Raven Howell's Blog, page 4
July 4, 2019
What if "Sam I Am" kept kosher? A David Hillman interview
As a fan, I was fortunate to meet David Hillman earlier this year in New York City where we connected over children’s books and art.
David is multi-talented, and while his picture book, Berkley, A Nose Tale, held front and center space on my home library shelf, I also realized very quickly that this author/illustrator was passionate and successful in many other artistic areas. David’s had success with comic books, creating illustrations for games, licensing and toy products, as well as setting up storyboards. Plus, he’s happy to accommodate author/illustrator visits.
I’ve found that regarding school visits a popular question students ask is, what comes first? Do you write the story or work on the illustrations first?
David: “The story comes first. I think about the plot, beginning, middle and end. Then I’ll start roughing out the beats on note cards. Once I’ve fleshed out the story, I’ll start writing dialogue and then thumbnail the illustrations.”
What would be your writing/illustrating vulnerability? “The internet - waaayyy too distracting! When I want to get any writing done, I usually go to a coffee shop or the library. And I like to keep a 9-5 work schedule, unless I’ve got a deadline.”
In your picture book the dog has a memorable name –Berkley, one that’s fun, unique and easy for kids to pronounce. How did you come up with it?
“Well, Berkley had another name that I had in my head for years, but when I started to go forward with the book, I did some research, and discovered that the name I considered originally was in use in a few other dog-themed picture books, so I had to come up with another name. It took a while, but in the end the name Berkley was the only one that worked for me!”
Have a favorite breed of dog?
“I love Bulldogs, and Basset hounds are number two.”
What's Berkley's favorite picture book? What's yours? “Berkley likes Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion and Margaret Graham. My fave is The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by Bill Joyce.”
As an artist, what would you say is the hardest scene to illustrate? “Big crowds! Hate doing them! You have to be carful, too much detail and it looks like mud, not enough detail and it just dots on paper.”
If you were stranded on a desert island for a year with only two art-oriented tools and no computer or computer use, you would choose…? “Paper and a pencil. You can’t really make a drawing without them.”
So, on this island, given the choice of creating drawings in the sand or whittling with wood, which would you do? “Whittle wood! It lasts longer.”
What's your most successful project to date? “Monetarily, when I was creating art assets for a company that manufactured slot machines for casinos worldwide. But personally, my debut picture book, Berkley, a Nose Tail.”
From your point of view, what makes a good picture book? “For me it’s the illustrations first, that’s the first thing that catches my eye.”
If I asked you to sketch up either the Mad Hatter or the Hooka Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland, which would you do? “The Mad Hatter, ‘cause come on - it’s the Mad Hatter!” Ha, so true!
If Dr. Seuss were alive today and you met him, what would you ask? “What if Sam I Am kept kosher, would you have written Green Eggs and Tomatoes?”
If technology could bring just about anything to us in the world of art and illustration in the coming years, what would you love to see or imagine would be cool if it were invented? “I’d love to see a 16 inch I-Pad that works like a Macbook, so I can use my Adobe creative suite.”
Speaking of the coming years, please tell us about your present and future projects. “Well, currently I’m working on my second book in the Berkley series, as well as developing concepts for other books and series. Once they’re ready I’ll either send them out to agents and publishers or create an imprint of my own and publish them myself. I haven’t decided which yet.”
Ah, great decisions and wonderful opportunities coming up.
David is available for commission work and his website is: https://davidhillmanill.com
Can’t wait to see what trouble Berkley gets himself into next time!
David is multi-talented, and while his picture book, Berkley, A Nose Tale, held front and center space on my home library shelf, I also realized very quickly that this author/illustrator was passionate and successful in many other artistic areas. David’s had success with comic books, creating illustrations for games, licensing and toy products, as well as setting up storyboards. Plus, he’s happy to accommodate author/illustrator visits.
I’ve found that regarding school visits a popular question students ask is, what comes first? Do you write the story or work on the illustrations first?
David: “The story comes first. I think about the plot, beginning, middle and end. Then I’ll start roughing out the beats on note cards. Once I’ve fleshed out the story, I’ll start writing dialogue and then thumbnail the illustrations.”
What would be your writing/illustrating vulnerability? “The internet - waaayyy too distracting! When I want to get any writing done, I usually go to a coffee shop or the library. And I like to keep a 9-5 work schedule, unless I’ve got a deadline.”
In your picture book the dog has a memorable name –Berkley, one that’s fun, unique and easy for kids to pronounce. How did you come up with it?
“Well, Berkley had another name that I had in my head for years, but when I started to go forward with the book, I did some research, and discovered that the name I considered originally was in use in a few other dog-themed picture books, so I had to come up with another name. It took a while, but in the end the name Berkley was the only one that worked for me!”
Have a favorite breed of dog?
“I love Bulldogs, and Basset hounds are number two.”
