tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12228141626973186962024-03-19T02:46:54.605+00:00Words&PicturesCandy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger3406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-40421735315634689772024-03-17T06:30:01.146+00:002024-03-18T20:34:07.681+00:00FROM THE STUDIO OF Emmeline Pidgen<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHHTQHvd1zmEXYfKc5QcnwndaYxIOVlsOk3_5bNp4c8Lr2PJiT_UrOd94AAEetbLg9x48UgDfsZ20M71U_Cu8jlTECrqaEaURm0rpWYS8_HPM5UM-z9oMvM1ZJfhV9U3vLr7l6KkfERtjzRwDNGR3FXrSBvF2WpVqxcBsc3VemNlD665HLCLHh2AzyOI/s350/E34B0AF0-C4F1-49ED-9CF6-D44054332BEE.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHHTQHvd1zmEXYfKc5QcnwndaYxIOVlsOk3_5bNp4c8Lr2PJiT_UrOd94AAEetbLg9x48UgDfsZ20M71U_Cu8jlTECrqaEaURm0rpWYS8_HPM5UM-z9oMvM1ZJfhV9U3vLr7l6KkfERtjzRwDNGR3FXrSBvF2WpVqxcBsc3VemNlD665HLCLHh2AzyOI/s16000/E34B0AF0-C4F1-49ED-9CF6-D44054332BEE.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Who doesn't love taking a peak inside an artist's work area? Deputy Editor <b>Françoise Price</b> talks to award-winning illustrator and author <b>Emmeline Pidgen</b> about her studio space.</i></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsG_9ru1nEv8ZZA9iMyk6VxZMz-RQPKj6KEXbb6REQTVqp8ZmCzNJ4RBZAlmy2ryV2UUaFmAgjrFNApZB2Qs_uPPczFLgt2rDk0ufEcbASp4qGGe1YwDtxzRdV1LmXTCoB2RIETWPGakK3holSuh1BQd8XbdKQakZRnunL7ZM9XbbNr24T43I1TA8KWQ/s1280/EmmelinePidgen-at-desk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsG_9ru1nEv8ZZA9iMyk6VxZMz-RQPKj6KEXbb6REQTVqp8ZmCzNJ4RBZAlmy2ryV2UUaFmAgjrFNApZB2Qs_uPPczFLgt2rDk0ufEcbASp4qGGe1YwDtxzRdV1LmXTCoB2RIETWPGakK3holSuh1BQd8XbdKQakZRnunL7ZM9XbbNr24T43I1TA8KWQ/w400-h250/EmmelinePidgen-at-desk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Emmeline Pidgen</div></span><div><br /></div><div><b>Hi Emmeline and welcome to <i>Words & Pictures</i>. How did you get into illustration? And how would you describe your style?</b></div><p><b> </b></p>As long as I can remember I’ve wanted to be an illustrator. That, and a firefighter, and a ballerina. All at the same time. But ending up with one out of three isn’t bad!<p> </p>
I remember in primary school I drew a picture of a particularly fancy rat and my teacher stuck it to the wall behind her desk and kept it there for years! I would spend a lot of my time in school drawing elaborate title pages for my projects and doodling in the margins of my notebooks.<p> </p>
After my foundation degree in art, I almost took a fine art course. But when I found out that there was such a thing as a degree in illustration, my heart was absolutely set on it. Books and art - YES! After graduation I jumped straight into freelancing and building up my business, before getting my first book deal a couple of years later.<p> </p>
I think style is a tricky thing to pin down. I work in a few different ways, but what comes through whatever medium I’m working in is a voice that shows my passions and interests (lots of history, nature, folklore etc!). A lot of people say my style is really comforting.<p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;">Describe your studio space</h4>I work in a garden office that I share with my husband. For years we’d been working from our small spare bedroom in the house, but with the arrival of a little one we needed the extra space. The office has huge windows, which makes it a little chilly in winter and very warm in summer. But it’s amazingly bright and I absolutely love looking out at our very wild garden. My husband and I have one side of the office each, and for mine I have a big desk and I painted the wall a lovely blossom pink. The bookshelves along one side of the room are bursting with books, comics, prints and a couple of awards! It’s a really lovely, bright space that I’m very grateful to have.<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx7WDcaAjo-lD_E5GOGJuSwsof0FyIMyegmN3Pj7AzAJZvGl0lzmV-BLE_b39yMCE1FbE3oKB5HQphpO1Ik4g_HqY03usUOkt3lATb7jyQHnjdsFfndR6b3SFkNDgVwZJpRpilU4w3JKPOf6HIERZId3dEJkxSAzYJvpq7Vt-daTtBoPURb12zFOPzps/s1280/EmmelineDesk1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx7WDcaAjo-lD_E5GOGJuSwsof0FyIMyegmN3Pj7AzAJZvGl0lzmV-BLE_b39yMCE1FbE3oKB5HQphpO1Ik4g_HqY03usUOkt3lATb7jyQHnjdsFfndR6b3SFkNDgVwZJpRpilU4w3JKPOf6HIERZId3dEJkxSAzYJvpq7Vt-daTtBoPURb12zFOPzps/w400-h246/EmmelineDesk1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NTjguMZYhEF3wgOoiV16Xo5Vqe253xQUlXHXH-vzMKPE1kQWRHJwiSVvUIz07tLLVeg9L7z_SptgZEpNqJfjEbWhykmn5-t1LUwVPbS6bbflTfWwT7wEQ4PK4MWq819bAOVzUq_Sdq_GF7XOoOPjS6JtiXbD4sJA8FWTZ_7LTN-y-VqCqLbdxn8hDac/s1280/EmmelineDesk2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NTjguMZYhEF3wgOoiV16Xo5Vqe253xQUlXHXH-vzMKPE1kQWRHJwiSVvUIz07tLLVeg9L7z_SptgZEpNqJfjEbWhykmn5-t1LUwVPbS6bbflTfWwT7wEQ4PK4MWq819bAOVzUq_Sdq_GF7XOoOPjS6JtiXbD4sJA8FWTZ_7LTN-y-VqCqLbdxn8hDac/w240-h400/EmmelineDesk2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">Emmeline's</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">garden office<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">What are your favourite tools of the trade?</h4>I often flick between digital and traditional work (usually digital for commissions and traditional for fun). For my digital work I draw on a Samsung Galaxy tablet using Clip Studio software, and write on my Macbook. For traditional work I love using Kuretake watercolours and ink brush pens.<div><br /><p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">When illustrating for yourself or another author can you describe your process from getting a manuscript to finished artwork?</h4>It really varies between each book. Illustrating for other authors is very different from working on my own books. I’ve worked with some authors/publishers who will give me a brief or a rough idea of what they would like on each page, whereas others will trust me completely to interpret the text and illustrate it the way I think will work best. I love the challenge and problem-solving aspects of both. For my own author/illustrated books I will usually start with character sketches and a rough story idea, then everything usually weaves and develops together in one huge braid of story.</div><div><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Is there a particular artist/illustrator who has inspired you?</h4>I think Sara Ogilvie’s illustration work is amazing. The characters all look so effortless and charming. I love reading her books to my son.<p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Do you have a favourite children’s book and what draws you to it?</h4>Ooh this is such a tough question. I’m going to answer with a couple of books that kicked off my love of illustration when I was young: <i>The Porcelain Cat</i> written by Michael Hearn and illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon; and <i>The Twelve Dancing Princesses</i> by Ruth Sanderson. I used to stare at those pages for hours. They’re just so lush and there’s always more to see within each page.<p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Is there a project you have particularly enjoyed working on and why?</h4>Last year I was asked to illustrate a children’s trail for The National Trust. That was such a fun project. I am really inspired by history in my work, so it was such an honour to be asked to create characters based on real children who lived at National Trust properties and draw lots of artefacts.<p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Have you got any tips for when you get stuck on a project?</h4>Go for a walk in the woods. Or a park. Or anywhere really. There’s nothing that shakes me out of feeling stuck like just getting out and focusing on something else for a while. I know time’s a bit of a luxury, but I always remind myself that when I feel stuck on a project things will move again eventually. It might be an hour later, or even a year, but time is really important to give the ideas a chance to click.<p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">What advice would you give artists who are starting out and interested in focusing on picture books?</h4>Draw and draw and draw! Research what publishers/agents are looking for in a portfolio (consistent characters, emotion etc) and twist that with the things you’re passionate about drawing. Have a clear, concise portfolio website.<p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">What's next for you? Anything exciting you’d like to share?</h4>
I’m working on a middle grade novel at the moment. It’s really exciting to be writing again as well as illustrating. I also have a new 10-page comic out called <i>Ammonites</i> about a Victorian fossil hunter and the concept of home. It’s free to read on my <a href="http://instagram.com/emmelinedraws" target="_blank">Instagram</a> page or on my website.<p> </p><p><b>Read more about Emmeline's comics <a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/2024/03/making-comics-love-letter.html" target="_blank">here</a></b></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Header image: in-house collaboration between Ell Rose and Tita Berredo; </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">All other images: Emmeline Pidgen.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><b>Emmeline Pidgen</b> is an illustrator and author living in Lancashire, England. She is represented worldwide by Thao Le of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. Emmeline has worked with clients like The BBC, Zara, Hachette and The National Trust, and was named National Freelancer of the Year in 2016.<br />You can see more of Emmeline’s work here:<br /><a href="http://emmelineillustration.com/">Emmelineillustration.com</a><br /><a href="http://instagram.com/emmelinedraws">Instagram.com/emmelinedraws</a><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html">Françoise Price</a> is Deputy Editor of <i>Words & Pictures</i> magazine. Contact <b>deputyeditor@britishscbwi.org</b><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html">Ell Rose</a> is Illustration Features Editor of <i>Words & Pictures</i> magazine. Contact them at illustrators@britishscbwi.org<br /><br /><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html">Tita Berredo</a> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of <i>Words & Pictures</i> magazine. Contact her at: <b>illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</b><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
</div>Fran Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00959449698914091121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-83237644705797913732024-03-17T06:30:01.145+00:002024-03-18T20:32:42.880+00:00ORAL STORYTELLING Story Versus Telling<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc4lNCQatZb2zrWXdDPAoYO7kg_1ob6k-FboNnbU_DH2RXAvRxCBqwWlouM4WXOBES_KCUj1QO0Epjvu_0HTx29wP5lkYw5jK6RijwKO-VOv_D8Kst2X56SS9rQ8q3C6NySz3WV_Ybg22VuQjRt6Qze2NJ8oqJxudgS1vfwr1B5cUzJEC0q7-a9gvgXE/s350/Oral_Storytelling%20v2%20350.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc4lNCQatZb2zrWXdDPAoYO7kg_1ob6k-FboNnbU_DH2RXAvRxCBqwWlouM4WXOBES_KCUj1QO0Epjvu_0HTx29wP5lkYw5jK6RijwKO-VOv_D8Kst2X56SS9rQ8q3C6NySz3WV_Ybg22VuQjRt6Qze2NJ8oqJxudgS1vfwr1B5cUzJEC0q7-a9gvgXE/s16000/Oral_Storytelling%20v2%20350.png" /></a></div><h1><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">In this 3-part bi-weekly series, storyteller <b>Chip Colquhoun</b> shares many of the key lessons authors can learn from the art of oral storytelling.</i></h1><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/2024/03/oral-storytelling-for-writers-part-1.html">The first article in this series</a> explored how the <i>practice </i>of storytelling can help writers read their work aloud in ways that are sure to enthral every audience. And I say “every audience” with utter confidence, because as an oral storyteller I see it happen all the time</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As an example, a boy in a class of ages 9–10 once interrupted my story before it had even begun by loudly exclaiming, “If it’s not football, I’m not interested.” And yet, by the end of my Arthurian legend, he had gasped, smiled, and joined in all the actions as much as all his classmates.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But with this confidence arose a great danger – one I only came to realise when my reputation as an engaging oral storyteller for children came to the attention of The History Press. They commissioned me to write a collection of folk tales for children from my home county of Cambridgeshire, the result of which became my first published children’s book. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="text-align: center;">Knowing it had been my oral storytelling that won me this contract, I wrote the stories for the book almost verbatim as I told them orally. One of the stories is a particular favourite of my live audiences, always prompting joyous laughter before moving listeners to tears. Here’s an extract from the beginning of this story, as included in my first book</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">:</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;">By the start of the 20th century, several Fenmen had started working on steam trains.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> For example, Jim Nightall was a fireman. Nowadays, firemen put fires out, don’t they. But on a steam train, Jim’s job was to keep the fire burning – to power the engine! If you asked Jim how long he’d been a fireman, he would say, “I've been a fireman for seven years!”</p></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="text-align: center;">A couple of months after the euphoria of the book launch party had subsided, I happened to open the book at that page – and I know I’m in danger of stifling my sales here, but I have to admit my immediately thought was, “That’s <i>awful </i>writing! 10-year-old Chip wouldn’t have read that…!”