Debbie Ridpath Ohi's Blog, page 34
March 6, 2017
Speedy Doodle: Bugs and Baked Goods
Starting my week off with a BUGS AND BAKED GOODS speedydoodle. I find keeping a sketch journal fun, inspiring (getting some ideas for stories) and therapeutic (especially when crazystuff is going on in the news on or social media). See more of my art videos, found object doodles and sketch journal pages on Instagram and Twitter.
Materials and process: I used a Lamy Safari (Fine nib) inked with Platinum Carbon Black ink in my Rhodia paper sketchbook, waterbrush, and Winsor & Newton Cotman pan watercolours. Recorded the video with the Hyperlapse app on my iPhone, imported into Premiere Pro (which I'm just learning) to speed up and crop, added static images to the beginning and end.
Some of my other recently posted Speedy Doodles:
March 2, 2017
February 28, 2017
THE DOLL'S EYE by Marina Cohen (Roaring Brook Press)
Deliciously creepy! I finished this in two sittings. I'm a longtime horror fan, and this was right up my alley; I was inspired to do some fan art, as you can see above. And now I'm even more creeped out by those old-fashioned glass-eyed dolls than I was before! :-)
You can find out more about The Doll's Eye on the Macmillan site.
The book came out TODAY from Roaring Brook Press!
February 25, 2017
MAUD: A Novel Inspired by the Life Of L.M. Montgomery, by Melanie Fishbane (Penguin Teen Canada)
I grew up on L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables books, so was VERY excited to receive an ARC (via NetGalley) of Melanie Fishbane's debut novel, MAUD: A Novel Inspired By The Life Of L.M. Montgomery.
What I especially loved:
- Fascinating to find out more about the author's life growing up, and inspired me to want to find out more about her.
- Finding out some of the challenges that L.M. Montgomery faced as she pursued her goals, growing up in a world where women were often discouraged from higher education and pursuing a career.
- Storytelling style a wonderful homage to the author's voice in the original Anne books.
If you enjoyed the Anne of Green Gable books, I strongly recommend that you check out MAUD when it comes out from Penguin Teen on August 25, 2017!
More information about MAUD at Penguin Random House and on Melanie's blog.
Related links:
Publisher's Weekly review of MAUD: A Novel Inspired by the Life Of L.M. Montgomery
Maud author Melanie Fishbane on the various TV and movie adaptations of Anne Of Green Gables: on Quill & Quire
Guest Post: Melanie J. Fishbane, author of Maud: A Novel Inspired By The Life Of L.M. Montgomery, on Earning & Celebrating Success: on Cynsations
February 7, 2017
February 4, 2017
Agents and editors on Twitter
For those on Twitter:
I've updated my lists of children's/YA book editors on Twitter as well as literary agents on Twitter who represent children's/YA book creators.
I've compiled these lists to help writers and illustrators find industry types to follow on Twitter, not as official lists of those accepting particular types of submissions, so do check the agency and editorial guidelines online before submitting queries, etc.
For info about breaking into the business etc., please see my list of answers to questions I am frequently asked.
February 2, 2017
Biggest misconception about writing picture books: thinking that short = easy/quick
One of the biggest misconceptions about writing picture books, I've noticed, goes something like "While I'm working on my REAL book, I think I'll write a picture book or two for some extra cash. They're so short, after all."
Here's my post about why short does NOT mean easy when it comes to writing picture books. Includes links to my free picture book thumbnail templates!
February 1, 2017
Three Questions with Jackie Azúa Kramer & Maral Sassouni, debut author & illustrator of THE GREEN UMBRELLA (NorthSouth Books/Simon & Schuster)
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I'm delighted to be one of the stops on THE GREEN UMBRELLA blog tour! This is a debut picture book for author Jackie Azua Kramer and illustrator Maral Sassouni, just launched from NorthSouth Books. The story is fun and imaginative, with gorgeous art, and the underlying message of sharing, generosity and looking out for one another is especially important nowadays.
Do check out the other posts on the blog tour for more info, especially the Design Of The Picture Book post about Maral's mixed media process (Maral's process involves cut paper collage and painting with oil, acrylics and inks -- amazing!).