What's Berkley's favorite picture book? What's yours? “Berkley likes Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion and Margaret Graham. My fave is The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by Bill Joyce.”
As an artist, what would you say is the hardest scene to illustrate? “Big crowds! Hate doing them! You have to be carful, too much detail and it looks like mud, not enough detail and it just dots on paper.”
If you were stranded on a desert island for a year with only two art-oriented tools and no computer or computer use, you would choose…? “Paper and a pencil. You can’t really make a drawing without them.”
So, on this island, given the choice of creating drawings in the sand or whittling with wood, which would you do? “Whittle wood! It lasts longer.”
What's your most successful project to date? “Monetarily, when I was creating art assets for a company that manufactured slot machines for casinos worldwide. But personally, my debut picture book, Berkley, a Nose Tail.”
From your point of view, what makes a good picture book? “For me it’s the illustrations first, that’s the first thing that catches my eye.”
If I asked you to sketch up either the Mad Hatter or the Hooka Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland, which would you do? “The Mad Hatter, ‘cause come on - it’s the Mad Hatter!” Ha, so true!
If Dr. Seuss were alive today and you met him, what would you ask? “What if Sam I Am kept kosher, would you have written Green Eggs and Tomatoes?”
If technology could bring just about anything to us in the world of art and illustration in the coming years, what would you love to see or imagine would be cool if it were invented? “I’d love to see a 16 inch I-Pad that works like a Macbook, so I can use my Adobe creative suite.”
Speaking of the coming years, please tell us about your present and future projects. “Well, currently I’m working on my second book in the Berkley series, as well as developing concepts for other books and series. Once they’re ready I’ll either send them out to agents and publishers or create an imprint of my own and publish them myself. I haven’t decided which yet.”
Ah, great decisions and wonderful opportunities coming up.
David is available for commission work and his website is: https://davidhillmanill.com
Can’t wait to see what trouble Berkley gets himself into next time!
June 29, 2019
24 sharpened pencils - all in a row, ready to go!
In a recent interview I gave as a children’s author, I was asked if I had any interesting writing habits. Interesting? Hmmm….well, I do write at all odd hours – whenever the inspiration for a poem or story hits. But habits? I prefer having my writing table organized and fairly cleared off or it feels too chaotic for creative focus. And I have written with Paper Mate medium flair black pens for many years, but I even change that up a little now and then. I like to snack on something sweet while I’m writing, but it’s not necessary. Because I couldn’t find an interesting habit of my own, I decided to look up other famous authors’ habits, or if they had any at all. Oh, I found some goodies!
Children’s author Roald Dahl (BFG, Matilda) had a strict writing habit - he wrote every day for 2 hours in the morning, exactly 10-12 noon and 2 hours in the evening, from 4-6 p.m.!
John Steinbeck started every day with 24 sharpened pencils using them until all 24 were dull before sharpening them again. He used up to 60 pencils in a day, and sometimes nearly 100.
How fun was this? So my interviewer asked WHERE the most interesting place was I wrote one of my books or poetry. I knew that was when I composed my 2017 picture poetry book, A Star Full of Sky. And that was because I wrote all those poems during the overnight hours outdoors, usually under starry, magical skies which were super inspiring to me.
I thought that was an interesting enough answer until, once again, after I looked up other authors and interesting writing places, I found that JK Rowling came up with the names for the houses of Hogwarts while on a plane ride and wrote them down on a motion sickness bag! Ok, way cooler. Ha! It’s all good though, and most important, I hope it’s as inspirational to you as to me.
Happy reading and writing trails whatever your habits and wherever you may be!
Children’s author Roald Dahl (BFG, Matilda) had a strict writing habit - he wrote every day for 2 hours in the morning, exactly 10-12 noon and 2 hours in the evening, from 4-6 p.m.!
John Steinbeck started every day with 24 sharpened pencils using them until all 24 were dull before sharpening them again. He used up to 60 pencils in a day, and sometimes nearly 100.
How fun was this? So my interviewer asked WHERE the most interesting place was I wrote one of my books or poetry. I knew that was when I composed my 2017 picture poetry book, A Star Full of Sky. And that was because I wrote all those poems during the overnight hours outdoors, usually under starry, magical skies which were super inspiring to me.
I thought that was an interesting enough answer until, once again, after I looked up other authors and interesting writing places, I found that JK Rowling came up with the names for the houses of Hogwarts while on a plane ride and wrote them down on a motion sickness bag! Ok, way cooler. Ha! It’s all good though, and most important, I hope it’s as inspirational to you as to me.
Happy reading and writing trails whatever your habits and wherever you may be!
June 21, 2019
Author and illustrator share otter fun and chocolate cravings
Sure, children learn their numbers from Four Otters Toboggan: An Animal Counting Book, BUT – this book is unique because author Vivian Kirkfield and illustrator Mirka Hokkanen also educate us about the environment, endangered animals, and the joy of preserving our planet. An ambitious theme, but here Vivian and Mirka have created easy access to sharing and understanding these values with children.