</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="text-align: center;">Honestly, the book isn’t that bad; the story’s great once you get into it. But that was the problem: to get into it, you had to go through <i>me</i>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="text-align: center;">With oral storytelling, <a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/2024/03/oral-storytelling-for-writers-part-1.html">as mentioned previously in this series</a>, I felt like the secret of my success had been captured in an Edinburgh Fringe review that had said, “It felt more like a conversation than a performance.” The conversation allowed listeners to feel they were telling the story <i>with </i>me, rather than just having it told <i>to </i>them – and that was the key factor that got them invested in the experience</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="text-align: center;">But that wasn’t working on paper. Why not? Why was something so powerful in an oral medium suddenly useless in a written one? More importantly, was there any lesson from oral storytelling that could <i>improve </i>my writing</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">To </span></span><span style="text-align: center;">find the answers, I looked to the history of why we started telling stories in the first place...</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why We Tell Stories</span></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to the Ashanti tribe of West Africa, we tell stories because Anansi the Spider asked Nyambe, the god who kept all stories in the sky, to share them with the creatures of the Earth. Nyambe only granted Anansi’s request after the spider completed a series of seemingly impossible challenges, such as capturing a swarm of hornets with stings like fire.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Plot aside, that Ashanti story is a fantastic example of why humans began telling stories: to explore the fact that life is challenging, and provide encouragement that those challenges can be overcome. But there was something important about <i>who </i>overcame those challenges too...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because he’s a spider, it may seem obvious to us that Anansi should catch the hornets by building a huge web. But the Ashanti Anansi is more human than spider, and thinks up a far more human solution: drenching himself with water to mount a convincing argument that a great storm is coming, and encouraging the aquaphobic hornets to take refuge in his gourd.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ancient stories like this convinced me that Anansi would not have become such a legendary figure had he simply caught the hornets in super strong and sticky silk. Humans couldn’t solve a problem in that way, so the story would have been useless. Fun maybe, but not worth remembering the next day, let alone passing to the next generation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>It’s there in every legend. Even Hercules, for all his might, can’t just rely on his superhuman strength and stab the hydra in the heart. He has to chop off innumerable heads before realising that some mental agility is required, at which point he figures out the trick of scorching the necks immediately after each decapitation</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Likewise with my Arthurian legend that brought around that football fanatic: Sir Gareth, the focal knight of the tale, actually began that story as a regular kitchen boy, who needed to prove he was worthy of joining the knights of the round table – not by being mighty, but by being loyal and brave. He did something any of us could do.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Ultimately, I realised that the oral storytelling tradition began as a <i>survival skill</i>: a means by which community elders would help their kin develop the critical thinking required to survive and thrive in dangerous environments. Storytelling was an essential element of our evolution.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Nowadays, most of us are lucky enough not to face existential threats on a daily basis. But pretty much all of us still experience threats to our <i>mental </i>health – especially today’s children and young people. And that’s why absolutely everyone will connect with <i>any </i>story – so long as it contains all those essential components. So...</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What Does a Story Need?</span></h3><p>Not ‘a Beginning, a Middle, and an End’ as my primary teachers used to like to say. If beginnings were that important, Shakespeare would be in trouble for skipping the set-up to practically all his plays; and as for endings, the lack of one doesn’t seem to have harmed the popularity of <i>Coronation Street</i>…</p><p><br /></p><p>But those letters, B and M and E, can help us identify the common elements of every engaging story of old<span style="font-family: inherit;">...</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>B is for "Bad Thing"</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We’re all writers here, so I won’t bang on too long about this. We all know our stories need problems – though perhaps realising how this is tied to the role of stories in humanity’s survival can help us to pay it a bit more attention…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>M is for "Message"</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">...because the story shouldn’t just present the challenge, it should give us belief that the challenge can be overcome. This is true even for tragedies, which often highlight the mistakes that led to the disaster – the message being, "Avoid those mistakes, and your life will be happier than these folks."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Probably the most important element, though, is<span style="font-family: inherit;">...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>E is for "Empathetic, Effective Main Characters"</b></span></p><p>By this, I don’t mean that the MC needs to <i>show </i>empathy. Rather, <i>we </i>need to empathise with <i>them</i>. Whatever bad thing happens to the MC, we need to understand how it would feel for <i>us </i>– and, more significantly, we need to feel the solution they reach is one we could reach as well.</p><p><br /></p><p>That’s why Anansi couldn’t rely on his thread, why Hercules’ superhuman strength never meant an automatic win, why the knights of the round table had to trust in more than their sword and jousting skills.</p><p><br /></p><p>At the same time, though, there’s no point us empathising with the MC if all they do is watch from the sidelines as another solves the challenge for them. Where’s the Message in that? Deal with the bad by being lucky enough to have a more clever/skilful friend nearby?</p><p><br /></p><p>Ultimately, the Message in the story should be to help <i>us </i>– so we need to see ourselves in a MC who either survives and thrives, or is sacrificed so that we may learn from their mistakes<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Putting It Into Practice</span></h3><p>After gathering these lessons from my exploration into the history of storytelling, I realised what had to happen for a story to engage on the page as much as it did orally: it needed all those elements, <i>B</i> and <i>M</i> and <i>E</i>, to appear as soon as possible.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here’s a good example from our most recent British SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner, Camilla Chester’s <i>Call Me Lion</i>:</p><p><br /></p><blockquote><p>Even though my trampoline is in the shade, the heatwave makes it too hot for bouncing. I bounce anyway because when you have no friends in the summer holidays there’s nothing else to do.</p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>We’re barely three lines in, and we can already sense all three of our essentials…</p><p><br /></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>B: It’s too hot, and having no friends.</li><li>M: Maybe the best way to cope in a bad situation is to keep going (“bounce anyway”).</li><li>E: We can all understand how it feels to be young and lonely.</li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Here’s another award-winning example, this time from Michael Morpurgo and <i>Kensuke’s Kingdom</i>:</p><p><br /></p><blockquote><p>I disappeared on the night before my twelfth birthday.</p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>We’re <i>less than a line</i> in, and there are hints to all three essentials…</p><p><br /></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>B: Disappearing.</li><li>M: Actually, it’s past tense – “I disappeared”. This story must end in survival.</li><li>E: We’ve all been twelve, or (in the case of Morpurgo’s readers) soon will be.</li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p>So from that moment on, I resolved to use the <i>B-M-E </i>of storytelling as my yardstick for <i>almost every page </i>of every story I wrote – and <i>definitely </i>page one. Perhaps that’s why the next book I had published by The History Press performed so well that it garnered a second edition.</p><p><br /></p><p>Why don’t you be the judge? I’ll end this piece by sharing an extract from that second book, and ask you: How well did I do?</p><p><br /></p><blockquote><p>King Knut knew the English didn't like him much. After all, his Viking soldiers had killed many English soldiers. But now Knut had conquered the English lands, he wanted to know how to be a good king for them. To learn, he disguised himself as an English farmer so he could get close to ordinary English people.</p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>In the next and final part of this series, we’ll ask: If we’re supposed to think “Show Don’t Tell”, why is it called storytelling and not storyshowing? What can oral storytelling teach us about that elusive “writer’s voice”…?</p><div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">For a more detailed exploration of the history of story, and how that impacts reader/listener engagement, find Chip's book <b>All the Better to Read You With</b> in bookshops now </span>–<span style="font-family: inherit;"> illustrated by Korky Paul and published by Epic Tales.</span></i></p></div><h2><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></div><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">*Header image: In-house collaboration between Ell Rose and Tita Berredo</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chip Colquhoun</b> began storytelling for children in 2007 and was asked to write the EU’s guidance on using stories in classrooms in 2015. He became a children’s writer when The History Press commissioned him in 2016 to write <i>Cambridgeshire Folk Tales for Children</i>. He’s since had 22 books published, most as part of the <i>Fables & Fairy Tales</i> series he co-produces with illustrator Korky Paul (published by Epic Tales), and is currently working with the National English Hub and the National Literacy Trust to raise the rate of recreational reading in schools. You can find him at <a href="https://storytellerchip.com">storytellerchip.com</a></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Ell Rose </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">is the Illustration Features Editor of </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Words & Pictures</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Find their work at </span><a href="http://www.fourfooteleven.com">www.fourfooteleven.com</a><span>.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Follow them on </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fourfooteleven.illustration/">Instagram</a><span> and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/4foot11illo">Twitter</a><span>.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Contact them at </span><b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Tita Berredo</b> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of </span><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Words & Pictures. </i></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Follow her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/titaberredo/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/titaberredo" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.titaberredo.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">www.titaberredo.com</a>.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Contact her at</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">:</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><b>illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"></i></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><br /></p></div></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Chiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127163051790098899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-28186822987857522652024-03-17T06:30:01.144+00:002024-03-18T20:32:21.634+00:00IN THE SHOES OF… James Nicol<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMuxqz68-w4sOa2fJO9tCmmHzz-p9SrKvEdpRd3-U3Eeqx_CzLJcBdCICXHEEgOKu3vgyRG2Ac7TTpAo3MafnOGxJ-HK2HthF70bNgjqFQOukr5XRMwm7US8dcfQBILULskCedE2JlMSc8Cn4uSDhrK8_uL7qi-88mYno-Q2VbMwGizelm6QMS8hBxGE/s350/IMG_0387.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMuxqz68-w4sOa2fJO9tCmmHzz-p9SrKvEdpRd3-U3Eeqx_CzLJcBdCICXHEEgOKu3vgyRG2Ac7TTpAo3MafnOGxJ-HK2HthF70bNgjqFQOukr5XRMwm7US8dcfQBILULskCedE2JlMSc8Cn4uSDhrK8_uL7qi-88mYno-Q2VbMwGizelm6QMS8hBxGE/s16000/IMG_0387.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>What's life like in someone else's shoes? This month Deputy Editor <b>Françoise Price</b> invites author <b>James Nicol</b> to tell us about his day.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5zLWaJphwvBRVRCKFUW5g22H20LTxNyd8Q8lpwft_8joag2E3HteCvYZ5Rs7tN8xHsR5aePlxdQuomPwo6MhY8fk-ANaJ2VnMfL8G_fOy7E03iMFg_CCUs7C164KuzplWQagYHYmha9hKT-R1UV-ziv2UvmA2AEUoMBBAH0raygMGm5lGk5621lx4iM/s1396/image1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5zLWaJphwvBRVRCKFUW5g22H20LTxNyd8Q8lpwft_8joag2E3HteCvYZ5Rs7tN8xHsR5aePlxdQuomPwo6MhY8fk-ANaJ2VnMfL8G_fOy7E03iMFg_CCUs7C164KuzplWQagYHYmha9hKT-R1UV-ziv2UvmA2AEUoMBBAH0raygMGm5lGk5621lx4iM/w323-h400/image1.jpeg" width="323" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Meet the author: James Nicol. That's me!</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>
