Getting Comfortable with Website & Blog

Getting my story, The Tale of Ole Green Eyes, down on paper so-to-speak was a breeze. But…whew, I feel like a fish out of water with setting up my first website and blog. I’m up for the challenge, though. I need to learn the ropes and before long I’ll be an old dog at it.  I’m still seeking an illustrator for my book. I have two possible candidates, but haven’t seen his or her work yet. I want life-like illustrations of my characters, not cartoon type. This is the type of images I looked for in most of our children’s literature over the years. I was naturally drawn more to these kinds of books and I think it’s only fitting that my first children’s book have that same touch. It seems more personal. What do you think? Do you like real-life or cartoon characters in your children’s stories? What about your kids, do they like one more than the other?