Four Otters Toboggan covers the time from dawn to dusk and we meet animals in their natural habitats. This begs the question, which is more intriguing? Dawn or dusk? Both are magical and creative times for different authors.
Vivian: “I favor dawn…everything is so fresh and new. Although I’m rarely up then because these days I go to bed so late. I’m always writing or critiquing until the wee hours of the morning and so I usually sleep in. But when I was teaching and when my kids were growing up, I had to be up early, of course. I’m really enjoying being retired…but I find I ‘work’ more hours than I did when I was really working.”
If one of the endangered animals from your book could be a tame pet in your house, which one would you choose? “If it wouldn’t endanger it any more, I guess I’d be quite entertained with those tobogganing otters, although I’d need more than one so they could keep each other company.”
And if your collaborator, Mirka, were an animal from the book, which one would she be/which animal do you see her most aligned with? “Maybe the fox…beautiful and clever."
Unbeknownst to Vivian’s loving answer, Mirka responds: “I think I would be a little shaggy, gray pony. A bit stubborn and rough around the edges, but a sweet pal at the end of the day.”
Mirka, who was serious about being an artist “from before I can remember” says, “I always liked to draw, paint and tinker (tape was the best medium for tinkering, you could use it to combine just about anything if you were creative enough). I drew a lot of animals, and nature scenes. I loved horses, and would practice drawing horses for most of my formative years. Big horses, small horses, running hoses, sleeping horses. Horses from the front and horses from the back. There might have been some other random animals in between, but it was all about the horses. Neigh!”
Let’s talk colors! Vivian, if you described your writing as a blend of two colors, which ones would they be? “Red for heart and warmth and blue for bold and strong.”
Mirka, any favorites? “I gravitate towards muted color palettes over bright ones in general. Maybe red, because it is always a good accent color, in an otherwise muted illustration.”
And favorite go-to snack? “Hmm, that’s a tough one. Does chocolate count? I probably eat way too much chocolate.”
Vivian: “I love a big bowl of air-popped popcorn…but I’ll never say no to anything chocolate – and ice cream is quite a favorite of mine.” Ah, guilty pleasures!
Should you be stuck in an elevator… “I’d love it to be with any kid-lit friend…or a person who knows how to get out of stuck elevators!”
Mirka says, “I think either Emily Hughes or Adam Rex. I am a big fan of both of their work, and just have so many questions on how they generate ideas and work.”
Your heroes? Mirka: “Tove Jansson. I love the world she created for the Moomins, her sheer creativity, and breadth of career that she had. It’s a dream of mine to finish a picture book biography of her in the next year.
Vivian: “Ordinary people who do extraordinary things, people who give up their lives for others. And people who stand up for what they believe, no matter what the cost, like Nelson Mandela.”
Pomegranate’s Four Otters Toboggan: An Animal Counting Book is lovely lyrically, and beautifully illustrated with unique wood engravings. There’s no doubt both of these talented women have bright futures in the kid lit community. Still, it may be fun to dig up something precious and creative from the past…
Mirka: “I have a memory from when I was about 12 years old, of creating a set of watercolors of animals, and then wanting my mom to go over to the art gallery in our neighborhood to see if they would show and sell them for me. She didn’t think it was such a good idea, and those paintings still wait for their debut in a drawer in my parents house.”
Four Otters Toboggan covers the time from dawn to dusk and we meet animals in their natural habitats. This begs the question, which is more intriguing? Dawn or dusk? Both are magical and creative times for different authors.
Vivian: “I favor dawn…everything is so fresh and new. Although I’m rarely up then because these days I go to bed so late. I’m always writing or critiquing until the wee hours of the morning and so I usually sleep in. But when I was teaching and when my kids were growing up, I had to be up early, of course. I’m really enjoying being retired…but I find I ‘work’ more hours than I did when I was really working.”
If one of the endangered animals from your book could be a tame pet in your house, which one would you choose? “If it wouldn’t endanger it any more, I guess I’d be quite entertained with those tobogganing otters, although I’d need more than one so they could keep each other company.”
And if your collaborator, Mirka, were an animal from the book, which one would she be/which animal do you see her most aligned with? “Maybe the fox…beautiful and clever."
Unbeknownst to Vivian’s loving answer, Mirka responds: “I think I would be a little shaggy, gray pony. A bit stubborn and rough around the edges, but a sweet pal at the end of the day.”
Mirka, who was serious about being an artist “from before I can remember” says, “I always liked to draw, paint and tinker (tape was the best medium for tinkering, you could use it to combine just about anything if you were creative enough). I drew a lot of animals, and nature scenes. I loved horses, and would practice drawing horses for most of my formative years. Big horses, small horses, running hoses, sleeping horses. Horses from the front and horses from the back. There might have been some other random animals in between, but it was all about the horses. Neigh!”