So, a warning that this is fairly chaotic – which is perfect as currently, this is very much how my writing time works. It’s higgledy-piggledy, snatched half hours and bursts of intense activity between the rest of life stuff. And actually one of the things I love most about having a creative life is that there is so much variation in my working days. I also work part-time in a public library and I’m a parent with young children, so I have to be flexible – which mostly means that work has to wait until nap time or until after they are tucked up in bed. (The irony here is that the evening I was working on this piece neither of them wanted to sleep!).<div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div>In some ways, it feels like when I was first starting out as most of my writing was done in the evenings then. I struggled a bit with this when our first daughter came along but I’ve realised that this is just another aspect of having a creative life and I don’t think there are many jobs that call on your creativity quite as much as being a parent.<p> </p>
As for what that work is when I sit down to do it – well, these days it could be anything; writing and editing of course being the bulk of it, but there is also planning school or festival events, developing writing workshops or working with writers, delivering 1:1 sessions, something I’ve enjoyed doing more of in recent years. There are always emails and messages to respond to and all the day-to-day admin associated with being an author.</div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fsxWob-3RBfm1dReG-o7oxu8gSaRTJhe5AGtA-euOLhmqGBLnDPtFGtOVcC_Ds6d9fNVlWsQmCej81lsv5RTOjzMwIw1PJTQ5Vi2cogwInqVoQgKQDVNIiJB5mDSDtT6idg7EN8cfnYclkEjbXkOsAK5KP41wtgHTWxLWqEHMyMb8E5Gfist6AcIE4s/s2048/image2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fsxWob-3RBfm1dReG-o7oxu8gSaRTJhe5AGtA-euOLhmqGBLnDPtFGtOVcC_Ds6d9fNVlWsQmCej81lsv5RTOjzMwIw1PJTQ5Vi2cogwInqVoQgKQDVNIiJB5mDSDtT6idg7EN8cfnYclkEjbXkOsAK5KP41wtgHTWxLWqEHMyMb8E5Gfist6AcIE4s/w400-h301/image2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Me at a school event</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p><p><br /></p>
Most recently the vast majority of my time has been spent preparing for the release of my latest book, <i>The Cloud Thief</i>. It’s an eco-fantasy adventure set in a world where the weather only now exists in magical clouds that are created and delivered from the mysterious cloud factory. Mara, the main character, is determined to get her hands on a piece of cloud to help heal her sick father but she ends up on the run from the cloud factory masters with a boy called Eban and a seemingly sentient cloud that they name, Brume. <p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5L0B1YLCm0gxJ6lnKbtR800H26H3rtuEaaSwNuLI6FoATlajTjkMvs3ly_HIqkwvLzyv_z1X2KjuU1wwFD5cKDPqRUvxhnaZuRvpl1jKpms4a-DZIbdod0GsKis_EEI4ehPm9aiYLNTviG3d4uhXbCUYcLf5W8um7t_9eZx5OnbAkvi3nkIhXkx4Ca3k/s1024/image3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5L0B1YLCm0gxJ6lnKbtR800H26H3rtuEaaSwNuLI6FoATlajTjkMvs3ly_HIqkwvLzyv_z1X2KjuU1wwFD5cKDPqRUvxhnaZuRvpl1jKpms4a-DZIbdod0GsKis_EEI4ehPm9aiYLNTviG3d4uhXbCUYcLf5W8um7t_9eZx5OnbAkvi3nkIhXkx4Ca3k/w268-h400/image3.png" width="268" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">My latest novel, <i>The Cloud Thief, </i>was published on March 14th<i>. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Published by Chicken House Books)</div></span><p> </p>
Preparing for a new book release is always exciting and a little different every time. It can also be overwhelming and a bit scary – will anyone like it, will anyone buy it, what if bookshops don’t stock it etc., etc. Of course, the vast majority of this is out of my control so I try to focus my attention and energy on what I can do and also what I enjoy doing. I’ve LOVED working with lots of the many fabulous booksellers in my region – we are blessed to have some truly amazing independent bookshops who are inventive and creative, know their communities so well and are great to work with.</div><div><br /><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydm3khj8R9vDYOUZD_GK2DuYsiCa_uC-ak2_SLi4KGYl1DEACUjqRG9Sa6csjADVGgHbx4zyv6duST6bDcQT5KXP-VKG-lKxo2JeKoeNBeqwrRyQWAS2pKZRITktUIezT1euQjAaIv5zBseGJZQkjucVVumnS-03hyi38fqriaLZPDRhkjR5oH27OyqU/s1159/image5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydm3khj8R9vDYOUZD_GK2DuYsiCa_uC-ak2_SLi4KGYl1DEACUjqRG9Sa6csjADVGgHbx4zyv6duST6bDcQT5KXP-VKG-lKxo2JeKoeNBeqwrRyQWAS2pKZRITktUIezT1euQjAaIv5zBseGJZQkjucVVumnS-03hyi38fqriaLZPDRhkjR5oH27OyqU/w194-h200/image5.jpeg" width="194" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXIOtkcKhPhdVSG2wpI4FwhStTucqEEnNwNbgdkGeTwciZgecMnvDZpr2dO7QJyHmma6qOVLQXMnCDKgQByNm_EbKGb0Tb_AVmW_cWRv7RohzWVlL9IHrjmzTMWl418VfjOzXUW60ZDSGm4QPmHZLmIQ7D-3xl2smcYl1Qk0YG3-EbxgQD948-3XI7QY/s1024/image6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXIOtkcKhPhdVSG2wpI4FwhStTucqEEnNwNbgdkGeTwciZgecMnvDZpr2dO7QJyHmma6qOVLQXMnCDKgQByNm_EbKGb0Tb_AVmW_cWRv7RohzWVlL9IHrjmzTMWl418VfjOzXUW60ZDSGm4QPmHZLmIQ7D-3xl2smcYl1Qk0YG3-EbxgQD948-3XI7QY/w161-h200/image6.jpeg" width="161" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmS8YblOCUJx4X5-r-nHn3Aoj1yk6hJJ9d_XdkL97BO8tj92bWwbEhaGKHKaHD4CB4YFW3AZgDmrfBCKt_RdL5t7peaXYbVVVRU9Ea6qWnjdUxdWBMwL6CKBx0kYh9GUm5GgUvixBkNSdGyLGHnrA5mzaudgRaP0H-6mDGKsvP07JsPmF6O8vUBqhJxs/s1024/image4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmS8YblOCUJx4X5-r-nHn3Aoj1yk6hJJ9d_XdkL97BO8tj92bWwbEhaGKHKaHD4CB4YFW3AZgDmrfBCKt_RdL5t7peaXYbVVVRU9Ea6qWnjdUxdWBMwL6CKBx0kYh9GUm5GgUvixBkNSdGyLGHnrA5mzaudgRaP0H-6mDGKsvP07JsPmF6O8vUBqhJxs/w160-h200/image4.jpeg" width="160" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">'I’ve LOVED working with lots of the many fabulous booksellers in my region.' (Pictured from left to right)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Claire from Kemps, Malton; Gill from The Little Ripon Bookshop, Ripon; Mirren from The Book Circle, Selby</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;">I’ve spent a lot of time recently arranging school visits and signing sessions, recording various videos, writing articles (just like this one!), preparing new presentations, and of course lots of social media posts too. I always enjoy a countdown on Instagram and this time I’ve been sharing some of my favourite snippets from <i>The Cloud Thief</i> in the final week before publication.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWZEtLD3pBSXk90Oc-FosUi4hxOzzaS6zRXSax_uFd93s8kRB3W8ErTdys2mc7nvKeAVyH-oKFWKEKF927MDExvFhSi_0BMM8rvl717wg3fTrkOmAa1nYIcS5_SKeTKBBP61A5DJQHMJA4Kdrf8QX0YxxO8vhc9-EGKa1Af0gjCoyzYQr3nRs1BWezbE/s320/image8.jpeg" style="text-align: center;" /><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBbWdosm7ZFOeiDuX-UR4SYefMn6UuhqXxP7cYIYwTfWscOlm1Yic8LRXlY5zb37eBkJTOaEjhqDK2ePRQo7HNbzvWM6kKbFpPzBri2QxZs4QUqNP6oPAu_nOr4aW_cosC85Sn-AyfR2cJj44h-d26VfcL-VZObZRuIKDhO9io_6QSTxqywuGrgW3ZPc/w320-h320/image7.jpeg" style="text-align: center;" width="320" /></div><div><br /></div><div>With The Cloud Thief about to come out (on March 14th), my thoughts have of course turned to what I might like to be writing next – although this is an ongoing process over a few months, a few favourite ideas are now really starting to coalesce. These new ideas will soon be shared with my agent and publisher for their feedback.</div><div><br /><br /> <div>When it comes to keeping my time organised, I use a paper diary and more Post-it notes than is probably healthy. I try to keep track of what’s going on and attempt to have a plan of what I’m doing – especially the more administrative tasks like sending invoices or sorting through paperwork, which can feel like a pain when your time is limited. But I do actually enjoy getting it all organised. I love a spreadsheet! </div></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div>If there is anything urgent to be dealt with I try to do it straight away or as soon as I can, so that when I do have a decent stretch of time to myself I can devote it to writing or editing or planning stories. I find that ideas though, they never seem to strike when I do have all the time in the world to play with them or do anything with them. I always discover them when I’m in the middle of other stuff, hanging out laundry or in the supermarket, brushing my teeth etc.<p> </p>
When I do get time to write or edit I try to break my time up, as I found early on that, wonderful though it is to have hours and hours to write, I seem to do better in smaller bursts of time. I remember reading that Jacqueline Wilson would write for 45 minutes, then do something different for 10-15 minutes like putting the washing on, before going back to her writing. I have become a convert to this. It helps to keep things fresh in your mind and if stuff isn’t going well you know you’ll be having a break pretty soon, and the other task you do in-between can work as a nice mental refresh.<p> </p>
I’ve learned to become opportunistic with my time for writing work, but I also started to carve out a little bit of time last year for other creative things, as this all feeds our creative life. While writing is fun, it is now a job as well. I’ve loved rediscovering a love and interest in drawing and painting just for pleasure – although I did take part in folktale week on Instagram last year with some illustrations and a little story which you can find over on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesenicol/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> feed.</div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHP4-QHXSUFK-6Q8Q27940KfclT9n2joTHDrH0C4OUyGVNGsjytKlEX5wznsu_TxNWjNGNPHqHk4lZIfz9w75W1G1LLSLQ5HrS0QUyLtyIg3BKhHwQKSXj0tI2AIE6kg0IfQOWy377AKJbBOtw2bMtu5lZNl2CGFmForUmQGjzwadfHs_CNS28g-nCfVY/s1380/image9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHP4-QHXSUFK-6Q8Q27940KfclT9n2joTHDrH0C4OUyGVNGsjytKlEX5wznsu_TxNWjNGNPHqHk4lZIfz9w75W1G1LLSLQ5HrS0QUyLtyIg3BKhHwQKSXj0tI2AIE6kg0IfQOWy377AKJbBOtw2bMtu5lZNl2CGFmForUmQGjzwadfHs_CNS28g-nCfVY/w323-h400/image9.jpeg" width="323" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">I’ve loved rediscovering my love and interest in drawing and painting</div></span> <p></p>
If I had any tips for other writers, it would be to grab your moments, even if you have the smallest bit of time to write, make it count and enjoy it when you do it. Feel the joy in writing. I want nothing more than for this to come across when people pick up my books and read.</div><div><p> </p><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Header image by<b> Ell Rose</b> & <b>Tita Berredo</b>;</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">All other images courtesy of <b>James Nicol</b></span></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">*</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><b>
James Nicol</b> is the author of the critically acclaimed <i>Apprentice Witch</i> series and <i>The Spell Tailors</i>. <br />As a child, he always checked wardrobes for hidden worlds and spent hours absorbed in novels or adventuring in the woods at the bottom of the garden. He lives in Yorkshire with his husband, daughters and a black and white cockapoo called Bonnie.</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html">Françoise Price</a> is the Deputy Editor of <i>Words & Pictures </i>magazine. Contact her at <br /><b>deputyeditor@britishscbwi.org</b><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html">Ell Rose</a> is the Illustration Features Editor of <i>Words & Pictures</i> magazine. Contact them at <b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html">Tita Berredo</a> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of <i>Words & Pictures </i>magazine. Contact her at <b>illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</b><br /><br /><p> </p>
</div></div>Fran Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00959449698914091121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-73345982207610532332024-03-17T06:30:01.143+00:002024-03-18T20:32:01.842+00:00REPRESENTATION Storytelling Days <p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7x3ENwPOBcFFvhK48dbghVTpfYTQq8D8YsBf1PPxuuqNfrO9IKdqV52RJQpI1QCnug3UAmkPQ8FoQ13lqMvYhBuWrbScfKQa1uEUU4lYw9cIwMPH2VEC7mL76SQEuAVnPbJnW2ZrfF9Ab60vs8DwJlQBYoj6O0DmWWJyKgvLJ4qsixxW7-ImKTR4xzM/s350/IMG_0386.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7x3ENwPOBcFFvhK48dbghVTpfYTQq8D8YsBf1PPxuuqNfrO9IKdqV52RJQpI1QCnug3UAmkPQ8FoQ13lqMvYhBuWrbScfKQa1uEUU4lYw9cIwMPH2VEC7mL76SQEuAVnPbJnW2ZrfF9Ab60vs8DwJlQBYoj6O0DmWWJyKgvLJ4qsixxW7-ImKTR4xzM/s16000/IMG_0386.jpeg" /></a></p><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It's World Story Telling Day on March 20th and Tell A Story Day on April 27th - two days for telling tales and sharing stories. <b>Eva Wong Nava</b>, our Representation Feature editor, takes a look at what these celebration days are all about.</i></div></i><p> </p>
Storytelling is as ancient as the hills and trees. As an organisation for authors and illustrators of children’s books, it is only right to celebrate storytelling because we are storytellers.<div><br />
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyRIiP7zeHbby7XFQJZr0tNDourgdjJPVqTM5zF5ENTlEDbKdCd8E9L1lJBRlVw6J5GpQ-E2gOyNKaMRyDPNVhqtrGTN9HxQ40F7D9hnEtIjALClvXNHK2P4rcGpwNWRb6-2EzcxU3rrGGnmGsALLlA_1ZjW0MR5viLL1HSrNJkTsYm8954r3N2JnEVHY/s1012/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%208.27.01%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="1012" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyRIiP7zeHbby7XFQJZr0tNDourgdjJPVqTM5zF5ENTlEDbKdCd8E9L1lJBRlVw6J5GpQ-E2gOyNKaMRyDPNVhqtrGTN9HxQ40F7D9hnEtIjALClvXNHK2P4rcGpwNWRb6-2EzcxU3rrGGnmGsALLlA_1ZjW0MR5viLL1HSrNJkTsYm8954r3N2JnEVHY/w400-h215/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%208.27.01%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">*slide from Eva Wong Nava's school visit.</span> </div><p></p><div><br /></div>
When I started doing the research for this article, I discovered that there were two national days related to storytelling. There is <u>World Story Telling Day</u>, which is celebrated in March, and <u>National Tell A Story Day</u>, which is celebrated in April.
<p> </p>
World Story Telling Day celebrates the art of oral storytelling. It is also a day that celebrates multilingualism since March 20th is the day dedicated to the oral storytelling tradition, and a day when people all over the world are telling and listening to stories in their own languages or in as many languages as possible.
