Savannah Hendricks's Blog, page 24

Spread Your Like, Not Your Love

Tis the season for love with Valentine’s Day in a few days.

I’ve learned over the years that love can be complex, simple, heart-warming and heart-breaking.

What I’ve also learned is that love looks different. It does not fit in a box like so many of us might think. At least it shouldn’t. Each person’s love should look different and be unique. Last Valentine’s Day I spoke about loving yourself.

This time I want to bring up how misused love can be. We are instructed as children to love one another, love your neighbor. This is misleading.

Love should be guarded and given to a special few. It does not need to be restricted to family and it does not need to be family.

Snow Patrol (Chasing Cars) said it best, “Forget what we’re told.” (This song takes my breath away every time I hear it).

Go and like all the people you wish. Like the heck out of them! But don’t love them. Love is powerful, deep…wordless.

“Those three words”
“Are said too much”
“There not enough”
(Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol)


Love is not like, it is not lust. It is not easily gifted. You are supposed to guard your heart…guard your love.

Mini Layered Cakes

I recently stumbled upon a great way to make a mini layered cake for two. (This is perfect for Valentine’s Day)

I used disposable foil tins and regular cake box mix. Once I buttered and floured the tins I poured the cake batter in about 1/4 of the way. I then baked them (they bake fast) for about fifteen minutes at 325. (Inserting a toothpick to check if they were baked all the way through).

I allowed them to cool and then removed them. I frosted and stacked the cakes as you would any layer cake. The results were great and made for a fun way to share a layered cake without making a larger cake. I used the rest of the cake batter to make cupcakes.

 

Illustrator Interview with Lisa M. Griffin

Please enjoy my interview with Lisa M. Griffin, illustrator of Nonnie and I and multiple other picture books, including the upcoming Spacing Out!

Illustrating with new technology over the “old school” way of mediums on paper has caused you to _______?

Well, I still combine the two processes. All of my illustrations begin on paper with pencil. I work out thumbnail sketches and then move on to more finely rendered pencil sketches until I am happy with the composition. Then I scan in the artwork and begin to add color. New technology certainly makes the creative process easier in terms of revisions and proofing though.

Do you accept every illustration job/contract you receive? How do you decide what to accept?

No, I don’t. There are a lot of factors that go into taking on creative assignments. My current production schedule, my interest in the project and even the ease of working with the client. It is a funny balance at times, but I prefer this approach to ensure that I can deliver the best artwork possible (and on time) to the client.

If you could go back to the past and illustrate any book what would it be?

That is an interesting question. I don’t know so much about going into the past, but I would someday love to illustrate a version of “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice”�� by E.T.A. Hoffman.

How do you research landscapes for illustrations? Such as Botswana for Nonnie and I?

There is a lot of research that goes into most of my illustration projects and that certainly holds true for “Nonnie and I”. I visited the library for resources and sketched out parts of the landscape, particular trees and animals that are native to the area. I really dig the research process and find it helps greatly with the creative process overall. If I can take my own photographs, that is a benefit too, and for this project, I had a lot of reference for Nonnie thanks to a trip to Animal Kingdom Park a few years ago.

Who is your favorite artist that has passed and who is your favorite living artist?

It is so hard to pick only one! Can I choose two? From childhood through adulthood, the two artists who have influenced me the most would have to be Trina Schart Hymann and Maurice Sendak.�� I am part of an Illustrator Critique group and the individuals that are part of that group are so crazy talented and supportive that I feel they have made me a better artist. So as a collective group, I would have to say that they have influenced me the most. As far as a popular living artist goes, hands down Chris Van Allsburg.

To learn more about Lisa and her work please visit her website.

 

* Nonnie and I (Xist Publishing, 2014) authored by Savannah Hendricks, illustrations by Lisa M. Griffin.

Available through Amazon

Digging Deep

��� Once in a while I dig a slight depth into personal thoughts and feelings on here. This will be one of those times.

My day job has me meeting with individuals that most often need a hands on level of care to function in their daily lives.

I’m not a stranger to what this life looks like. As a child my time spent with my mom involved caregivers and near the end, nursing facilities.

My skin is not necessarily thicker with an early introduction to individuals on a quicker path to death than most of us.

I’ve seen a lot of cancer patients, old age, amputees, and dementia patients. I’ve seen complainers and the gamut of behavioral health affected people. I’ve seen young and old, and in-between. And people have passed.

Each individual I meet has a story, each family member has a strength and a weakness within these stories. Each outcome of these cases cause a pause in my life. A breath. A thought to ponder. At times a tear for how quick and unforgiving life can be.

National Readathon ~ Will You Be Reading???