Let’s talk colors! Vivian, if you described your writing as a blend of two colors, which ones would they be? “Red for heart and warmth and blue for bold and strong.”
Mirka, any favorites? “I gravitate towards muted color palettes over bright ones in general. Maybe red, because it is always a good accent color, in an otherwise muted illustration.”
And favorite go-to snack? “Hmm, that’s a tough one. Does chocolate count? I probably eat way too much chocolate.”
Vivian: “I love a big bowl of air-popped popcorn…but I’ll never say no to anything chocolate – and ice cream is quite a favorite of mine.” Ah, guilty pleasures!
Should you be stuck in an elevator… “I’d love it to be with any kid-lit friend…or a person who knows how to get out of stuck elevators!”
Mirka says, “I think either Emily Hughes or Adam Rex. I am a big fan of both of their work, and just have so many questions on how they generate ideas and work.”
Your heroes? Mirka: “Tove Jansson. I love the world she created for the Moomins, her sheer creativity, and breadth of career that she had. It’s a dream of mine to finish a picture book biography of her in the next year.
Vivian: “Ordinary people who do extraordinary things, people who give up their lives for others. And people who stand up for what they believe, no matter what the cost, like Nelson Mandela.”
Pomegranate’s Four Otters Toboggan: An Animal Counting Book is lovely lyrically, and beautifully illustrated with unique wood engravings. There’s no doubt both of these talented women have bright futures in the kid lit community. Still, it may be fun to dig up something precious and creative from the past…
Mirka: “I have a memory from when I was about 12 years old, of creating a set of watercolors of animals, and then wanting my mom to go over to the art gallery in our neighborhood to see if they would show and sell them for me. She didn’t think it was such a good idea, and those paintings still wait for their debut in a drawer in my parents house.”
June 6, 2019
Award winning illustrator/author Brian Lies encourages silly voices, and considers a snack of toasty bugmallows.
Fellow New Jersey native, Brian Lies illustrated his first children’s book for Houghton Mifflin in 1989, and has since illustrated more than two dozen others, including his 2019 Caldecott Honor-winning THE ROUGH PATCH, his 2018 GOT TO GET TO BEAR’S!, and the NY Times bestselling bat series (Bats at the Beach, Bats at the Library, Bats at the Ballgame, and Bats in the Band).
Living in Massachusetts now, his work is exhibited in galleries around the country, and he enjoys spending time visiting elementary schools to talk about writing and illustrating stories.
One of his books, Gator Dad, depicts a series of unique ways children connect with their fathers. With Father’s Day coming up, I thought I’d make that our conversation starting point.
You wake yourself up in the morning. What's one of the first things you do? In other words, are you "Gator Dad”?
I WAS Gator Dad for a while, when my daughter was young—the book is a kind of response to some of the reactions I got as a stay-at-home dad—trying to depict a father who’s just going through the day with his kids, the same as any mom does. Often, an engaged dad is seen as “babysitting,” playing “Mr. Mom,” etc., and my hope was that the book would help “normalize” ordinary-day-Dad-involvement. First thing I do in the morning is get the coffeemaker going!
Does the weather or season affect your creativity as far as illustrating?
Not really—I’m in the “creativity camp” of believing that creativity is what happens when you show up for work. I don’t buy the idea of waiting for “inspiration” to hit.
How would you say your artwork and/or writing has evolved over say, the past 10 or 15 years?
My style has changed a lot during the time I’ve been working on books, and I think in the last 15 years I’ve really discovered how I’m supposed to work—what themes interest me, what kinds of images I like to do (I love painting complex light situations, with shadows, reflected light, etc.). A lot of art students worry about “style” and how they’re going to achieve their style—I think “style” is what happens when you just work, and stop imitating other writers / illustrators you admire.
Kids love bats and I think find the idea of them simultaneously a little creepy and a bit of fun. When you wrote the first book, Bats at the Beach, did you figure you'd have a series of bat books coming for the future?
No, I thought Bats at the Beach was a stand-alone. But I had such fun doing it, being in the bats’ world, that when one of my local librarians told me they’d had a bat in the children’s room once… I knew I had to go back to their world again.
The Box of Bats gift set is a great buy - 3 for the price of one really, in addition to Bats at the Ballgame. Which one is your favorite from the whole series?
I think my two favorite bat books are Bats at the Beach, because it was so quirky for me, and Bats at the Library, because it’s my love-letter to being a reader and the illustrations were so much fun to create.
Vincent Price or Barnabas Collins?
I’d have to go with Vincent Price. Though Vincent Price did a lot of cringe-worthy movies, I’m afraid I always felt there was something cheesier about Barnabas Collins! I think his Inverness cape was polyester.
If I were a bat, I would….
...try a toasted bugmallow. I like them in theory (toasty, crunchy and creamy), but I don’t eat bugs (voluntarily).