<p> </p>
National Tell A Story Day on April 27th encourages people of all ages to share stories in as many forms as possible. You could narrate your story, or read a book, or create one from the top of your head. This day also celebrates the art of oral storytelling, and not only that, it celebrates the gathering of friends and family forming a community of storytellers and story listeners as explained in this <a href="https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-tell-a-story-day-april-27#:~:text=National%20Tell%20a%20Story%20Day%20on%20April%2027th%20each%20year,can%20take%20many%20forms%2C%20too." target="_blank">source</a>.<p> </p>
I spoke to <b>Dr Lalith Wijedoru</b>, founder of <a href="https://behindyourmask.co/why-storytelling/" target="_blank">Behind Your Mask</a>. Known affectionately as Lal to his friends and family, Dr Wijedoru was a paediatrician for most of his medical career until he decided to pivot to becoming a storytelling coach and facilitator. Today, he visits schools and organisations to talk about the importance of telling our own stories. Here’s what Lal has to say:
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFPO33ZpZ_1rwyvb7JSA2KRKjzkI22f4GesYrI6JobHj-CtC5JX6ShOyyO5s5f2c4WInyaxsEUZX2TpSkte_E6kWKm2SvW5i8-kmIae3pxa6TiHLWH6dpVUmcDXU0xC3RPK-jSsncBUyQCcWU0eBB_fKHnztUGzATwGCE62pVPXxCDqWA4qX0SgX1kF90/s820/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%208.30.25%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="820" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFPO33ZpZ_1rwyvb7JSA2KRKjzkI22f4GesYrI6JobHj-CtC5JX6ShOyyO5s5f2c4WInyaxsEUZX2TpSkte_E6kWKm2SvW5i8-kmIae3pxa6TiHLWH6dpVUmcDXU0xC3RPK-jSsncBUyQCcWU0eBB_fKHnztUGzATwGCE62pVPXxCDqWA4qX0SgX1kF90/w400-h384/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%208.30.25%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*image courtesy of Dr Lalith Wijedoru </span></div><p></p>
I help people craft their personal stories, either for private personal reflection or, more commonly, to share in front of others.
<p> </p>
When I am asked to share my own personal stories, the main themes relate to adverse childhood experiences, identity (sexuality, ethnicity, gender, profession), and creativity (my involvement in visual and performing arts).
<p> </p>
What motivates me about sharing stories is to connect with others, and ourselves, as humans.
I am particularly passionate about hidden stories. Stories that speak the uncomfortable truth.
My experiences as a senior emergency medicine paediatrician, working in both resourced and resource-limited settings, has exposed me to the harsh realities of life from child abuse, accidental death, and medical futility.
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibmGq097jU2RlRgUezOaqBe5uDN6bnfOcVSsYrrt0vktkWGEpW0Q747uTVnSE_7jLRE2LMXipxnDfxOLTRZRD3EqCPSYArYO5ndM1EPDJi_0mzKNT9cbQT1wya6Sd0zkPR_sKHBU-VfBciuieMKObVojbUfgYRxWBtT-puaIuzJ0X6fNRDc2LpqKZ2Os-/s1018/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%208.31.47%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1018" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibmGq097jU2RlRgUezOaqBe5uDN6bnfOcVSsYrrt0vktkWGEpW0Q747uTVnSE_7jLRE2LMXipxnDfxOLTRZRD3EqCPSYArYO5ndM1EPDJi_0mzKNT9cbQT1wya6Sd0zkPR_sKHBU-VfBciuieMKObVojbUfgYRxWBtT-puaIuzJ0X6fNRDc2LpqKZ2Os-/w400-h331/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%208.31.47%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*image courtesy of Dr Lalith Wijedoru </span></div><br /><p></p><p>
Working with children, I know that stories are remarkably economical in conveying complex messages in graspable ways. This is why I want to bring those skills to help us ‘big kids’ as well as children connect and resonate with our personal stories.</p><p> </p>
I work with teams, businesses, and organizations where I create psychologically-safe reflective spaces with boundaries for short personal stories (of colleagues) that can be shared orally with one another. Many of the themes of these storytelling sessions relate to diversity and inclusion, mental health and wellbeing, and leadership.
<p> </p>
“We change because we hear stories, and because we tell them.” (<a href="https://organizations.headspace.com/blog/harnessing-the-power-of-storytelling-to-improve-your-mental-health#:~:text=In%20honor%20of%20Mental%20Health,people%20accurately%20perceive%20their%20experiences." target="_blank">source</a>)
<p> </p>
Mental health practitioners will tell you that storytelling is powerful. Storytelling has the power to heal. Storytelling allows people to feel heard and validated. Stories also help listeners to perceive another person’s reality and perhaps find catharsis in their own lives. As a storyteller, I use my stories to help children find empathy and compassion for themselves and others.
<p> </p>
When I go to schools to talk to students about my journey as an author, I would share how I started first to advocate for diversity and representation in books and media before I became an author. By advocating, I mean that I promote diverse books and uplift underrepresented authors. After some time doing this, I realised that the books I was promoting and uplifting were few from East and Southeast Asian authors.
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-23g4QOkktE9yaHX0QoUccwpIswT5l7PHS7eNcGlGipdHY_-HEISNByzFjx4OcWwjbU1kle-fyPs_6RtWE9o9nRMPgOWM3TOIAnSXoQL8uReNSR0UzBb1R_YbI5YQb-66VyJPbw2koqxtQLsfpfbH1jehTNFIXxccOVFJWRlahZHyLc-3unFggl9skMRe/s948/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%208.33.37%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="948" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-23g4QOkktE9yaHX0QoUccwpIswT5l7PHS7eNcGlGipdHY_-HEISNByzFjx4OcWwjbU1kle-fyPs_6RtWE9o9nRMPgOWM3TOIAnSXoQL8uReNSR0UzBb1R_YbI5YQb-66VyJPbw2koqxtQLsfpfbH1jehTNFIXxccOVFJWRlahZHyLc-3unFggl9skMRe/w400-h214/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%208.33.37%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* slide from school visit, courtesy of Eva Wong Nava </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><p></p>
So, I started to write my own stories. In this form of storytelling (during school visits), I also talk about being part of a diaspora that comprises of more than one billion people. When I mention this, I see some children’s eyes boggle in trying to figure out how many zeros there are in one billion. Then, I tell them the story of my ancestors with photos to illustrate. Photos borrowed from Getty, as many of my family photos were lost during immigration and expatriation.</div><div><br />
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5S3iGHIYN7vsH3TrK-rleyOdfVSIyRzqbYJxhyphenhyphenwQoXqJS-o2m0sck7OV3i13nsJveG6O8DaIBh_bkojoNPJSuTon6majmIGWC6fQn6zCIK81405uZJf8M_2itXaVcx2O1ueyVDd1djvY1BqPkR_0-mb1nWWCDu4AzQk5FSt9_L8Yei45OKJ94kScaLoK/s1316/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%208.34.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1316" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5S3iGHIYN7vsH3TrK-rleyOdfVSIyRzqbYJxhyphenhyphenwQoXqJS-o2m0sck7OV3i13nsJveG6O8DaIBh_bkojoNPJSuTon6majmIGWC6fQn6zCIK81405uZJf8M_2itXaVcx2O1ueyVDd1djvY1BqPkR_0-mb1nWWCDu4AzQk5FSt9_L8Yei45OKJ94kScaLoK/w400-h223/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%208.34.31%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* slide from school visit, courtesy of Eva Wong Nava. </span></div><p></p>
When I do this, I see how some marginalised children relate, how my identity as a marginalised adult resonates with them. These children would often hang back, come to me individually to either hug me, or tell me something personal about themselves. This proves that storytelling is a powerful tool that helps to make children (adults as well) feel seen, heard and validated. Storytelling helps us connect with one another, as Lal had said. <p> </p>
Why am I telling you this?
<p> </p>
It’s Tell A Story Day and this is my story.
<p> </p>
Don’t forget to tell a story on April 27th.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Header image courtesy of Ell Rose</span></div><div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* </div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Eva Wong Nava is a storyteller and an author. She loves retelling folktales, myths and legends from East Asia because these stories help children enter diverse worlds and universes where dragons, heroes and heroines, warriors and gods and goddesses reside. You can find her stories on X and Instagram. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Ell Rose </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">is the Illustration Features Editor of </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Words & Pictures</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Find their work at </span><a href="http://www.fourfooteleven.com">www.fourfooteleven.com</a><span>.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Follow them on </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fourfooteleven.illustration/">Instagram</a><span> and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/4foot11illo">Twitter</a><span>.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Contact them at </span><b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b></span></p></i></div>Eva Wong Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12257237315747240624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-60859309759388429202024-03-17T06:30:01.142+00:002024-03-18T20:18:28.872+00:00PICTURE BOOK FOCUS Pitch to FOREIGN RIGHTS (Part 2) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEQTpkwiV_PSgd59IDf6BKpxSwW2WDyGY1NSEpHZx8BmrjL-Q88p4HY0bE5ao38P8xkx9AlA9xwGUkiacNchS5_eP7s3sa8032jUi2UsvoB2sKDc2oPBPuCihKWHGYFxPB5v0SVY3kZ4I8yLPt9t2pcbTE7RyLD4aYQfqQqDRb8J9NQllA_vu54Ta3Wk/s16000/PHOTO-2023-09-28-17-02-36.jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">In </span><span style="text-align: left;">(Part 2) </span></i><i style="font-family: inherit;">experienced editor </i><b style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">Natascha Biebow</b><i style="font-family: inherit;"> shares tips on why a strong pitch matters when selling your book to a publisher, and the role of the </i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">foreign rights sales in considering its commercial viability.<br /></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">If you’re submitting a book for
publication at a traditional publishing house, you will have heard people say
how important it is for you to have honed your pitch, and to know and
understand the unique <a href="https://writingblueprints.com/p/the-missing-step-to-picture-book-success-how-to-create-a-rock-solid-premise?coupon_code=NB10&product_id=5168740"><span style="color: blue;">premise</span></a> of your book. But, why is this so
important, and how does this influence whether a book is acquired and
ultimately considered <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>commercially
successful? In this series of blog posts, we will look at the different roles
in children’s publishing and how your book’s hook is key for each one.<br /><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">In order to pitch your book in-house,
the <b>EDITOR</b> must pull together a <b>PROPOSAL</b> to present to