Synopsis of THE GREEN UMBRELLA (NorthSouth Books/Simon & Schuster):
"Things aren’t always what they seem in this charming tale of imagination, sharing and friendship. When Elephant takes a peaceful walk with his green umbrella, he’s interrupted by Hedgehog, Cat, Bear, and Rabbit—all claiming that they’ve had exciting adventures with his umbrella. After all, it is an umbrella, and it certainly hasn’t been on any adventures more exciting than a walk in the rain. Or has it? Jackie Azúa Kramer and illustrator Maral Sassouni both make their debut in this fun read-aloud!"
The Green Umbrella Trailer from Cynthia Nugent on Vimeo.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jackie Azúa Kramer earned her Masters of Education from Queens College. She is a member of SCBWI and has written for the SCBWI Bulletin. In 2014, she was invited to be a member of the Bank Street Writers Lab, Bank Street College. In 2015 Jackie was a presenter at the 1st nErDCamp Long Island. More about Jackie at her website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:
Maral Sassouni was born in Philadelphia and grew up in California. An illustrator for over 25 years, her work has won much recognition, including the SCBWI Portfolio Grand Prize, Society of Illustrators, NY, and group exhibitions of children’s illustrations around the world. The Green Umbrella is Maral’s first picture book. More info about Maral at her website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Thanks to Jackie and Maral for answering Three Questions on Inkygirl today:
Q. Could you please take a photo of something in your office and tell us the story behind it?
From Jackie: This is my treasured decorative plate from the movie My Neighbor, Totoro. I love Miyazaki’s films! His fantastical work reminds me to think free, be free, and feel free.
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This is my office 5-6 months out of the year. I’ve lovingly named my back yard deck, ‘The Canopy’:
It’s a secluded spot surrounded by large leafy trees and bushes. Throughout the day the quality of light shifts through the leaves and branches. I can smell the grass and feel the breeze on my cheek. And the trees are filled with all kinds of visitors-- birds, squirrels and insects that become my soundtrack.
From Maral: I grew up in a house full of books. They were in a variety of languages (French, Armenian, Russian…) as my parents had arrived in the US not too long before I was born. And these were the books that I tried to decipher, whose illustrations I stared at when I was very young.
But in this house full of books, I didn’t have a book of my own. Not until my eighth birthday, when my dad gave me my own copy of Charlotte’s Web. I’d pestered and whined and begged to have it, because our teacher had been reading it aloud to us every day after lunch (thanks, Mrs Tittley!) and I wanted to re-read passages and, above all, pore over the wonderful Garth Williams illustrations to my heart’s content.
It was the beginning of a lot of things. For one thing I discovered that I liked having my own books and so now I have a houseful of books of my own… it’s my main vice! I also became a lifelong fan of E.B. White: I especially love his essays and his letters. And to this day I love hearing books read aloud. Like so many other visual artists, audiobooks are my constant companion as I draw.
So this book is always within reach in my office, and accompanies me whenever I move.
Q. What advice do you have for young writers and/or illustrators?
From Jackie: The stops you take on the road to create something beautiful, meaningful and perfect is unique. And how the editor and/or agent discover something wonderful in your work is also remarkable. For each story that was acquired, I’ve written stories that have been rejected many times. So don’t focus on one story just keep writing. Ideas float all around you. All you need do is pick them out of the air.
How I came to write, The Green Umbrella, and my two upcoming picture books The Boy and the Eight Hundred Pound Gorilla (Candlewick Press, TBD) and If You Want to Fall Asleep (Clavis Books, Spring 2018), have nothing in common.
Be a WARRIOR of CURIOSITY! Inspiration + motivation + passion = Endless possibilities. Default by Django Django…gets me pumped!
And some practical advice—join the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators. In addition, join a critique group. As creators we often work in an isolated bubble. A critique group simply ‘pops the bubble’ and offers fresh eyes and ears. I feel it’s essential, especially for picture books, that someone read your story ALOUD…many times.