There are many critters and other animals in your book, Got to Get to Bear's. Was that illustrated in acrylic? Which animal was your favorite to illustrate and bring to life?
Yes, Bear’s was done in acrylics, on Strathmore Series 400 paper. All of the animals were fun to illustrate, though now I’ve spent a school year reading it to students, I have to say that Bingle (the duck) is the most fun to present—I like books that encourage silly voices.
You received a Caldecott Honor and ALA Notable for The Rough Patch - what an honor! It's such a terrific book. Because of the friendship, a loss experienced and then a kind of rebirth or renewal theme, did you know the story from beginning to end as you worked on it, or did it progress in the process of writing and illustrating it?
Thank you! The book began as an idea about gardening—what if you tended the weeds in your garden, rather than the plants you’re trying to grow? Then I envisioned someone doing just that, and it seemed he had to have experienced a deep grief to do something so stubbornly or doggedly contrary. The story came to me very quickly, but the process of creating the book took many years, partially because I questioned whether anyone would want to read a book that dealt rather explicitly with loss and grief. I had several bursts over the years in which I went back and reworked it, then let it lie fallow. The final burst, in which I envisioned and rough-sketched most of the illustrations as they now stand, was a three-hour stretch on a Friday afternoon in 2015. It felt so right that I decided to go ahead and get it ready to submit.
What's coming up next for you?
I’m going to be doing two books featuring the little bat with yellow floaties in my four bat books, and I have a number of other picture books I’d like to do. There’s also a novel that’s pestering me—whether I write it or not is to be seen. But I’m in the fun phase of coming up with characters and noodling around with plot ideas.
What's your guilty pleasure?
Finding a book that has me up until 1 or 2 AM because I can’t put it down!
What's your worst habit?
Probably procrastination (… it took me a while to decide that).
What's your favorite book?
Of my own, it’s The Rough Patch. Of books I’ve read recently, Padma Venkatraman’s The Bridge Home won’t leave me alone—the characters haunt me!
What's your favorite team?
Hmm. I think Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. . . .oh, you meant sports? It’d have to be the Boston Red Sox.
Bats and Gators aside, dogs or cats?
We have two cats, a Russian blue/Siamese mix, and a tabby. Both shelter cats! I like other people’s dogs, but haven’t ever had a dog.
Brian can be found on all social media. Here's his website:
http://brian-lies.squarespace.com
Living in Massachusetts now, his work is exhibited in galleries around the country, and he enjoys spending time visiting elementary schools to talk about writing and illustrating stories.
One of his books, Gator Dad, depicts a series of unique ways children connect with their fathers. With Father’s Day coming up, I thought I’d make that our conversation starting point.
You wake yourself up in the morning. What's one of the first things you do? In other words, are you "Gator Dad”?
I WAS Gator Dad for a while, when my daughter was young—the book is a kind of response to some of the reactions I got as a stay-at-home dad—trying to depict a father who’s just going through the day with his kids, the same as any mom does. Often, an engaged dad is seen as “babysitting,” playing “Mr. Mom,” etc., and my hope was that the book would help “normalize” ordinary-day-Dad-involvement. First thing I do in the morning is get the coffeemaker going!
Does the weather or season affect your creativity as far as illustrating?
Not really—I’m in the “creativity camp” of believing that creativity is what happens when you show up for work. I don’t buy the idea of waiting for “inspiration” to hit.
How would you say your artwork and/or writing has evolved over say, the past 10 or 15 years?
My style has changed a lot during the time I’ve been working on books, and I think in the last 15 years I’ve really discovered how I’m supposed to work—what themes interest me, what kinds of images I like to do (I love painting complex light situations, with shadows, reflected light, etc.). A lot of art students worry about “style” and how they’re going to achieve their style—I think “style” is what happens when you just work, and stop imitating other writers / illustrators you admire.
Kids love bats and I think find the idea of them simultaneously a little creepy and a bit of fun. When you wrote the first book, Bats at the Beach, did you figure you'd have a series of bat books coming for the future?
No, I thought Bats at the Beach was a stand-alone. But I had such fun doing it, being in the bats’ world, that when one of my local librarians told me they’d had a bat in the children’s room once… I knew I had to go back to their world again.
The Box of Bats gift set is a great buy - 3 for the price of one really, in addition to Bats at the Ballgame. Which one is your favorite from the whole series?
I think my two favorite bat books are Bats at the Beach, because it was so quirky for me, and Bats at the Library, because it’s my love-letter to being a reader and the illustrations were so much fun to create.
Vincent Price or Barnabas Collins?
I’d have to go with Vincent Price. Though Vincent Price did a lot of cringe-worthy movies, I’m afraid I always felt there was something cheesier about Barnabas Collins! I think his Inverness cape was polyester.
If I were a bat, I would….
...try a toasted bugmallow. I like them in theory (toasty, crunchy and creamy), but I don’t eat bugs (voluntarily).
