Has anybody ever moved while working on a few jobs? I'm actually just putting my place on the market so may not move for awhile yet (the market has slowwwed right down). But I have to admit the hardest part so far is keeping the place spotless to be ready for open houses or potential buyers. I'm an artist, we're not supposed to be tidy. As for work I'm just finishing off a very exciting book that we've been doing for awhile. It's all about kids and maps. It turned out to be a lot of work but equally enjoyable - in no small part the fun was due to working with the wonderful Lisa at Kids Can Press. Just finalizing the cover now. Funny how some books can take awhile then suddenly you turn around and it's done. Sort of like kids that way I guess. The sun is shining and summer has truly come to Vancouver. Living in a rain forest we're all a bit overexcited when there's more than one day in row with sun.
Time flyingAs always time seems to fly by before I get around to writing here. How do some illustrators get so disciplined to update regularly? Guess I need an alarm that says 'b;log, blog, blog'. My most recent book, about maps for kids, is coming along great. It's one of those books that turned out to be more intricate than I (or the publisher) had anticipated. But lucky for me I have a short memory so I barely remember the first set of drafts. :) I think it's going to be great and something quite unique in the kids field - well hopefully not too unique, I know that scares a lot of people off. Another book, on Geography, is coming along on schedule. That can be a challenge to make fun sometimes. I forgot I haven't updated on my trip to Bologna. It was a little less rewarding than I'd hoped for. I got great reaction there but not much follow up. I'm looking at the long range picture (that's what you say when the short range doesn't pan out. :) It's actually partly true, I think Bologna is really about connections and contacts and staying in touch (that's what you say when you don't walk away with a book deal :). Ok time to make more stuff happen so I can jump in again soon with lots of news.
Getting ready for BolognaI'm off to Italy in a couple of weeks to the book fair. Still lots to do to get ready but I'm very excited. I was able to drum up quite a few appointments which is a real challenge at these things. The purpose of the book fair is rights and licenses, not to see illustrator's portfolios so it can be a challenge. But it's also such a great place to go to see European styles of illustration and run into people I've gotten to know over the years. I've also just finished two big projects so all of a sudden I'm a bit lost for what to do... although I have a list. :) One book, called the ABC's of Happiness by Mark Yablonovich and Juliet Kaska turned out to be great fun to do and I think will be a wonderful book. It makes personal growth quick, fun and easy... just like the cover says. Also I finished my third book with Little Hare Books in Australia. The working title is Ghastliest Ghosts but we'll see if that sticks. It was quite a challenge because of the intricate games and images but now that it's done I have to say I'm really happy with it. Lots of spooks and goblins and boogeymen.
Long List AwardWell I just heard from my publisher that Let's Go is up for another award so that's exciting news. Apparently we've made the long list (and who knows how long the list is... :) for the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award. It's an award for the best illustrated Canadian children's books. So we'll see if we make it to the short list but here's hoping. Winter carries on here but from what I can tell Vancouver has got it easy. I think it's time Canada took a tropical island under it's wing and we got a new province. That way we could fly south and never leave Canada. Anybody else like that idea?
Short listWell I guess I can give myself a pat on the back for 'Let's Go! The Story of Getting from There to Here' making the short list of nominations for the Cybils - we're down to 7 non fiction books (out of the hundreds put out every year). I am so grateful to Lizann Flatt for writing such a beautiful book, Sheba at Maple Tree Press for getting me on board and Claudia Davilla for her beautiful design. But I guess I should save the speeches to see if we win. :) Whatever happens, it's a beautiful book and it's so nice to have it recognized as such. Other than that work carries on as before and I'm making a concerted effort to get out and have a bit of fun now and then. Which is what I'll do now.