colleagues, comprised of other key members of the publishing house. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">(Read about the role of the EDITOR in</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/2/"><i><span style="color: blue;"> Part 1</span></i></a><i>.)</i></span></p>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">For a
picture book, a KEY element is whether it has potential to sell to FOREIGN RIGHTS MARKETS.</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><p> <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Publishing a
picture book is a global endeavour. To understand why this matters, consider
that to produce a full-colour picture book is a very expensive business. The
publisher will be keen to off-set the many costs (overheads, editing/design, printing,
marketing, the author and illustrator’s advances, warehousing and distribution,
etc) against sales. Publishers will therefore usually acquire <u>world rights</u> in
all markets for a picture book in order to try to maximize sales.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Also, it’s
important to understand how picture book printing works: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RzeqfwEyGAwL6nsjlijdZA31WMKIlalYTORUfixkQm7cxugPIuNuAS0YNjddaZrPadVJBuB__ZWVzLecqD2ECj_XhMpXOB5y23tFd2wBdiewKl8gwOSxBzMDgmwxoU4bXfDvZGs1kAo19l5nqnmex0csC6B38WGMv7B4UTXvTzz_o3nE6iR5_eEKAuY/s1348/printing%20press.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1348" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RzeqfwEyGAwL6nsjlijdZA31WMKIlalYTORUfixkQm7cxugPIuNuAS0YNjddaZrPadVJBuB__ZWVzLecqD2ECj_XhMpXOB5y23tFd2wBdiewKl8gwOSxBzMDgmwxoU4bXfDvZGs1kAo19l5nqnmex0csC6B38WGMv7B4UTXvTzz_o3nE6iR5_eEKAuY/s320/printing%20press.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four-colour picture book printing is expensive! Often publishers print in locations where labour is cheaper and books must be shipped. This can add long lead times before the publisher can even begin to sell the books in their home market to recoup any costs. Foreign Rights income is very important!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">When most
picture books are designed, all the text on the interior spreads sits on a
separate black text ‘layer’ to the illustrations, so it can easily be
translated. This includes type that is incidental, such as signs for instance. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnX-HSSOCRcGv0lxDd8_HZo7lRq7_ir6Ji6-zwYuwxAuZRGFbz4c83opc9UFhTk5KdQHU4xWc4bUtuqo74ZqyfSBk0lG_W-Qwgk-Pd7S3pad7CUjzgkuNMgUipaprUw7qRrE_ht7hC402TcFDydYfPHCGkSzQK1lio_zfXkFemwC-4rCG5hXglqMFjvY/s955/chocolate%20wolf%20cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="791" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnX-HSSOCRcGv0lxDd8_HZo7lRq7_ir6Ji6-zwYuwxAuZRGFbz4c83opc9UFhTk5KdQHU4xWc4bUtuqo74ZqyfSBk0lG_W-Qwgk-Pd7S3pad7CUjzgkuNMgUipaprUw7qRrE_ht7hC402TcFDydYfPHCGkSzQK1lio_zfXkFemwC-4rCG5hXglqMFjvY/s320/chocolate%20wolf%20cover.png" width="265" /></a></span></div><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8Rnya-quO6wiXNBJXcqIFUsz5cO7KhBF7OhMjszxCusecEovGfdLWq-E88RTGsSWvKKziGyVdkn5bJDg-yjXL5oGR8nTMe72gx0Rrdjwt_Z3ukZ-ahnY0IuFgmMiAzskvz7HWnlCd511cbeDHzod6sTRfh4fYeZfx7Dn36T6WNC9axUH5b5eNwGuwsg/s1593/Chocolate%20Wolf%20spread.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1593" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8Rnya-quO6wiXNBJXcqIFUsz5cO7KhBF7OhMjszxCusecEovGfdLWq-E88RTGsSWvKKziGyVdkn5bJDg-yjXL5oGR8nTMe72gx0Rrdjwt_Z3ukZ-ahnY0IuFgmMiAzskvz7HWnlCd511cbeDHzod6sTRfh4fYeZfx7Dn36T6WNC9axUH5b5eNwGuwsg/w400-h241/Chocolate%20Wolf%20spread.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">In <i>The Ferocious Chocolate Wolf</i> by Lizzie Finlay, the text black plate would include the text on the signs and in the speech bubbles as well.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /><p></p><p></p><p><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">If a publisher
sells foreign rights, the book is translated (or Americanized) and the foreign
publisher will usually supply just the text files for their edition, while the
rest of the book (apart from the cover) remains unchanged.</span></p><p><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="background-color: #01ffff;">Co-edition
printing </span>means that the originating publisher can print all the foreign
editions at the same time, benefiting from an economy of scale (bulk printing
reduces the unit cost). Because all the four-colour printed illustrations
remain the same across editions, the printer can simply ‘replace’ the interior <b>TEXT</b>
black in each language edition, without having to set up the book’s printing
each time. This means it’s cheaper and more efficient to print all the editions
together. </span></p><p><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2255" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBINYpSVUMWkRMQpQf1TeEF4r_pCLMt5VEbbDZA9vXBm01IBSwW1k16_smyT2Elv6dJD-mHK6K-QQU_pkq4rrQNxzjHtG1UZ4OAfv-y2a_itTrdouR50FhPhLwq0m2TPg988MxQ_aFVzq0jAqF4__UFMcvVP5PBzfxIjWCIYd7wWOipZA2wAG1ZcgnaZ4/w400-h210/Nefertiti%20spread%20English.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From<i> I Am Nefertiti</i> by Annemarie Anang and Natelle Quek - UK edition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhfA0epAuIKsGoH0xax3hdHFNdAfNnfGoEi9JwNxljRuxQkEUAAaXH8phg3AjhIsaqB7qxBGNrFm4-qAhWp4NC94LtvDq6I55dwbhLX8PRZhyFgLmfPlpYiZPd3Q43XyuR6XljS8HMHlKnIRIuyYUN6t9Trs7tlEXTH85_vzKJrkUXbN-rNGdeY3Gnp0/s2438/Nefertiti%20Dutch%20spread.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="2438" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhfA0epAuIKsGoH0xax3hdHFNdAfNnfGoEi9JwNxljRuxQkEUAAaXH8phg3AjhIsaqB7qxBGNrFm4-qAhWp4NC94LtvDq6I55dwbhLX8PRZhyFgLmfPlpYiZPd3Q43XyuR6XljS8HMHlKnIRIuyYUN6t9Trs7tlEXTH85_vzKJrkUXbN-rNGdeY3Gnp0/w400-h203/Nefertiti%20Dutch%20spread.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From<i> I Am Nefertiti</i> by Annemarie Anang and Natelle Quek - Dutch edition - <br />the four-colour artwork files stay the same and the translated text is a black plate change at printing stage.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqwXFtCsOR_MMXUglkE1_rKsD28l0rRh-FDKLglhhOwElIn8upxogwCn4sKT6R5wxmlR96qhsquvPFqYbnmDMYPvujg_xcODXCRf_JzamOnjklCpjV6hFIdhfksHr_rqdoOWYr0YyCYfwM39M47Wk5HWDKMZw0Q5j9I4p1nlwsZCyUYc301-VGnDrDfY/s942/bouquet%20spread%20copy.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="942" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqwXFtCsOR_MMXUglkE1_rKsD28l0rRh-FDKLglhhOwElIn8upxogwCn4sKT6R5wxmlR96qhsquvPFqYbnmDMYPvujg_xcODXCRf_JzamOnjklCpjV6hFIdhfksHr_rqdoOWYr0YyCYfwM39M47Wk5HWDKMZw0Q5j9I4p1nlwsZCyUYc301-VGnDrDfY/w400-h261/bouquet%20spread%20copy.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons</i> by Natascha Biebow and Steven Salerno - Original US edition <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqInM1OdqfVJzQ_qk-ehi-2-TdkmFJzccz5anLiYv_27u0-5RXBZEcXRX_h7tTD50KAS50knWAf2sxS4w4Rpq41PBzp_KsY7E28AyFedqtIomDGRA21pueGW7yG2-cBEhvYcZmNOyz_V_SGdQ2nHRnEiddYLMOenudM3YGscsMkDWsZzv8gZYLPDj5Os/s4088/Crayon%20Man%20Romanian%20spread.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2881" data-original-width="4088" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqInM1OdqfVJzQ_qk-ehi-2-TdkmFJzccz5anLiYv_27u0-5RXBZEcXRX_h7tTD50KAS50knWAf2sxS4w4Rpq41PBzp_KsY7E28AyFedqtIomDGRA21pueGW7yG2-cBEhvYcZmNOyz_V_SGdQ2nHRnEiddYLMOenudM3YGscsMkDWsZzv8gZYLPDj5Os/w400-h283/Crayon%20Man%20Romanian%20spread.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons</i> by Natascha Biebow and Steven Salerno -Romanian translation - artwork stays the same and translated text fits the same space as the original edition. Translators must not only translate the text into another language but capture the author's voice and tell the story so it's accessible to a different culture.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Because the <b>COVER</b> is a key selling tool, each language edition will often
have a unique cover design best-suited to that marketplace; four-colour changes
are then permitted (coloured title type, for example).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBBmueVymDreR8CveW_A3s2lqmH9H4BSh6sCXMSXO792OnnaDUdnYEGk07N-h5APlKyYlTnmttOnmL0-8DeqLkNG4nc6QkgpCSATvXYuIjz9v_ytcm3ggFCVMgUGAv7rU2raHhrTuAgy2HIsvqxpZQfom5ohd9VlWvu-IeRpqXlVQk_Y3S3Lfu_6X7l0/s1539/Nefertiti%20covers%20.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1539" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBBmueVymDreR8CveW_A3s2lqmH9H4BSh6sCXMSXO792OnnaDUdnYEGk07N-h5APlKyYlTnmttOnmL0-8DeqLkNG4nc6QkgpCSATvXYuIjz9v_ytcm3ggFCVMgUGAv7rU2raHhrTuAgy2HIsvqxpZQfom5ohd9VlWvu-IeRpqXlVQk_Y3S3Lfu_6X7l0/w400-h214/Nefertiti%20covers%20.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I Am Nefertiti</i> by Annemarie Anang and Natelle Quek - Original UK edition and Dutch co-edition.<br />Note that the translator is credited alongside the author and illustrator. The cover design remains relatively unchanged.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLpU5NjYjiaESHml76UDzuRspAVct7ON2EMgt8JsL6AfsT4CJaxja0-9IQKfxN8re-P36sg_FLm6iDQeHIzVDP7xvhMXQ7cPx80PxmK83a7qptqOUg06jRpMimYLjIo7sV5pYdHoGbNJ-RcuYuliTFuB4g4npys0LQ4ZPhNmYdeui36NEAnl52Sxo8Kc/s1672/Crayon%20man%20covers.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1672" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLpU5NjYjiaESHml76UDzuRspAVct7ON2EMgt8JsL6AfsT4CJaxja0-9IQKfxN8re-P36sg_FLm6iDQeHIzVDP7xvhMXQ7cPx80PxmK83a7qptqOUg06jRpMimYLjIo7sV5pYdHoGbNJ-RcuYuliTFuB4g4npys0LQ4ZPhNmYdeui36NEAnl52Sxo8Kc/w400-h255/Crayon%20man%20covers.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons</i> by Natascha Biebow and Steven Salerno - Original US edition and Romanian co-edition. The title is different, but the design remains relatively unchanged.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Sometimes, a
publisher will wait to time their printing to build a co-edition print run,
ultimately cashing in on pre-sales in various foreign markets. The creators
will usually receive a percentage of the revenue in a ‘<u>royalty inclusive</u>’ deal,
which goes towards earning out their advance. This kind of printing is
especially important for books that are more expensive to produce such as board
books and novelty books. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScWhd1yqFMzBOlwwusPy7h5W1vuvbPl3ADKm-K5Xj-2EPQzBC4kdMqjmB9YBbR3xAJ_gPAB0DEAmVyeA8M7RME31rFedZBaHcvwv4LM3QERGHuU2l4UuAHUgzuhGcoDKMpv9eqmgY5kEnUTM8OoeCooZm2l0ZzH6V2H0FYiZ0xshrhIRlPFRJL3qa5S8/s1228/Fiona%20Watt%20board%20books.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="1228" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScWhd1yqFMzBOlwwusPy7h5W1vuvbPl3ADKm-K5Xj-2EPQzBC4kdMqjmB9YBbR3xAJ_gPAB0DEAmVyeA8M7RME31rFedZBaHcvwv4LM3QERGHuU2l4UuAHUgzuhGcoDKMpv9eqmgY5kEnUTM8OoeCooZm2l0ZzH6V2H0FYiZ0xshrhIRlPFRJL3qa5S8/w400-h141/Fiona%20Watt%20board%20books.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Usborne's bestselling board book <i>That's not my...</i> series by Fiona Watt and Rachel Wells has the support of co-editions in many languages in order to make them commerically viable. (Pictured here, the UK original, French and Italian editions.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">In other deals,
the publisher will agree to sell files to the foreign publisher on a limited
time license, and they will, in turn, translate and print the book themselves.