There are many critters and other animals in your book, Got to Get to Bear's. Was that illustrated in acrylic? Which animal was your favorite to illustrate and bring to life?
Yes, Bear’s was done in acrylics, on Strathmore Series 400 paper. All of the animals were fun to illustrate, though now I’ve spent a school year reading it to students, I have to say that Bingle (the duck) is the most fun to present—I like books that encourage silly voices.
You received a Caldecott Honor and ALA Notable for The Rough Patch - what an honor! It's such a terrific book. Because of the friendship, a loss experienced and then a kind of rebirth or renewal theme, did you know the story from beginning to end as you worked on it, or did it progress in the process of writing and illustrating it?
Thank you! The book began as an idea about gardening—what if you tended the weeds in your garden, rather than the plants you’re trying to grow? Then I envisioned someone doing just that, and it seemed he had to have experienced a deep grief to do something so stubbornly or doggedly contrary. The story came to me very quickly, but the process of creating the book took many years, partially because I questioned whether anyone would want to read a book that dealt rather explicitly with loss and grief. I had several bursts over the years in which I went back and reworked it, then let it lie fallow. The final burst, in which I envisioned and rough-sketched most of the illustrations as they now stand, was a three-hour stretch on a Friday afternoon in 2015. It felt so right that I decided to go ahead and get it ready to submit.
What's coming up next for you?
I’m going to be doing two books featuring the little bat with yellow floaties in my four bat books, and I have a number of other picture books I’d like to do. There’s also a novel that’s pestering me—whether I write it or not is to be seen. But I’m in the fun phase of coming up with characters and noodling around with plot ideas.
What's your guilty pleasure?
Finding a book that has me up until 1 or 2 AM because I can’t put it down!
What's your worst habit?
Probably procrastination (… it took me a while to decide that).
What's your favorite book?
Of my own, it’s The Rough Patch. Of books I’ve read recently, Padma Venkatraman’s The Bridge Home won’t leave me alone—the characters haunt me!
What's your favorite team?
Hmm. I think Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. . . .oh, you meant sports? It’d have to be the Boston Red Sox.
Bats and Gators aside, dogs or cats?
We have two cats, a Russian blue/Siamese mix, and a tabby. Both shelter cats! I like other people’s dogs, but haven’t ever had a dog.
Brian can be found on all social media. Here's his website:
http://brian-lies.squarespace.com
May 3, 2019
Success!
Everyone has their own priorities, style and way of creating the projects they work on. Having success placing my recent picture book manuscript with a publishing house, I thought it would be fun to share how I went about writing and organizing my story.
First things first: I actually write or have the idea of the ending in mind when I start. If you don’t, chances are you’ll spend unwanted time and energy meandering about to get to your point. From the very beginning phase of writing I had the actual words/message used in the final copy I submitted as an ending. Remember, it can always be edited.
Then, as I mentioned getting to your point or message, think about where your passions lie. What is your personality like? What are your interests? I hope you allow those things to guide you to your message and main theme.
Do you express yourself through compassion? Then choose that as your message. Are you a goofy entertainer at heart? Chances are you'll write or illustrate a good silly or funny book. Are you a teacher or enjoy sharing facts and trivia? Pick one of many interesting non-fiction themes to direct your point.
With a great boost of inner inspiration, I knew the exact message I wanted to get across and tackled it head on. I also spent tender loving care to relay that message with a combination of both gentleness and candor. This is where I focused on the age group I was writing for. Keep your words sensitive to the child’s age, but it’s okay to teach them about something they should know, will know someday, or reiterate something they know already.
Finally, I can’t stress enough, especially regarding children’s books and to authors- try to write visually. As your words and sentences are formed, what’s the accompanying picture you’re envisioning, describing, or taking us to? I knew the illustrations in my book were just as important as text. I let my manuscript be conducive to a story journeying through an art gallery with its words. The publisher I submitted my book to picked up on that immediately, felt drawn in, and signed me.
First things first: I actually write or have the idea of the ending in mind when I start. If you don’t, chances are you’ll spend unwanted time and energy meandering about to get to your point. From the very beginning phase of writing I had the actual words/message used in the final copy I submitted as an ending. Remember, it can always be edited.
Then, as I mentioned getting to your point or message, think about where your passions lie. What is your personality like? What are your interests? I hope you allow those things to guide you to your message and main theme.
Do you express yourself through compassion? Then choose that as your message. Are you a goofy entertainer at heart? Chances are you'll write or illustrate a good silly or funny book. Are you a teacher or enjoy sharing facts and trivia? Pick one of many interesting non-fiction themes to direct your point.
With a great boost of inner inspiration, I knew the exact message I wanted to get across and tackled it head on. I also spent tender loving care to relay that message with a combination of both gentleness and candor. This is where I focused on the age group I was writing for. Keep your words sensitive to the child’s age, but it’s okay to teach them about something they should know, will know someday, or reiterate something they know already.