From Maral: IMMERSE YOURSELF IN PICTURE BOOKS, if you want to learn to write and illustrate them. Max out your library card! Take notes, analyze, make sketches, draw diagrams, do what you have to do: understand for yourself what’s working (and what isn’t), and also how it’s working. Then put them aside when you’re ready to get to work. If you want to learn to create picture books, there is no better school than picture books themselves. There are plenty of manuals, workshops and webinars, but there’s no substitute for reading and looking at picture books and figuring things out for yourself.
LOOK AT FOREIGN PICTURE BOOKS — Beautiful work is being done elsewhere: other stories being told and other ways of seeing the world that will enrich your own vision. An interesting side effect about looking at a foreign picture book is that you experience it the way a small child does: you devour the pictures to understand the story, because you can’t read the text yet. Telling stories with pictures, it’s the universal language!
GO OUTSIDE— Inspiration comes from “out there” more often than not. Whether it’s in your back garden or aimlessly walking in town or going farther afield—something might trigger a memory, spark a new interest, inspire. It definitely helps to be walking while you’re thinking, somehow. Don’t forget to bring a notebook!
Q. What are you excited about right now?
From Jackie: As Stephen Spielberg once said when asked which of his movies is his favorite? He replied, “The one I’m working on now.” Similarly, I’m excited about the stories I’m working on at this time. I say stories, because I’m usually juggling more then one in different stages; from kicking around ideas to near completion. Here are some of my inspirational snapshots.
I’ve begun research on a nonfiction picture book. I can’t say whom, but I’m amazed no one has written a children’s book about this person. History and people fascinate me. The key in writing nonfiction is to find that magical moment to enter into their life. And, EVERYONE’S invited on February 12th to celebrate with me at The Green Umbrella launch party--details on my website. Also, The Green Umbrella party is globe trekking—the story will be translated into German, Chinese, Slovenian, and I hope to visit!
From Maral: The Green Umbrella, my first picture book is coming out very soon, and I am really excited about that! SO EXCITED! And nervous too — I will be giving my first book events. One offshoot of preparing for this is going to see other children’s book creators presenting their new books — Barney Saltzberg, LeUyen Pham and Katherine Applegate, among others. They were so entertaining and informative, I left these events feeling all revved up and inspired! I hope I can rise to the occasion, too.
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Don't forget to check out the rest of THE GREEN UMBRELLA blog tour! See the full schedule here.
For more interviews, see my Inkygirl Interview Archive.
January 27, 2017
Tips for SCBWI conference newbies, second-timers, plus a CHALLENGE for the many-timers
Only a couple of weeks until the annual SCBWI Winter Conference in NYC! This year I'll be on faculty for the first time (woohoo!), participating in the Art Of Collaboration Illustrators' Intensive on Friday where we'll all be discussing how to make sense of feedback and incorporating alternate viewpoints.
This comic applies just as much to SCBWI-NYC as SCBWI-LA
To those attending an SCBWI conference for the first time: I'M EXCITED FOR YOU! As some of you already know, my career got jumpstarted at an SCBWI conference. Even if you're unable to attend this year, you can follow along virtually via the #NY17SCBWI hashtag on Twitter as well as the SCBWI conference blog.
In addition to an updated version of my SCBWI newbie tips, I've also added a list of other people's tips; the list of links is at the end of this post.
Here's my updated SCBWI Conference Advice post for first-timers (as well as a challenge for the many-timers):
If you're a conference newbie who is nervous, I encourage you to browse my SCBWI Conference Newbie comics. I created these when I was a nervous newbie as well! So many people think I'm an extrovert, but I'm actually very much an introvert and was terrified (to the point of sweating palms, pounding heart, hating the idea of having go up and introduce myself over and over) about attending my first regular SCBWI conference back in 2009.
(Edit re: above comic: I did end up meeting Jay at the conference and he was really nice! And he didn't mention his Amazon ranking EVEN ONCE! Heh.)
I've posted advice for first-timers before and will post it again at the end of this piece, but now that I've attended other SCBWI annual conferences, here is some additional advice I have for those who have attended more than once:
Don't get offended or disheartened if people you've met before don't remember you.
