Having gotten used to toiling away in the dark mines of children's illustration for so long it took me awhile to realize this is probably the kind of thing that should be posted here. I've recently found out that a book I illustrated and wrote has been nominated for a national award for non fiction kids books. It's called the Norma Fleck Award and it's quite an honour. If you want to check it out visit: http://tiny.cc/kpspl The book is Follow that Map, published by my good friends at Kids Can Press. I'm also getting a good reaction to the cartoons I'm emailing out. If anybody wants to be on my mailing list just write. It's once a month and hopefully provides a smile or two.
New BooksSummer is struggling to get started here in Vancouver but I know it's just around the corner! It looks like I'll be busy with a couple of books with two of my favourite publishers - Kids Can Press and Owl. These are both sort of follow up projects to books we did before. Exciting news about 'Why?" (Maple Tree Press) as it is soon to be the 10th Anniversary. This book just keeps on selling. The latest count is 6 translations including an upcoming Arabic edition. I'm looking forward to a great project with Gumbook books where I'll be doing a book just for ipodipadmp3 players. In the meantime keeping my fingers crossed for another follow up project that I hope goes ahead... will keep you posted.
SCBWI presentationWell the talk went very well. We got a good turnout and the people seemed to enjoy it - even though I did rattle on for about 2.5 hours and wondered if people might be getting tired of the sound of my voice. That's gotta be some kind of record for me in terms of non stop talking. But in terms of making a presentation and being in front of people it was a big learning curve and I'm looking forward to other events. I have to say one of the highlights was meeting the people who came, some professional illustrators and some just starting out - the full range. Interesting looking at their portfolios and, in a way, seeing myself as I started so many years ago. I wanted to thank Ken Kilback at SCBWI for inviting me along to speak.
My First Illustrator's Workshop SCBWIJust clued in this is the kind of thing I should be writing about. I'll be part of a workshop being given on May 8 at the Holiday Inn Express, Metrotown (Sheraton Square) put on by SCBWI. There will be 8 other talented and interesting people presenting (publishers, authors, editors etc.) from 9 to 6 pm. If you're a writer or illustrator of kids books you should check it out. I'll be talking about being an illustrator, how I got started, how I work, inside news on publishers and best tips. Here's the lowdown on my workshop: The Illustrators Workshop is a concurrent event at the conference, and the fee structure is different than for the main conference itself. There are two workshop sessions, one for the morning, 9:30 to 11:45 a.m., and one for the afternoon, 1:00 to 3:15 pm. Both workshops are the same. Each session allows a maximum of 12 participants. *If not enough people sign up for the afternoon session by April 30 2010, then the workshop will be a Morning Only event. Please bring your portfolio to the workshop. To get all the info on pricing etc. go here: http://www.scbwicanada.org/west/ This has been interesting getting ready for this. After 20 years in the business it's really the first time I've pulled together all my work and experiences to give a talk. So it's quite a discovery for me to see it all laid out there. If you have any questions please get in touch with me here. Other than that work continues quite well. I really think things are turning around. More projects seem to be appearing. Scot
Time sure fliesWell here I am writing again after waiting far too long. Thanks to Crystal Stranaghan's talk last night at the CWILL meeting I've been mildly jolted into gearing up my web presence again. She kindly reminded the assembled that it needn't be painful and you can't break the internet. Lots to catch up on and share. I've been and come back from 6 weeks in Honolulu and had a great time - although it's pretty hard not to. Mind you there were a couple of drawbacks... one of which was the internet going down for a full week while I was in the middle of 5 jobs. I always have to remind people that these trips aren't holidays for me - I'm working, well as long as there is work to be had. I'm not complaining... just sayin'. Now I'm back in my new place that I bought not too long ago and totally loving it. It's a co-op building. I wonder if anybody else out there lives in one. Love to hear your experiences. It's great - I'm on the board to help run the place. It's a small building and there is a familiarity and friendliness that I like. Looking forward to seeing my friend Kari Lynn Winters who is coming out to Vancouver soon for various appearances and tours. She always inspires me and I love hanging out with her. Kari was kind enough to alert me to the fact that a book I wrote and illustrated (Follow that Map, Kids Can Press) has been nominated for the Information Book Award. At the risk of tooting my horn too much I've also just found out another book I illustrated many years ago (Why? with Maple Tree Press) will have a special 10th year Anniversary edition printed this coming November. The most exciting part so far is seeing it on the cover of the publishers catalogue and the first inside page. Exploded View is an anthology I was lucky enough to be part of (published by Cloudscape Comics). This is a collective of about 25 talented artist/writers. It seems to be selling out in some places so if you see a copy check it out. Or go ahead and ask for it, support local talent! Ok, that's it for this installment.