Finally, I can’t stress enough, especially regarding children’s books and to authors- try to write visually. As your words and sentences are formed, what’s the accompanying picture you’re envisioning, describing, or taking us to? I knew the illustrations in my book were just as important as text. I let my manuscript be conducive to a story journeying through an art gallery with its words. The publisher I submitted my book to picked up on that immediately, felt drawn in, and signed me.
April 9, 2019
It's raining cupcakes! Yum!
Being a fan of whimsical art and children's writing, I had to connect with kidlit author Diana Murray. It's not only National Unicorn Day, but one of her upcoming books wih illustrator Luke Flowers releasing in June is literally titled Unicorn Day! In her book, unicorns celebrate their day in fun and friendship...until among them an "imposter" is revealed.
Diana: "I found loads of surprises in Luke’s illustrations when I first saw them. He made the “imposter’s” fake horn very subtle - readers might not notice right away. A fun reveal! Also, he included such variety. It thrills me that there’s a “goth” unicorn, and even a yeti and a dragon."
So, what fairytale would one of your unicorns be most befitting in? Red Riding Hood or the tale of Hansel and Gretel?
"Unicorns can make it rain cupcakes, so that would distract Hansel and Gretel from the witch’s house. Problem solved! Of course, you can apply unicorns to nearly any situation for a better result."
Would a unicorn prefer traveling through Candyland or move through a Monopoly board?
"Candyland would definitely feel more like home. I don’t think they’d like Monopoly. They don’t care about money or material things. However, I guess they’d help put a more positive and carefree spin on the monopoly board. I’d like to see that, actually! That would be quite a sparkly version of the game."
I often think of an author's work, book, or poem in terms of a color or shading (mood/tone/personality). When I ask Diana about this...."My fave color is black. But for my writing, black with rainbow glitter- much like the sweater I’m wearing today!"
Please join my blog fun, and comment: You'd never know it, but a unicorn's secret talent is ____.
Unicorn Day book can be found here, and there's a giveaway for it as well! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Diana: "I found loads of surprises in Luke’s illustrations when I first saw them. He made the “imposter’s” fake horn very subtle - readers might not notice right away. A fun reveal! Also, he included such variety. It thrills me that there’s a “goth” unicorn, and even a yeti and a dragon."
So, what fairytale would one of your unicorns be most befitting in? Red Riding Hood or the tale of Hansel and Gretel?
"Unicorns can make it rain cupcakes, so that would distract Hansel and Gretel from the witch’s house. Problem solved! Of course, you can apply unicorns to nearly any situation for a better result."
Would a unicorn prefer traveling through Candyland or move through a Monopoly board?
"Candyland would definitely feel more like home. I don’t think they’d like Monopoly. They don’t care about money or material things. However, I guess they’d help put a more positive and carefree spin on the monopoly board. I’d like to see that, actually! That would be quite a sparkly version of the game."
I often think of an author's work, book, or poem in terms of a color or shading (mood/tone/personality). When I ask Diana about this...."My fave color is black. But for my writing, black with rainbow glitter- much like the sweater I’m wearing today!"
Please join my blog fun, and comment: You'd never know it, but a unicorn's secret talent is ____.
Unicorn Day book can be found here, and there's a giveaway for it as well! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
March 30, 2019
Guilty pleasures and worst habits of an accomplished illustrator
Glimmer, Sing of Sun! As collaborator/illustrator Carina Povarchik prepares for the release of her third children's book with Clear Fork Publishing, titled Glimmer, Sing of Sun! I thought it was high time to get the inside scoop!
When is your most inspirational time to illustrate? Carina: I'm definitely a morning person- light, birds singing, and for sure bright sunny days. Although autumn and all its colors inspire me, I really need happy light and blue skies to feel the Universe is on the same page with me :)
I appreciate the magical mood of the night, the moonlight, glimmery stars. But that gives me a different state of heart, into a more grateful and meditative one, makes me enter a kind of silent mode, not the happy "weeee" one for creating.
Your guilty pleasure is?....is buying myself a new notebook/journal. I feel guilty cause I really have plenty of them -brand new, waiting for me in a shelf to be used. I have such a soft spot for papers, journals, notebooks. Handmade, crafted, or industrial, big, tiny, rectangular, squared...I love them. In fact, I even make many of them myself for using as sketchbooks, or for keeping a personal yearly journal, or studying.
What's your worst habit in regards to creative work?
I guess it would be getting bored too soon in long projects. But as time passes, I've learned to take some little breaks in my long projects if needed, and to change my point of view which reinvigorates my energy.
Carina, who would you love to be stuck on an elevator with? What other artist/author/creative person? Mhhh, I do have a list for that one. But let's see, if I had to pick only one, it would be Lee White (alive, and I feel he is also approachable). If I consider someone not alive right now, it would be Charles Chaplin.
Who's your hero?
