Color Me Positive.

Few things set our imaginations afire like good, old-fashioned crayons. Markers, watercolors, and acrylics too. There's a certain magic and unbridled bliss that comes from unplugging and reverting to something so pure, elementary, and tactile, especially the older and more digitally-consumed we get.

So this coloring page and the many that will follow are here for your downloading and printing pleasure. We encourage each and every one of you (with or without young children or grandchildren) to sit down, creative implement in-hand, and have at it. Go on. Lose yourself. It's therapeutic. It's cathartic. It's calling upon a completely different part of the brain than we use each day.

Those who protest they "don't have a creative bone in their body" need to set that aside and just give it a go. If nothing more, untether yourself for five minutes and let the colored wax fly. Be meticulous. Scribble with abandon. Stay within the lines if that's your more speed or disregard them altogether. There's no right or wrong. Just have fun. If you "mess up" (which, again, you can't), print another one and start again.

A Go, Go, Greta coloring contest is imminent, not to create competition among toddlers or adults, but to unleash the inner visual virtuoso within us all. Details to come. In the meantime, if you do choose to create your own letter-sized masterpiece and want to share it with us, scan it or take a photo and, so long as we have your permission, we'll share it here. Email to info@gogogreta.com or upload to our Facebook page.

Stay creative and never stop reminding yourself you can do anything.

Progress. Not Perfection.

A dear friend once told me this and now I remind myself of it each and every day. Everything we accomplish is something and it's more than we had to show a few minutes, hours, days, or weeks before.

This book is very much a work-in-progress. We are proud of it in its current state but, perfectionists to the core, doing things on our own, we are looking to make it better at every turn. We love it as is but will continually be making tweaks and revisions while also forging ahead on volumes 2, 3, and whatever may come after that.

For you believers, supporters, and early adopters, rest assured (whether you've heard back from us directly or not) that your books are being hand-packaged with love and care and will soon be on their way, if they're not en route already. If you get in early by buying this first edition and we make significant improvements today or in the distant future, we will keep you in mind and do right by you then just as you've done right by us now.

The above progression is there to give you a sense of the process, time, and energy that goes into making, well, anything. Before a single sketch was drawn, this story (like many) started out as mere words set in Courier double-spaced on a blank page. At some point, the making of our children's book, from concept to finish, will be showcased here. Thanks for continuing to check in. Stay creative. Stay inspired. You can do anything.

Dear Ms. Oanes

With a little luck, maybe you or one of your students is out there reading this. You were kind enough to stop by The Arts Factory this past First Friday and purchase one of my books. We put a small Greta stamp on the back of your coloring page and went on a short goose chase looking for the big one. We didn't find it while you were there but it did turn up minutes after you were gone.

If you come back, we'll make good on the big stamp. Otherwise, share your school address here: info@gogogreta.com and we'll drop something special in the mail. Thanks for coming out and showing your support. Hope your students enjoy the book.

Small Wonder Stands Tall for Education

It was a trip to an at-risk elementary school over three years ago during Nevada Reading Week that led to the development of a children's book manuscript entitled "I Can Do It All." That manuscript eventually took on a different name and ultimately Greta Duzzett and Go, Go, Greta the book were born. So it's only fitting that this infinitely capable character return the favor wherever she can.

Saturday, May 14, amidst a flock of starry-eyed children, local urban artist, illustrator, and Greta co-creator Joseph Watson recreated a scene from our recently self-published book at a pro-education rally behind Las Vegas' esteemed Arts Factory in the up and coming 18b Arts District. With the future of southern Nevada's public education a looming question mark for students, parents, and faculty alike, the goal was to show support for our schools and the broad spectrum of art, music, culture, and literature programs that may be severely impacted or, sadly, lost altogether with proposed budget cuts.

On a brighter note, the overall spirit of the event was festive. There was live art and music. One of the goals was to give kids a canvas on which they could express themselves, and express themselves they did.

The theme of art and education from one specific spread within the book seemed appropriate. It will take more than a pint-sized, freckle-faced character to turn the tide on education but spreading a message of encouragement for the future leaders of the world is a good place to start.

It's what's on the inside that counts.

That's what they say. It applies to people and books, I suppose. Some of you have expressed interest in this book. Thank you for your support and your patience. Here are a few pages from the interior so you can get a better sense of what the book is all about. It's a simple message but one we hope will resonate with readers of any age.

We will begin fulfilling book orders this week and we'll be working towards a way where you can purchase online. In the meantime, they'll come straight from the creators. Maybe there's something cool about that too.

Thank you for my warm welcome.

It would seem a few of you believe in me and you hardly even know me. That's pretty cool.

I'm a quiet kid with a closed-mouth smile, a shark tooth necklace, a treasure chest lunchbox, one green boot, one blue one, thick glasses that I'm proud of, and a cornflower in my hair. That's it. I just showed up on the scene one evening, and you gave me a kind embrace.

I'm a little bit of a misfit and I'm totally okay with that because, honestly, what's normal these days? A little quirkiness or homespun charm is a good thing and I've got a lot of it.

For all who picked up a copy of my book, a button, sticker, or just flipped through the pages during downtown Las Vegas' First Friday, thank you. It's nice to know that there are a few of you out there who share a similar outlook on the world as my own. It's nice to be inspired and inspire others. I'll keep doing my part if you will.

I'm here!

Welcome to my world and thanks for welcoming me to yours. My name's Greta Duzzett. I can do anything. I can do it all. That's my motto. Maybe you should make it yours. It's all about staying positive, being encouraging, and doing amazing things.

My first book Go, Go, Greta (written by Dana Satterwhite and illustrated by Joseph Watson) is now available. It's the first time for any of us to step into the children's book arena, and we're self-publishing (for now) so please be forgiving if it's not perfect. It will get there. I have all the confidence in the world, in me, in them, and in you. Also, for now there is no ISBN associated with my book. There may be soon. We're still deliberating, honing, crafting. In the meantime, the best (and only) way to buy it is through the creators. Now, I'm off on another adventure. Let's see what the day brings.

Oh yeah! I'll be making my debut this evening at the Joseph Watson Collection in The Arts Factory and Blackbird Studios during First Friday in downtown Las Vegas. Wasn't sure how things were going to come together but they're looking pretty good. Books, buttons, stickers, t-shirts will be available for purchase individually or as a package. Shirts and books will be available in limited quantities. I'm cute but I'm not all that popular (yet). I mean, seriously. You guys have never even met me before. Wanted to gauge everyone's level of interest, so we did a short run on those items. Finally, there will be coloring pages and hand stamps for the kids. If you're a kid at heart, you can have some of those too.

Thanks for checking me out and special thanks to all the amazing folks over at Opportunity Village who created the buttons with me on them. That really is a special place and they do so much good for this community.

Maybe we'll see you tonight. Otherwise, next First Friday we'll be all over it!