This kind of deal is usually a ‘<u>royalty exclusive</u>’ deal, where the foreign
publisher agrees to pay an advance and against royalties for the right to sell
the book in their territory. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><b><span style="background-color: #01ffff;">Book fairs:</span></b>
Foreign Rights sales teams pitch a book to foreign publishers at major book
fairs around the world. The largest and most important of these is the <a href="https://www.bolognachildrensbookfair.com/en/about/bologna-childrens-book-fair/5656.html" target="_blank">BolognaChildren’s Book Fair </a>(Spring) and the Frankfurt Book Fair (Fall, also includes
adult books). Other fairs around the world are key business opportunities also
– the Shanghai Book Fair, the London Book Fair, and so on. <br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_8RNle3P68Qn6YsGiq19BAB_I77dh6mgFfgiCZJRyItq9_YapW5lM73UICB14CToVxwTwazmHTIQh1nw5BsrUn3StYEMeiEXP8bvnc5E1y6yF3E61awCFkTsfifbNkZknX6yI7ZOQVO5eAQ-ZV9e6ACKlo43wFIzeWBxxUJtHx-fqiKgXIkKTU5bnjg/s2146/Bologna%20hallway%20general%20Paul%20Morton.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1585" data-original-width="2146" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_8RNle3P68Qn6YsGiq19BAB_I77dh6mgFfgiCZJRyItq9_YapW5lM73UICB14CToVxwTwazmHTIQh1nw5BsrUn3StYEMeiEXP8bvnc5E1y6yF3E61awCFkTsfifbNkZknX6yI7ZOQVO5eAQ-ZV9e6ACKlo43wFIzeWBxxUJtHx-fqiKgXIkKTU5bnjg/s320/Bologna%20hallway%20general%20Paul%20Morton.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bologna Book Fair is a busy rights fair with lots of opportunities to do business between global publishers. <i>(Photo courtesy of <a href="https://bugbelly.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Paul Morton)</a></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br />The in-house
creative team works closely with the Foreign Rights sales teams to put together
sales material for the book fairs: a pitch in the catalogue, a pitch for the
Rights Team to use to sell to their customers, and of course material to show –
a book dummy with partial finished artwork and a colour cover, or sometimes,
proofed copies of the nearly-finished book. <br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdS-vCP8qzRwcwILbIGl2H4ZFc44E7HNvDd4LO93TJ6Gq8iod9Us9ytXhx3iJuWZl5OKUAGO5qovJLDTYId_Fx3wjhP4HKxedzvZd4HpCcPBrcWl6G0IK4mKiv68DscEUhCSoc7SKRixwTmG-peaajkA02pYfxhvuMp9hd9X3SsQoXXgmTNXB2G50g4A/s2204/Five%20Quills%20Stand%20Bologna.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1655" data-original-width="2204" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdS-vCP8qzRwcwILbIGl2H4ZFc44E7HNvDd4LO93TJ6Gq8iod9Us9ytXhx3iJuWZl5OKUAGO5qovJLDTYId_Fx3wjhP4HKxedzvZd4HpCcPBrcWl6G0IK4mKiv68DscEUhCSoc7SKRixwTmG-peaajkA02pYfxhvuMp9hd9X3SsQoXXgmTNXB2G50g4A/s320/Five%20Quills%20Stand%20Bologna.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The
Foreign Rights teams have meetings with foreign publishers on their
stands at bookfairs such as Bologna. New projects and published books
are displayed and prominently promoted.<i> (Photo courtesy of <a href="https://bugbelly.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Paul Morton</a>)</i></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Success varies by project and
marketplace, but is intrinsically linked to some key factors:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">- International
Market Appeal:</span> Is the book universal and will it appeal to audiences around the
world? Visual voices are different in some countries. It’s important to
understand nuances of different cultures and how to best pitch each book. The Foreign
Rights sales team are experts in this and their territories.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcff01;">- Author /Illustrator track record:</span> have they sold to foreign publishers
before? If so, those will be key customers the Foreign Rights team will contact
because they might be interested in the rights to that creator’s next project. For
illustrators, publishers will consider what other projects the illustrator has
on the go and to which bookfairs these will be taken. Consideration may also be
given to the creators’ visibility on social media, for instance in the instance
of a global celebrity.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><i>** A note about
the US Market:</i> if you sell your project to a US publisher, they have access to the
very large home American marketplace. Consequently, t will often print solely
for this audience and sell foreign rights at a later date. A UK picture book
run will be much smaller by comparison, which is why selling foreign rights is so
important for UK publishers to break even on their bottom line. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrUpqq-_RoL6RC-WmYg-Cg_2sontVsJpjPwRREYaHgSOXQy93taRWIQLepcV8p6bhjtTwBhoKRPREshOKd-FvJESjm7hsa0wFrBP4p-EpLhyuY0PTIoCDt4pGEvvaDu6kpHeWTdgVTZTZuFhEBVG0kztPx-vJkKYB6yMD1MOP968_2ZlEZ92t83p6YYw/s1647/Five%20Quills%20stand%20Bologna%20Paul%20Morton.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1647" data-original-width="1230" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrUpqq-_RoL6RC-WmYg-Cg_2sontVsJpjPwRREYaHgSOXQy93taRWIQLepcV8p6bhjtTwBhoKRPREshOKd-FvJESjm7hsa0wFrBP4p-EpLhyuY0PTIoCDt4pGEvvaDu6kpHeWTdgVTZTZuFhEBVG0kztPx-vJkKYB6yMD1MOP968_2ZlEZ92t83p6YYw/s320/Five%20Quills%20stand%20Bologna%20Paul%20Morton.png" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Bookfair, visiting authors and illustrators often help to promote their books by meeting their foreign publishers. Illustrators also show their portfolios to interested publishers.<i> (Photo courtesy of <a href="https://bugbelly.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Paul Morton</a>)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Before the
acquisitions meeting, the EDITOR will often pitch your project to the <b>Foreign
Rights sales team</b> members to gauge whether the picture book has commercial
potential in their markets. The largest and most profitable global market is
the US, so selling co-editions to this market is key. Some UK publishers have
US publisher partners to whom they will pitch a project at this early stage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">⭐</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> So, how can you
maximize your book’s pitch to give it the best chance of selling foreign
rights? </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">⭐<br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="421" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisY1seoW54KY7HKSGKM2xYSyeW_UEHvNQCtwiO7SFOEwElKjrAzjefR247rVbOSf6Xe9FWRxZKoy8zRc24EfICLpaKlFIPHlX53vmtWgoy9S1Ii8uTItLPmDWEASJTRRP2V0FU6Lzj5zVYbRxUzrjwrSLZyl1Xaq41s-PFxLE_7fK1f29aSAgHRRocHwA/s320/hook.png" width="320" /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">• Aim for a
wide appeal through universal themes – highlight these in your pitch. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">• Ensure that
your characters are relatable to audiences around the world, even to those who
are different from them. </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">• Check you
have a knock-out <a href="https://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2023/11/write-picture-books-like-pros-create.html">premise</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">• Do your homework
and avoid anything that might be regionally specific – unless that is the point
of your book.<br />
• Be aware of what is selling, particularly in the US market, since it’s the
largest and often one of the most important markets.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">• Share with
your editor about your foreign rights track record if you have one (or ask your
agent to do this).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Wrap it all up
nicely, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> <br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2XCammU0G6nkwvboj4IAB3Ws6BhS3iAh9b0YIEW9_qgIR_MqPB3K28RhrH_uTfvLNqE5aYCMAakWm0iIWM8a2xJlSPayWJXeT9H0e9IENfrAcScRPZNWa72cgG0ryPA3xc6Z6YqDgw92Vv2cslBwaP8l_Q1GEZ8LMCtATJePSGLRPlyTO1eiIic97rA/s1631/gift.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1631" data-original-width="1496" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2XCammU0G6nkwvboj4IAB3Ws6BhS3iAh9b0YIEW9_qgIR_MqPB3K28RhrH_uTfvLNqE5aYCMAakWm0iIWM8a2xJlSPayWJXeT9H0e9IENfrAcScRPZNWa72cgG0ryPA3xc6Z6YqDgw92Vv2cslBwaP8l_Q1GEZ8LMCtATJePSGLRPlyTO1eiIic97rA/s320/gift.png" width="294" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">and remember,
the <b>EDITOR</b> and the <b>FOREIGN RIGHTS SALES teams</b> are your champions.
<br /><br />They are on your side! ⭐<br clear="all" style="break-before: page; mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span>*</span><span>Header image: Ell Rose and Tita Berredo</span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html" target="_blank"><span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Natascha Biebow</b></span><b> </b></a>is an experienced children's book editor, coach and mentor and founder of <span class="s1"><a href="https://www.blueelephantstoryshaping.com" target="_blank">Blue Elephant Storyshaping</a></span>. </span></span></span>She
loves to help authors and illustrators at all levels to shape their
stories and fine-tune their work pre-submission. She runs <a href="https://www.blueelephantstoryshaping.com/new-online-courses/webinars/" target="_blank">courses</a> on picture book craft. </span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She is the author of the award-winning nonfiction picture book <a href="http://www.nataschabiebow.com" target="_blank"><span class="s1"><i>The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayon</i></span><i>s.</i></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><br /><p> </p>Regional Advisorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246367118490851183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-24229126042314131762024-03-17T06:30:01.139+00:002024-03-17T10:53:05.321+00:00INSPIRATIONS FROM THE BOOKSHELF Craig McCann<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjue0ktxBs94QPL3F4W_5g7j_lKmc8g05uVAs5osfzIJFPkxPTZNiRqmp9YtPmbheMXibGwZ99M4VsmzWREEe57F7neMZ6b-US9JsFUjh883ghZmz4YEk6_80ZHBfCQeMFrDHu8Ucx0h3o6jCfaBDU4CaWZRWMSRgNJ-gd61bFMWq5eWCt66JVg6qIvWC8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjue0ktxBs94QPL3F4W_5g7j_lKmc8g05uVAs5osfzIJFPkxPTZNiRqmp9YtPmbheMXibGwZ99M4VsmzWREEe57F7neMZ6b-US9JsFUjh883ghZmz4YEk6_80ZHBfCQeMFrDHu8Ucx0h3o6jCfaBDU4CaWZRWMSRgNJ-gd61bFMWq5eWCt66JVg6qIvWC8=s16000" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Every illustrator and writer has grown up with inspirations from a variety of sources.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><i>This week</i></span><i> illustrator <b>Rekha Salin</b> wanted to find out what gives illustrator & ceramist</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><i><b>Craig McCann </b></i></span><i style="font-family: inherit;">the most inspiration.</i></div><div><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><p><b>Tell us a bit about yourself.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>Hi everyone, my name's Craig and I'm an illustrator and ceramist who runs a business called <a href="http://www.fishink.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fishink</a> <span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">— </span>you can find me on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/fishinkblog" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. I create quirky, individual, handmade ceramics that have, I feel, a nod to mid-century illustration and design. Since 2010 I have also curated a <a href="https://fishinkblog.com/" target="_blank">Fishink</a> blog that looks at retro children's illustrations, textiles, ceramics and all manner of design from the 1950's to the present day that happens to catch my eye. </p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-7iZ3zSdYhpR-veam8StyFdhcBgH9INtiLeOW5a7PVKCEmcP6e3E13wcgZqT5kPqP_G_XfGM8awHZKcX_5PzSLoc-CXpTDmHHNQyRiXQpLZxQAXp-gLM68RDX_NoCkNdbB0I1u-HMF-b1QUIcXlQqMsEVh9OTQLRcLSBg-keA7OvltwKfFukIlR2ioA/s1754/Gallery%204.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="956" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-7iZ3zSdYhpR-veam8StyFdhcBgH9INtiLeOW5a7PVKCEmcP6e3E13wcgZqT5kPqP_G_XfGM8awHZKcX_5PzSLoc-CXpTDmHHNQyRiXQpLZxQAXp-gLM68RDX_NoCkNdbB0I1u-HMF-b1QUIcXlQqMsEVh9OTQLRcLSBg-keA7OvltwKfFukIlR2ioA/s320/Gallery%204.jpg" width="174" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Who do you write/illustrate/design for?</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>I would say my work is primarily aimed at adults who still have an inner child. However children also identify with it and many pieces end up in their rooms. Humour and fun are the main objectives I aim to bring to my work. If I can make someone smile and feel a sense of joy when they encounter my work then I feel I have achieved what I set out to do.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkR8U974WK3PBRywAAEB-GulOnqC48Fy_Gwx8d_FLdvc_ZMkHslbL0LnpBXG9DnH-N_H83nCNSTdTjvNRGqtczxENeWm9ZLzCUqHeIw8QiyxYhM3bOHOng6uylr8haTaNCVrhcsxjzYZNrrvKIcAgXg-9KBv697Ra1iuO8uUmarh2_oAUxbHGzHLJsn3w/s1754/Gallery%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkR8U974WK3PBRywAAEB-GulOnqC48Fy_Gwx8d_FLdvc_ZMkHslbL0LnpBXG9DnH-N_H83nCNSTdTjvNRGqtczxENeWm9ZLzCUqHeIw8QiyxYhM3bOHOng6uylr8haTaNCVrhcsxjzYZNrrvKIcAgXg-9KBv697Ra1iuO8uUmarh2_oAUxbHGzHLJsn3w/s320/Gallery%205.