My dad of course! If not him, then Lagherta because she is a badass girl. And I admire so many outstanding author and illustrator souls out there! Their perseverance, hard work, amazing ideas, and their craft - all heroic!
When is your most inspirational time to illustrate? Carina: I'm definitely a morning person- light, birds singing, and for sure bright sunny days. Although autumn and all its colors inspire me, I really need happy light and blue skies to feel the Universe is on the same page with me :)
I appreciate the magical mood of the night, the moonlight, glimmery stars. But that gives me a different state of heart, into a more grateful and meditative one, makes me enter a kind of silent mode, not the happy "weeee" one for creating.
Your guilty pleasure is?....is buying myself a new notebook/journal. I feel guilty cause I really have plenty of them -brand new, waiting for me in a shelf to be used. I have such a soft spot for papers, journals, notebooks. Handmade, crafted, or industrial, big, tiny, rectangular, squared...I love them. In fact, I even make many of them myself for using as sketchbooks, or for keeping a personal yearly journal, or studying.
What's your worst habit in regards to creative work?
I guess it would be getting bored too soon in long projects. But as time passes, I've learned to take some little breaks in my long projects if needed, and to change my point of view which reinvigorates my energy.
Carina, who would you love to be stuck on an elevator with? What other artist/author/creative person? Mhhh, I do have a list for that one. But let's see, if I had to pick only one, it would be Lee White (alive, and I feel he is also approachable). If I consider someone not alive right now, it would be Charles Chaplin.
Who's your hero?
My dad of course! If not him, then Lagherta because she is a badass girl. And I admire so many outstanding author and illustrator souls out there! Their perseverance, hard work, amazing ideas, and their craft - all heroic!
March 20, 2019
Want to be kind? Just "be" with someone.
I visit my parents. In my mind I refer to them "on the edge of 90" because in their last years of their eighties now, well, they are. We sit quietly. I read to them. We quiet down again. We watch the birds outside the sliding glass door, and muse. When I ask what I can get for them, what I can do for them, they simply say, just be with us. That is what they want. No material things, no new gadgets or fancy cooking. Just sit and love them. Share precious gentle moments. When I spend time with children, again - it's not what or how I'm DOING something with them. They really don't care which one of my picture books I choose to read to them, nor what student activity they will be given. They revel in the time that I'm JUST WITH THEM. Paying attention, being attentive, sharing, smiling, loving. Stepping back to look at the bigger picture, our world is a mirror of this. We all may crave admiration and attention, but the true way to connect is through just being with another. So whether you are a writer or an avid reader, spend a little time with a child or another - and sure, bond over a good book, but heed and hold on to that gift of sharing in its peaceful background silence. Dozy Poems, Cozy Days: Poems to Calm the Active Child
July 10, 2018
Summer fun!
I've had (and am having) such fun with both a writing challenge and a colour challenge (via Twitter) to inspire new writing and illustrating stimulation. My favorite writing challenge? Day 28 is "I believe that..." I really had to think about that one -for a few weeks in fact! Ha! Then I decided on "I believe that it's important to be your own best friend." We tend to be our own harshest critic on all levels. So if you're an author, an avid book reader, a grocery clerk, doing anything at all in our world, take heart when you get down on yourself about something, know that all things pass, and remain faithful to being your own best friend. That means giving love, kindness, clarity and tenderness to your very own being! You'll find all your work spark up in contrast and light. As far as the colour challenge - not being a professional illustrator, I'm truly having fun with this! It's freeing, enjoyable and I'm cracking myself up when my pictures or colors come out quite silly looking! So, for today's blog theme - challenge yourself to something you wouldn't normally do and be open to where it takes you! Sending sunny wishes!
April 4, 2018
April showers bring May flowers!
This month of April is a good time to take stock, get to repairs and revisions and just in general, re-do and re-check things. Come May and June, you'll be in good shape to feel as if you're moving forward in great strides.
For me, I thought things were coming to me in "doubles" as far as good news, but I broke the spell this year when I received a third (!) picture book manuscript acceptance from a book publisher! I'm absolutely thrilled and super busy as you can imagine. At least two of those books are slated for a spring 2019 release. The third may be sooner. Stay tuned!
I also just accepted a wonderful position as "Creative and Publishing Advisor" with RedClover, a kid lit organization passionate about joining together authors, illustrators, parents, children and the whole community for everyone's benefit. It's super fulfilling and fun, too!
Happy "springing"!
For me, I thought things were coming to me in "doubles" as far as good news, but I broke the spell this year when I received a third (!) picture book manuscript acceptance from a book publisher! I'm absolutely thrilled and super busy as you can imagine. At least two of those books are slated for a spring 2019 release. The third may be sooner. Stay tuned!
I also just accepted a wonderful position as "Creative and Publishing Advisor" with RedClover, a kid lit organization passionate about joining together authors, illustrators, parents, children and the whole community for everyone's benefit. It's super fulfilling and fun, too!
Happy "springing"!
