Firstly - it's incredibly flattering and lovely that people would ask me to illustrate their literary babies but, alas, the answer has to be no.

I'm afraid I only work directly with publishers - and indeed. most children's book illustrators worth their salt would say the same thing.

However, this shouldn't stop you submitting your manuscript as it is - in fact unless the author and illustrator are one and the same person publishers much prefer to receive the manuscripts unillustrated as they like to match up new authors with illustrators already on their books - and they have a much better idea than me or you about what style would best suit your book. And don't worry if your book is very dependent on the illustrations to work - firstly, editors have a fantastic imagination, and secondly you can always make an illustration note next to your text in italics if necessary (i.e. if the illustration contradicts the text or a character needs to be seen by the reader but is not mentioned in the text). When you’ve submitted your manuscript and have a signed contract with a publisher by all means put my name forward to them as an illustrator who’s style you think would fit well with your book - and you never know, we might work together yet!