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><p>My bookshelves are literally groaning with books from mid-century illustrators, many of which are long out of print and now hard to get hold of. Here's just a few examples:</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJMyfRttIs9sI-NRU5ofBgDMHhtUXCylW_Ycm6o47OsJ1xHuVowfQrq0-n8yVodbsNA91Vw8Q2mdp-IJrKQKwnAqQJDzDw84jGQ3aoQyn06vdMijvIscpyn8MD4WtNkEO2oO3eomI8TdYlk06D6MD5b7roU6JkpShIQbdxuLyupa8QatGeSxBQsHZuos/s1506/Gallery%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1506" data-original-width="948" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJMyfRttIs9sI-NRU5ofBgDMHhtUXCylW_Ycm6o47OsJ1xHuVowfQrq0-n8yVodbsNA91Vw8Q2mdp-IJrKQKwnAqQJDzDw84jGQ3aoQyn06vdMijvIscpyn8MD4WtNkEO2oO3eomI8TdYlk06D6MD5b7roU6JkpShIQbdxuLyupa8QatGeSxBQsHZuos/s320/Gallery%202.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>What inspires you to pick up or buy a book from the library/bookstore or buy online?</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>Firstly the illustration, secondly the illustrator, thirdly the story.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3eAypyFNi2-QbrtOk2fABSEle_sNvxh1nvA1W2czM6WDdaq9eMozs9M4z-jHt8BX-tJFef_HrHHxlEOdRiUriKcxupCA2Y01jJ43NAq87J3tiznIkm0ZnKcBOC4cnNBrZjy_tUTo-cMt224f5TYrH6l2DK_MDWYSJ30O4-bZH3AMSyHwPuNYPRuvoBo/s1626/Gallery%209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1626" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3eAypyFNi2-QbrtOk2fABSEle_sNvxh1nvA1W2czM6WDdaq9eMozs9M4z-jHt8BX-tJFef_HrHHxlEOdRiUriKcxupCA2Y01jJ43NAq87J3tiznIkm0ZnKcBOC4cnNBrZjy_tUTo-cMt224f5TYrH6l2DK_MDWYSJ30O4-bZH3AMSyHwPuNYPRuvoBo/s320/Gallery%209.jpg" width="189" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>What inspires you?</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>I am inspired by the work of creatives, who use many different mediums, that all subliminally become ingested and subsequently have an influence on my work. I adore books that were produced in the sixties by illustrators such as <b>Helen Borten</b>, <b>Abner Graboff</b>, <b>Bernice Myers</b>, <b>Don Madden</b>, <b>Aliki Brandenberg</b>, <b>Brian Wildsmith</b>...<b> </b>I could go on for hours. I love their style, their simplicity of line or colour or the way they incorporate clever handmade textures which help enrichen their work.</p><p><br /></p><p>I also love more modern illustrators such as <b>Benji Davies</b>, <b>Chris Haughton</b> and <b>Oliver Jeffers</b>; then ceramic inspirations from <b>Lisa Larson</b>, <b>Rut Bryk</b>, <b>Susan Day</b>. <span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">E</span>mbroidered influences, glass, wood, painters, sculptors... somehow their work and styles all become a large mixing pot in my head. </p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlrvPDbZk9ugluX7BgvaxA_1HntQkaIuLUuZv2Ceb1cas2NgoFnT4qUhsyaDAijm-p3IplTJEjcY_7iraj7coej-ePfUzcG0a37pUunD2uwl8UXaY_-fZhQDMOu0X0ZlhOvjPBVCwzsKzEERgHviC1gadR8PYnNAPsHqxjLNZYoDUzd8DS_Pw7431mVw/s1754/Gallery%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlrvPDbZk9ugluX7BgvaxA_1HntQkaIuLUuZv2Ceb1cas2NgoFnT4qUhsyaDAijm-p3IplTJEjcY_7iraj7coej-ePfUzcG0a37pUunD2uwl8UXaY_-fZhQDMOu0X0ZlhOvjPBVCwzsKzEERgHviC1gadR8PYnNAPsHqxjLNZYoDUzd8DS_Pw7431mVw/s320/Gallery%201.jpg" width="226" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJtY4DSH8-99T9UYqIe6xSNITCPHUckx3qeuPI95t-Xzg6LcoNizcTow_22X3D8gHhvWZ9tNy0sYul9_rGbqjgLmncU6p-TpYyYslXYraGHhzyQYUo4vhNmycFPZSBOCPRCikaSq7C_ViAZL53ny3C1tMpbCV1tlfXdN-jzCQdITK7qrJOprjMhZqCd0/s1754/Gallery%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="956" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJtY4DSH8-99T9UYqIe6xSNITCPHUckx3qeuPI95t-Xzg6LcoNizcTow_22X3D8gHhvWZ9tNy0sYul9_rGbqjgLmncU6p-TpYyYslXYraGHhzyQYUo4vhNmycFPZSBOCPRCikaSq7C_ViAZL53ny3C1tMpbCV1tlfXdN-jzCQdITK7qrJOprjMhZqCd0/s320/Gallery%203.jpg" width="174" /></a></div> <p></p><p><b>Do you bring your inspirations into your work?</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>I can't fail but to be influenced by the creative work I am surrounded by and feature on my blog posts. </p><p><br /></p><p>Writing about different creatives, discovering how they work, think, design is always inspirational to me. Like visiting artists in their studios or hearing that <b>David</b> <b>Bowie</b> used to write poems and then cut up all the lines and rearrange them to help him write new songs is incredibly inspiring. How different folk think, draw, create is fascinating to a fellow creative like myself. </p><p><br /></p><p>There is a whole mid-century section on my blog and looking through those creatives and illustrators always puts me in the right space/frame of mind for designing myself.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyy2wwqo5PVj9dhNrvDS9hrQv-ABb6uhrtPWW2h38KwBHoepFVgn-pynHkXDAH4ARHTZ0e9yeFHGXbFfrzLCMHnOjCk6Ka4Rd7DxWzgGbacPj1NypitVnbWOWULikr5FeqJRCn3Jd6Qkmb87Nc90q7wfl63ndCu8zWAbWK2Lrby1xBjcWO1jWAC4A1sQ/s1754/Gallery%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyy2wwqo5PVj9dhNrvDS9hrQv-ABb6uhrtPWW2h38KwBHoepFVgn-pynHkXDAH4ARHTZ0e9yeFHGXbFfrzLCMHnOjCk6Ka4Rd7DxWzgGbacPj1NypitVnbWOWULikr5FeqJRCn3Jd6Qkmb87Nc90q7wfl63ndCu8zWAbWK2Lrby1xBjcWO1jWAC4A1sQ/s320/Gallery%206.jpg" width="226" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSkgIFlzjhRhbN2e2CcD7NJuPIqk94nc3_QH-XVwZZ6FR4f8zcfuEVyT9sA3xNJ_KkliRMqPZN4pbEN_M0WXYcdgNT76d-2tStdfK1nEYCJLohi08FGxGGpibLXhKAfS8ggCw6I1Bfz7Y2VOtIsidhBP7cKFrwP3MSqjChwPXXLQBPYaqGakhW5IVcOA/s1754/Gallery%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSkgIFlzjhRhbN2e2CcD7NJuPIqk94nc3_QH-XVwZZ6FR4f8zcfuEVyT9sA3xNJ_KkliRMqPZN4pbEN_M0WXYcdgNT76d-2tStdfK1nEYCJLohi08FGxGGpibLXhKAfS8ggCw6I1Bfz7Y2VOtIsidhBP7cKFrwP3MSqjChwPXXLQBPYaqGakhW5IVcOA/s320/Gallery%207.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>How do you keep your work fresh, original and unique and avoid looking like your inspiration?</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>I start every ceramic piece with illustrations. For instance I might draw a new cat idea between 10-30 times before selecting one that I like or that gives me that vibe or quirk that I'm seeking. To get a unique or different perspective I often draw with my non dominant hand, or, cut out shapes from coloured paper to suggest creatures I may then go on to draw and make into 3D ceramics. I see animals in squiggles, random colour blobs, aimless doddles that all help in the creative process of achieving my final pieces. My tons of sketchbooks are where my melting pot of thoughts and influences start to morph into some sort of reality.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkARaE5k-iUOEFCSvHt5rmDtvc3navd7V_y_tIPGozAip4hbfXhn3N5UtOG0S55AqsHBmQbCYUAl-YZmVGUqBjJpjw3SL31mKRJQL8K6xae1hHeY7gCk3ZWU-gSriyG9q9ZYdsJ7vhzrt5Ital36bMr6MrHzTTCG7MhyphenhyphenlO3eV0kzgtn02N7v4OfZrZ3U/s1754/Gallery13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkARaE5k-iUOEFCSvHt5rmDtvc3navd7V_y_tIPGozAip4hbfXhn3N5UtOG0S55AqsHBmQbCYUAl-YZmVGUqBjJpjw3SL31mKRJQL8K6xae1hHeY7gCk3ZWU-gSriyG9q9ZYdsJ7vhzrt5Ital36bMr6MrHzTTCG7MhyphenhyphenlO3eV0kzgtn02N7v4OfZrZ3U/s320/Gallery13.jpg" width="226" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU4U4aWepfvKXkZ7P-vAzqH0PvSTqQRTx4_42be1GssLA0JspUT27xDpmTgR9osNYKHKJ5aA0EEsxGPDw0eLZBeGm0x3F31kdSWYqYn4j3-dD5PIWgh3ClGs5c0HyFlVgvpptDLbDk4ifquLFN0q1sXWi2rjuxGG42NzbpWJmd0zRc0rfk9bdtJs79So/s1236/Gallery14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1236" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU4U4aWepfvKXkZ7P-vAzqH0PvSTqQRTx4_42be1GssLA0JspUT27xDpmTgR9osNYKHKJ5aA0EEsxGPDw0eLZBeGm0x3F31kdSWYqYn4j3-dD5PIWgh3ClGs5c0HyFlVgvpptDLbDk4ifquLFN0q1sXWi2rjuxGG42NzbpWJmd0zRc0rfk9bdtJs79So/s320/Gallery14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjBZjYezNWpu798vHPAgd-ejdyD79PS5PRbAAmggZ7cYd0HPi-Seqxb4gi03fFY5SLy9RDwpLTsOjHBvv4g7sR1EaRFl3OJUobX3TNPwPfDWsnTGAacw7DiQ9a56AvaYuXMCk548dSPt7a2g9Q9hWnNqUaOZ0FTa-KyCFpGQesQOEd7CI7jKJm4v2ebA/s1754/Gallery%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjBZjYezNWpu798vHPAgd-ejdyD79PS5PRbAAmggZ7cYd0HPi-Seqxb4gi03fFY5SLy9RDwpLTsOjHBvv4g7sR1EaRFl3OJUobX3TNPwPfDWsnTGAacw7DiQ9a56AvaYuXMCk548dSPt7a2g9Q9hWnNqUaOZ0FTa-KyCFpGQesQOEd7CI7jKJm4v2ebA/s320/Gallery%2010.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>What kind of books have inspired you?</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>I read a lot of sci-fi and children's literature. I find books that take my imagination somewhere else or a film/TV series that can do the same, gives my mind room to grow, explore and consider possibilities for drawing and creating things that perhaps don't already exist. Again if I'm drawing, say, dogs, I sometimes think what would a dog look like if it was square or the shape of a rectangle, triangle, how might that change how it moves, how would the world of a triangular dog look too? I must say I don't spend too much time thinking about triangular dogs and their world but hopefully you get my point!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6F9aDdsVQkRogOGj2KWsRBvpVhpK-PmahZLurOvKNAHu_jVMMPUyV4k4Dh1k7pr1HWBoR3ihvJ4OGgcp1at5MCsKw99Kio65DcW4e5824WAWOPrEXCXkcHejNFWDAOroH3vV5P3dkLVbmlg5AZPjJ0g3QCpVAWZpJ3IAkODa89qw-B0Ksqz5Hvb82kU/s1754/Gallery%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6F9aDdsVQkRogOGj2KWsRBvpVhpK-PmahZLurOvKNAHu_jVMMPUyV4k4Dh1k7pr1HWBoR3ihvJ4OGgcp1at5MCsKw99Kio65DcW4e5824WAWOPrEXCXkcHejNFWDAOroH3vV5P3dkLVbmlg5AZPjJ0g3QCpVAWZpJ3IAkODa89qw-B0Ksqz5Hvb82kU/s320/Gallery%2011.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Where does your main source of inspiration originate?</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>Vintage book illustration, graphics, adverts etc. continue to amaze and inspire me <span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">—</span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px;"> </span>I doubt I will ever stop feeling the wonder and enjoyment I do when coming across the highly textural, amusing, simplistic looking work of that time and of the artists I have already named above. </p><p><br /></p><p>The absolute joy I have gained from my working on the blog is when I connect with illustrators who are now in their eighties and nineties <span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">—</span> or perhaps their children/grandchildren who find their relatives work on my post and contact me to tell me how much they appreciate me championing their work.</p><p><br /></p><p>I was lucky enough to create posts with the help of the lovely author/illustrator <b>Helen Borten</b>. Another about <b>Bernice Myers</b>' work and ask her questions about her art and life shortly before she sadly passed away in her early nineties. That was so precious to me. </p><p><br /></p><p>There is a wealth of fabulous work from artists and designers who have gone before us. We sometimes forget that their style and creativity is our history as fellow creatives and deserves to be remembered and gathered together in order to show future generations of artists, illustrators and folk who tell their stories using all manner of mediums. </p><p><br /></p><p>Happy creating everyone!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbOwLC8ew6UtFeS6_DanHFdDs84HsuORbKXZaKGrhGWPh0Swuv7-j3qQokyPEVOtuiomw7DRyYsWA5xdPYj208PMp1Wus9uWGaxrp7-0GDZbZIVpOxowwja7WdVqrhjryD66bNXqbDQnrmEoeRjDexBNNOS1kRfU5szB0kIV1ERxfE_p46hF5SEL4_HE/s1754/Gallery%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbOwLC8ew6UtFeS6_DanHFdDs84HsuORbKXZaKGrhGWPh0Swuv7-j3qQokyPEVOtuiomw7DRyYsWA5xdPYj208PMp1Wus9uWGaxrp7-0GDZbZIVpOxowwja7WdVqrhjryD66bNXqbDQnrmEoeRjDexBNNOS1kRfU5szB0kIV1ERxfE_p46hF5SEL4_HE/s320/Gallery%208.jpg" width="226" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SiTQB1hDnjlm0nsSeeSxJlpDed4CgUMvPF-hhfydMr4pzZeNyUyTrVgsIlishn_JxkxPoRhQ3NoTYeEdHWqrtf1lxU74ErMUgWTGiKIgMa959uafpBzyX0NFiZuUThC9fY1OgCFnnPKqdbkWVNptQkGpQuYi5YfA_U5SktwAp07B9aMGc5GeSjRRe4M/s1754/Gallery%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SiTQB1hDnjlm0nsSeeSxJlpDed4CgUMvPF-hhfydMr4pzZeNyUyTrVgsIlishn_JxkxPoRhQ3NoTYeEdHWqrtf1lxU74ErMUgWTGiKIgMa959uafpBzyX0NFiZuUThC9fY1OgCFnnPKqdbkWVNptQkGpQuYi5YfA_U5SktwAp07B9aMGc5GeSjRRe4M/s320/Gallery%2012.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">*Header image: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ell Rose</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Tita Berredo;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;">other images courtesy of Craig McCann</span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div></span><p></p></div><p></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="background-color: white;">*</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLVFDurDz-nOdO3A0afBtsrF9B_8NYh__bqpOrj829xQ42zWjcZSpzFHMlZo-cDRHCnU7fpYSPbYZ24kgx3_5SSlkkIYK4Y9uZuK8X4GvgTN8Zef80j39FpVLfVCabCDekS5me-00GibSWP46fNB8ZgwCjRN7ONXzOrmyscuLlKiTKmMvyH-p9JfMLWw/s570/fishinkblog-1058-penguin-me-web2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="374" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLVFDurDz-nOdO3A0afBtsrF9B_8NYh__bqpOrj829xQ42zWjcZSpzFHMlZo-cDRHCnU7fpYSPbYZ24kgx3_5SSlkkIYK4Y9uZuK8X4GvgTN8Zef80j39FpVLfVCabCDekS5me-00GibSWP46fNB8ZgwCjRN7ONXzOrmyscuLlKiTKmMvyH-p9JfMLWw/w131-h200/fishinkblog-1058-penguin-me-web2.