The first ever National Readathon will take place on Saturday, January 24th. It will run from 12-4pm in your own time zone.

I find this to be an interesting idea, and hope that a lot of individuals participate. I however am not sure how many people actually “can.” We lead busy lives, lazy lives, have kids, have jobs, have chores, have media overload distractions, a lower population of readers, and commitments.
Plus they want us to hashtag #timetoread. I guess if you are reading on an e-reader this might work, but I think that would lead to social media surfing. I know it might for me. If I get on social media to post I check out what has been going on…don’t we all?

I plan to participate…do you?

To find out more about the National Readathon you can find it HERE.

 

What Writers Need

Writers need time.

It is the most important item in their WRITER’S BAG.

Time to contemplate

Time to explore

Time to process

Time to create

Time to receive and give

Time to laugh and cry

Time to pretend

Time to socialize

Time to read and research

Time to smell, touch, and taste

And…time to write

Simple Homemade Dog Treat ~ PB Rounds

PB Rounds

I try to eat healthy and I attempt the same for what I give my dogs. I mixed up this cheap, fast and delicious dog treat recipe that they love! (It’s great for elderly dogs that have sensitive teeth).

1 cup oatmeal

3/4 cup water

Bayou’s “these treats are heaven!!” face

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup Rice Krispies cereal

Add water and oatmeal to pot, heat until just warm and sticky (1 min) add peanut butter, mix, remove from heat, add cereal, mix. Form balls or make flat (your choice) and place on foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 mins. Place a few in the frig and freeze the rest to thaw and enjoy later.

Will The Real Nonnie Please Come Forward ~ The Story Behind The Name

Nonnie’s first day home – Sept 1993

Nonnie is not a usual name, that’s why I liked it to begin with. I have mentioned that my book Nonnie and I was originally Nia and I. The name was not switched to something out of thin air so to speak.

Nonnie was a cat, my first and only cat. The first time I heard the name was in A Far Off Place (a great kids movie!!!). Reese Witherspoon’s character was named Nonnie and as soon as I heard it, I loved it.

When my father got me a cat I picked Nonnie for her name. I loved Nonnie more than she would have liked. She was a very independent cat that rarely came out of hiding or would snuggle. I would have to chase her out from under my bed just to capture her to get her to sit with me. Within about two minutes she was attempting to escape my thirteen year old grasp. (She knocked over the Christmas tree one year and scratched my father’s leather couch with her panic-escape attempts). RIP 12/9/2002.

Nonnie – 1998

Nonnie is a variant of Eleanor and is considered Old Provençal and African-Hausa, Old French, Old German, and Latin. As you can see it’s origin is all over the place!!!

I have always picked the character names for my stories with great thought. I spend a bit of time looking up names and their meanings when I write a story. I also enjoy using kid’s names that I know because who doesn’t like to see their name in a story!?

Final Appreciation Monday

This will be the final appreciation Monday blog post. For the entire 2014 year I shared something I was appreciative for each Monday. It was much easier than I thought. When I started I was not sure if I would be able to complete it for the entire year!

In my final post of the 2014 year I am appreciative for a great year. It didn’t start out great, the first few months were full of challenges I never expected. 2014 was a “soul searching year.” One that is not over.

I grew to understand myself in ways I am grateful for. I closed a much needed chapter of my life and purchased a home of my own. I cried a lot!!! (I know I shouldn’t admit that). But I smiled a lot and started to have days that I felt happy and blessed. I never had that before, that feeling in my heart that lasted more than an hour. In 2014 I started to feel it day after day (and still do). I had a picture book release, took a trip, pushed myself through more Master’s degree classes, wrote stories, sold stories, met new friends, learned to protect myself, reaffirmed that I don’t like gross stuff by fainting, read books, laughed, baked and cooked new recipes, and bought a lot of wine.

From a far I might look like a busy and tough cookie. I don’t think I am without the support of a very special person in my life. For that, I am most appreciative. And for what is to come in 2015…I hope to top 2014!!

Happy New Year all!!! Catch you in 2015.

Appreciation Monday

I am appreciative for being able to pay my bills, my dog’s vet bills, go grocery shopping, and the ability to partake in some fun events. There was a time when I didn’t have the money, or had it, but it meant something else had to give. To be able to pay for the dog’s vet bill while still being able to grocery shop the same week might seem like nothing, but to come from what I had to where I am now is a pure blessing. I have not done it alone and I am grateful. But I am mostly grateful that I am, and have been, making the choices, my own choices that have turned my life around to be able to do this and thus be appreciative.

Wishing all of my blog readers a very Merry Christmas however you spend it!!!