Laura Lacámara is the author of Floating on Mama’s Song / Flotando en la Canción de Mamá, a bilingual picture book inspired by her mother, who was an opera singer in Havana. Floating on Mama’s Song, illustrated by Yuyi Morales, will be released by HarperCollins September 1, 2010.

A Cuban-born artist and author, Laura was awarded her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting at California State University, Long Beach. She studied printmaking at Self Help Graphics in East Los Angeles and began exhibiting and selling her work.

When a fellow artist suggested Laura’s images would be ideal for picture books, Laura signed up for a children’s book illustration class at Otis College of Art and Design. She instantly fell in love with both writing and illustrating for children. It was in that class that she wrote the first draft of Floating on Mama’s Song.

Laura recently illustrated The Runaway Piggy / El Cochinito Fugitivo, a bilingual picture book for Piñata Books, an imprint of the University of Houston’s Arte Público Press. The Runaway Piggy, written by James Luna, debuts November 30, 2010.

Laura’s paintings combine acrylic paint with textile and paper collage. To capture the feel of a fine grain canvas, Laura paints on cotton fabric stretched onto illustration board.

Laura is currently represented by Bill Contardi at Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc., New York, NY.

Laura is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She lives in Venice, California with her husband, Hal, and their daughter, Annalisa.

Articles Written By Laura Lacámara:

Setting My Imagination Free
Kite Tales / Winter 2008

Illustrator’s Perspective:
An Illustrator’s Identity Crisis
Kite Tales / Winter 2006

Laura Lacámara’s Featured Gallery Page:
Kite Tales / Winter 2007