This is something I've learned from both sides. As a 2nd- and 3rd-timer (and so on), I've sometimes gone up to a person or group I've met and had my confidence deflated when it becomes clear they don't remember me at ALL from the previous year. My inner reactions ranged from embarrassment, humiliation, irritation, frustration and even brief anger ("I guess I'm just NOT IMPORTANT enough for xxx to remember!! Hmph.").
Having attended many times now, I've learned the following:
- I'm terrible at remembering people unless I've had multiple conversations or interactions with the same person.
- Even then, especially if I'm tired or am in a noisy crowd (remember what I said earlier about being an introvert?) or have met many new people in a row just before, I may still forget having met someone before.
I still accidentally re-introduce myself to people whom I've met before, sometimes whom I've met EARLIER IN THE CONVENTION. I'm always horribly embarrassed when this happens.
Make sure your name badge is easily visible.
Also, when I approach someone whom I've met before but with whom I don't have constant contact, I usually try saying something that will help remind them of our mutual context, or remind them of having met at xxx. Until I'm sure they actually do remember me, I try very hard NOT to put them on the spot (e.g. I don't say, "So, what did you think of my most recent post?" etc.).
When someone does this to me (subtly or unsubtly :-) setting the context and helping me remember), I immediately feel more at ease with them and am more likely to want to chat with them in the future.
Another tip: if someone DOES remember you, never assume that they're up-to-date on all your exciting news. I've had the occasional person react badly when they realize I'm not aware of their new book ("?? But I posted it all over Facebook!") I never assume anyone reads all my posts or keeps up with all my news. People have busy lives and different priorities.
Something else I've learned: even so-called Big Name authors and illustrators can be insecure. I am faaaar from being a Big Name, but having had a bit more experience at conference-going now, I also realize how some of the Big Name types who seemed standoffish to me actually weren't.
Be gracious, be forgiving and try very hard to assume the best about a person rather than the worst.
And I apologize ahead of time if I don't remember your name or re-introduce myself. :-\
And here some tips for first-timers who feel nervous about attending for the first time, or are normally very shy or introverted and dread the idea of having to meet a lot of new people:
1. Be brave and make the first move. You'd be surprised at how many other attendees feel exactly the same way as you do. Introduce yourself to people you sit beside, stand in line with, notice standing alone.
2. TAKE BUSINESS CARDS. Yes, even if you aren't published yet. We're all going to meet a lot of people over the weekend, and taking away a business card from an encounter or introduction will help the people you meet remember you. If you're an illustrator, take postcards or make sure a sample of illustration style is on your business card.
3. Have realistic expectations. Don't expect to be "discovered" at the conference.
4. In my experience, you're much more likely to meet new people if you're alone. If you're always chatting and hanging out with the same person or people, you're not as approachable. I'm not saying that you SHOULDN'T hang out with people you like, of course! Just keep in mind that as a group, you're probably not going to meet as many new people as someone who is by themselves.
5. If you're on Twitter, write your Twitter handle on your name badge somewhere.
But most of all: TRY TO HAVE FUN.
***** A CHALLENGE TO THE "MANY-TIMERS" OUT THERE ****
Try to remember what it was like when you attended your very first event, or how insecure you felt in the beginning. Then make it a personal challenge to find at least one lost-looking or nervous conference newbie who is sitting or standing alone. Introduce yourself, chat with them, find out what they're working on, perhaps (if appropriate) offer some advice.
Give good karma and it WILL come back to you.
Here are some other tips offered by others about attending SCBWI conferences:
On SCBWI, Advice for Authors and Illustrators - by Giuseppe Castellano (art director compiled tips from past faculty)
Tips for introverted children's book illustrators attending the SCBWI Summer Conference for the first time - my post on KidLitArtists.com
Top Tips For The SCBWI Conference Newbie Of 2016 - by Candy Gourlay
The Do's and Don't's Of Conference Etiquette - by Donna Bowman Bratton (2014 conference handout)
Jolie Stekly's tips for SCBWI conference newbies after they arrive at the conference - this was for a conference in 2012, but SO much great info here.
Tips for Attending A Writing Conference - by Valerie R. Lawson
Tips On Attending A Writing Conference For The First Time - Amy on Sweet Tooth Communications
