, runs, and galas over the past couple decades. Something isn’t working. 

Maybe we need to look at preventing and curing cancer differently. Let’s start by being honest about cancer.

Read the entire CURE story here.