Ask the Author: Keith James
Answered Questions (11)
Keith James
Oh - "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" seems so far away right now. I'm not sure what I can say about my "plans" for it, except that I'll just illustrate it as I imagine it - which, like My Potter art - starts with descriptions and details as they are stated in the book(s), followed by my own personal imagination.
I will say, there's one little detail of note that I think some people may find unique about my take - if I do it. I'm thinking about illustrating Charlie and his family as dark skinned - not only to be diverse - but because Roald Dahl's wife has said in interviews that he'd originally intended to do that. The idea isn't set in stone yet, because I'm also going back into my "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" work and making Dorothy African-american - though with that, it's specifically for diversity. While I want to encourage diversity, I don't want to cram it down people's throats.
I will say, there's one little detail of note that I think some people may find unique about my take - if I do it. I'm thinking about illustrating Charlie and his family as dark skinned - not only to be diverse - but because Roald Dahl's wife has said in interviews that he'd originally intended to do that. The idea isn't set in stone yet, because I'm also going back into my "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" work and making Dorothy African-american - though with that, it's specifically for diversity. While I want to encourage diversity, I don't want to cram it down people's throats.
Keith James
While there were some cuts the Potter movies made that I feel they shouldn't, I understand that cuts had to happen. It's an unfortunate fact that things will get cut when making a movie based on a book to accommodate the time. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see a completely faithful movie/TV adaptation of the Potter books. But I accept the movies for what they are - decent films that had the very difficult task of representing some phenomenal books.
Keith James
I worked on it all weekend, but there's a way to go before it's done. And even if I finish it, without the computer, I won't be getting it scanned and officially online.
Keith James
Yup - it's been broken for a couple months now. So even if I finish all of the "The Leaky Cauldron" illustrations, I won't be able to scan and put them officially online; only take some snapshots with my phone. So I hope I win the contest too. If I don't, I'm going to need to do some serious thinking about how I'm going to proceed with my stuff.
Keith James
Yup - I had all the preliminary work for the "The Leaky Cauldron" done and ready before my computer broke down, so once the contest artworks were done, I was able to dive into the Potter stuff I'm doing now. Unfortunately, all the other preliminary work I've done for other projects, like the next Potter chapter, Wizard of Oz, Percy Jackson, Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer... and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - they are all "trapped" on my computer. So if I don't win the art contest (which the winnings would help me buy a new computer) I'm going to have to do some serious thinking about how I'm going to proceed with my art in general.
Keith James
I do plan on finishing "Prisoner of Azkaban" - as a matter of fact, I finished the vignette drawings for the next chapter just this last weekend, and then started the painting; I even worked on it last night. Heck, I still plan on doing all the books... at least I would like to, if only for myself. Life just hasn't been cooperating with me these last few years to give me the time I need to do them regularly. And like I said in the previous response, other projects are (unfortunately) having to come first.
Keith James
The quick answer is, no. But not because I don’t want to, but because I can’t.
My literal dream job would be to just work on my Harry Potter paintings all day and get paid to do it. I would - LOVE - that. But alas, that’s not my choice. Harry is a copyrighted character, so it would be up to the owners of said copyright to publish my Potter work. And I have submitted it to them, but they turned me down.
Since then, they’ve (in my opinion) flooded the market with Potter merchandise, including illustrated editions of the books, as well as multiple editions with different covers. Point being, I feel it’s less and less likely my stuff will ever get officially published... which I admit has taken the wind out of my sails to continue with the project.
That’s not to say I won’t continue - I said from day one that I’m doing this project for fun, more than anything else, and will see it through. But for all the reasons I’ve described above, it has taken a back seat to other projects that could actually help my career - like my own book.
My literal dream job would be to just work on my Harry Potter paintings all day and get paid to do it. I would - LOVE - that. But alas, that’s not my choice. Harry is a copyrighted character, so it would be up to the owners of said copyright to publish my Potter work. And I have submitted it to them, but they turned me down.
Since then, they’ve (in my opinion) flooded the market with Potter merchandise, including illustrated editions of the books, as well as multiple editions with different covers. Point being, I feel it’s less and less likely my stuff will ever get officially published... which I admit has taken the wind out of my sails to continue with the project.
That’s not to say I won’t continue - I said from day one that I’m doing this project for fun, more than anything else, and will see it through. But for all the reasons I’ve described above, it has taken a back seat to other projects that could actually help my career - like my own book.
Keith James
Share what you've written and hear out both the praises and criticisms.
Keith James
Long story - but (not to be a tease) if you read my first book, I explain a bit of this in the author's notes.
Keith James
The second book in "The Secret War" series I started. Rough draft is finished, and I'm doing my edits on it now before I hand it off to my editor.
Keith James
I have such a specific story I'm writing, that I don't think I've experienced "writers block" the way most authors do. But when I struggle, I just plow forward and write. It might be garbage that all get's cut later, but often times it'll grease the gears and maybe give me a nugget of something to work with and build off of.
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