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b>Craig McCann</b> is a ceramist, textile designer/illustrator and photographer based in Manchester.</div><div><div></div></div><div>See more of <b>Craig’s</b> work <a href="https://fishinkblog.com/">here</a>. Follow him on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/fishinkblog" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">*</span></span></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGpZUqemz2VYym0a9MUKbIjCtKKal8HPqoVHzOKf2kuYxFeLKJiS_0fCclF0ZeL4jMf6jIeWouoNaGgVYsbYLIIabBFY6Jwoen3odQMRMlEvn4J26OtMdiwmnJ_-Sij_QtFZFCIFxqAGaKuv3rosPejj-UP3_3Do-acD045JKILxXTOCq-XpDjBMN/w200-h200/Rekha.jpg" width="200" /></div><i style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div style="font-style: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGpZUqemz2VYym0a9MUKbIjCtKKal8HPqoVHzOKf2kuYxFeLKJiS_0fCclF0ZeL4jMf6jIeWouoNaGgVYsbYLIIabBFY6Jwoen3odQMRMlEvn4J26OtMdiwmnJ_-Sij_QtFZFCIFxqAGaKuv3rosPejj-UP3_3Do-acD045JKILxXTOCq-XpDjBMN/s320/Rekha.jpg" style="background-color: white; clear: left; float: left; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></span></a></div><div style="font-style: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Rekha Salin</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> has three books published as an illustrator. Two picture books, one in 2020 and the other in 2022, and also a recipe book, (for adults), in 2022 published by ABV Publishing. She is currently working with Gnome Road Publishing and this will be available in 2024.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: right;">See more of <b>Rekha's</b> work</span><span style="text-align: right;"> </span><a href="https://www.rekhasalin.com/" style="text-align: right;">here</a><span style="text-align: right;">. Follow her on</span><span style="text-align: right;"> </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/illustrate_daily/" style="text-align: right;">Instagram</a><span style="text-align: right;"> </span><span style="text-align: right;">and</span><span style="text-align: right;"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/byrekhasalin" style="text-align: right;">Twitter</a></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><br /></p><div style="font-style: normal; text-align: center;"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aV0V2AQoqojcrzqWEj2LyvwtT_bHm2sm1WLRYxRolM-lmRuHKxubOfoUbj3IwZUv3ECitQFXveK0taEJQzalbhctg3KrGmzomPLuVLjjjF5X7eHytW4jj8Bfw52LXz-2Cx6mHjTBnjd_lK3V-_MS41OEQtx5RiUFTnLZNfCbwWTEVco9cDfOszJO/s350/Tita%20Ell.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aV0V2AQoqojcrzqWEj2LyvwtT_bHm2sm1WLRYxRolM-lmRuHKxubOfoUbj3IwZUv3ECitQFXveK0taEJQzalbhctg3KrGmzomPLuVLjjjF5X7eHytW4jj8Bfw52LXz-2Cx6mHjTBnjd_lK3V-_MS41OEQtx5RiUFTnLZNfCbwWTEVco9cDfOszJO/s350/Tita%20Ell.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aV0V2AQoqojcrzqWEj2LyvwtT_bHm2sm1WLRYxRolM-lmRuHKxubOfoUbj3IwZUv3ECitQFXveK0taEJQzalbhctg3KrGmzomPLuVLjjjF5X7eHytW4jj8Bfw52LXz-2Cx6mHjTBnjd_lK3V-_MS41OEQtx5RiUFTnLZNfCbwWTEVco9cDfOszJO/s350/Tita%20Ell.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aV0V2AQoqojcrzqWEj2LyvwtT_bHm2sm1WLRYxRolM-lmRuHKxubOfoUbj3IwZUv3ECitQFXveK0taEJQzalbhctg3KrGmzomPLuVLjjjF5X7eHytW4jj8Bfw52LXz-2Cx6mHjTBnjd_lK3V-_MS41OEQtx5RiUFTnLZNfCbwWTEVco9cDfOszJO/s350/Tita%20Ell.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aV0V2AQoqojcrzqWEj2LyvwtT_bHm2sm1WLRYxRolM-lmRuHKxubOfoUbj3IwZUv3ECitQFXveK0taEJQzalbhctg3KrGmzomPLuVLjjjF5X7eHytW4jj8Bfw52LXz-2Cx6mHjTBnjd_lK3V-_MS41OEQtx5RiUFTnLZNfCbwWTEVco9cDfOszJO/s350/Tita%20Ell.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a></div><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Ell Rose </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">is the Illustration Features Editor of </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Words & Pictures</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Find their work at </span><a href="http://www.fourfooteleven.com">www.fourfooteleven.com</a><span>.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Follow them on </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fourfooteleven.illustration/">Instagram</a><span> and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/4foot11illo">Twitter</a><span>.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Contact them at </span><b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Tita Berredo</b> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of </span><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Words & Pictures. </i></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Follow her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/titaberredo/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/titaberredo" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.titaberredo.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">www.titaberredo.com</a>.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Contact her at</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">:</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><b>illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><br /></p></i></div></div>Ell Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073314993135215866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-2276226782328590232024-03-10T06:30:00.552+00:002024-03-11T22:26:20.242+00:00ON FAIRYTALES Eva Wong Nava<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaDRhdve4bbSQUvgDWpoUBXJyAjRTjUKWvDuk_9bHKzGxBPfrqaRf_yJ5dDtcywp4sa812XwkO43-UdyLAC-2ykRLeAMgQqckTxfLC71u7dIlH_pIK-Ea6QkdsVZMnCmDVj7AdLWWiZ4uCdh-8xFIsApV5gqKgHCQ3V2NDiYVZi4cIXTnaPlzfxxt6Pg/s350/IMG_3630.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaDRhdve4bbSQUvgDWpoUBXJyAjRTjUKWvDuk_9bHKzGxBPfrqaRf_yJ5dDtcywp4sa812XwkO43-UdyLAC-2ykRLeAMgQqckTxfLC71u7dIlH_pIK-Ea6QkdsVZMnCmDVj7AdLWWiZ4uCdh-8xFIsApV5gqKgHCQ3V2NDiYVZi4cIXTnaPlzfxxt6Pg/s16000/IMG_3630.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Be they echoes of tales from long ago, retellings or twisted and fractured mash-ups, folktales and fairytales never lose their appeal. This issue, Deputy Editor <b>Françoise Price</b> </i><i>talks to </i><i>author <b>Eva Wong Nava</b> </i><i>about her new story collection of ancient tales, publishing this week.</i></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd6znzuBVqlmHbiR4d8z2R8KGoOTAwL9-JhelEIE8rFi-8a5xP4YYE-vXNjuFfclZYUuRhBlQ0Ov_0PoNgOTxEBIJd97wAADBExZbdE6T9QrrtcOOOCQGf7fQCJ4h0erpB5znzj9i5b2UrYyyV9TNTgGJISZbTz9Rc0UGDKzfqVM6BHqhqc0hHDnewFk/s2700/EvaWongNava3_web.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd6znzuBVqlmHbiR4d8z2R8KGoOTAwL9-JhelEIE8rFi-8a5xP4YYE-vXNjuFfclZYUuRhBlQ0Ov_0PoNgOTxEBIJd97wAADBExZbdE6T9QrrtcOOOCQGf7fQCJ4h0erpB5znzj9i5b2UrYyyV9TNTgGJISZbTz9Rc0UGDKzfqVM6BHqhqc0hHDnewFk/w266-h400/EvaWongNava3_web.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Author Eva Wong Nava </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Picture credit: Rebecca Cresta]</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">
Hello Eva, your latest book <i>East Asian Folktales, Myths and Legends</i> is publishing this month (March 14th 2024). It’s a new edition of retellings of classic folktales, myths and legends from China, Korea, Japan and beyond. How did you decide what to include?</h4><p> </p>There are myriad archives that you can consult for these stories, like the Aarne-Thompson-Uther, aka <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aarne–Thompson–Uther_Index" target="_blank">ATU, Index</a>, for example. For my book, I picked stories that I remember from childhood and are also favourites in the countries that comprise East Asia: China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia. I also asked my East and Southeast Asian friends what stories they'd like to read in a collection such as this.<p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">How much do your retellings differ from the original tales?</h4><p> </p>I've tried to keep to the original as much as possible, so they don't differ all that much. As those of us who love folktales, myths and legends know, the stories are always documented plainly, and are dry to read. They don't have dialogue, for instance. So, I made the characters come alive with dialogue. Of course, some creative license was taken, but this was to fill the gaps in the stories, and also for word count. Each story is about 2,000 words long, and I've also used some original words from the culture and heritage the story had come from.<p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Tell us a bit more about the book</h4><p> </p>The book is part of the Scholastic Classics Collection. Scholastic has South Asian and African Caribbean stories in their collection, and they were looking to add one from East Asia. Without this collection, the Scholastic Classics Collection would be incomplete, though no collection is exhaustive.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vqRP1KKKacdnitGbiYkCX_EJ4XY6QeDzKxOJeGHTNIeGdMn2gLLVg7bG7cdgFOkbPC0GLruknUS3FSgRZCDBHBx7nj1BCjLc7qHipzQYRqPzIECbnFWObjdzN5Ql0pc6MtdoQibharKm5_U4zInjEKO3v1XbmP1NQSynDkF-ZMa4_jKsE-9sKDWJB3M/s500/9780702325236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vqRP1KKKacdnitGbiYkCX_EJ4XY6QeDzKxOJeGHTNIeGdMn2gLLVg7bG7cdgFOkbPC0GLruknUS3FSgRZCDBHBx7nj1BCjLc7qHipzQYRqPzIECbnFWObjdzN5Ql0pc6MtdoQibharKm5_U4zInjEKO3v1XbmP1NQSynDkF-ZMa4_jKsE-9sKDWJB3M/w261-h400/9780702325236.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>East Asian Folktales, Myths and Legends</i>, written by </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Eva </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">Wong Nava, </span><span style="text-align: left;">illustrated by Jocelyn Kao (Publisher: Scholastic)</span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">To what extent do the illustrations in this book help tell the stories? </h4><p> </p>Each story is accompanied by an illustration of the main character of the tale. So, for Mulan, you'll see the artist Jocelyn Kao's impression of this warrior-girl. As it is a middle-grade book, the illustrations are sparse. But, because it is a middle-grade book, the cover has to reflect this. The red background is eye-catching — and red is a colour typically associated with East Asia. <p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">What were the challenges of retelling these tales for a younger audience?</h4><p> </p>That's a great question! Topics like death and violence had to be pared back for a readership aged 9-12. Folktales are, mostly, moralistic tales, but children don't want to be preached to, so I had to make sure the voice of the story isn't didactic. Speaking of voice, I tried to emulate the oral tradition of storytelling, and each tale mimics the voice, as best as it could, of an ancient storyteller. So, I used literary devices like "Once upon a time...", "Long, long ago..."<p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">In your biog you say you love fairytales and folktales and that they make you ‘better understand humanity and societies’. How do you think they achieve this?</h4><p> </p>Folktales and lore, legends and myths are the Ancients' tools to teach the illiterate moral lessons in disguise. In these stories, listeners learn about human nature, the human condition, and what is considered right and wrong in society. They aid adults to help children develop their moral compasses. Fairytales and folktales show children in an imaginative way how cruel or kind people can be. They also give children hope as justice is always served in the end in these stories. <p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">As a child, your Mum gave you your first book of folktales, myths and legends — tales from Greece. What impact did these tales have on Eva, future writer?</h4><p> </p>I still love Greco-Roman mythology today. These stories opened doors and windows to better understanding human nature and the human condition. It also gave me a historical glimpse into the worlds of Greeks and Romans.<p> </p><i>The Bookseller</i> had an <a href="https://www.thebookseller.com/bestsellers/retellings-of-2023-ancient-mythology-continues-to-appeal?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morning%20Briefing" target="_blank">article</a> recently talking about the appeal of retellings in 2023. The article mainly focused on Ancient Greek mythology, for adults. I feel that younger children ought to benefit from retellings too — and not just from an Anglo-European perspective.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQgCsOpzahgotuc6g_vJ9sJqfqvQBqklK4CuKj7ncJCfUm8qk3PjLbUAip3kDLSsv1MwcR2JQiOs-edH0MDt3-Z24j9b2_A8cvB-i0IUXs9MN6uCN1V7dHtSBi7pn2PZqZxbpa5YT1hyphenhyphenDGl1Ai7vY4NJsUF0vPMxFpP6XtZOv2eHTDGboLtjZnB1hyphenhyphenws/s522/516buv00gZL._SY522_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQgCsOpzahgotuc6g_vJ9sJqfqvQBqklK4CuKj7ncJCfUm8qk3PjLbUAip3kDLSsv1MwcR2JQiOs-edH0MDt3-Z24j9b2_A8cvB-i0IUXs9MN6uCN1V7dHtSBi7pn2PZqZxbpa5YT1hyphenhyphenDGl1Ai7vY4NJsUF0vPMxFpP6XtZOv2eHTDGboLtjZnB1hyphenhyphenws/w259-h400/516buv00gZL._SY522_.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Back cover of <i>East Asian Folktales, Myths and Legends</i>, </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">written by </span><span style="text-align: left;">Eva </span><span style="text-align: left;">Wong Nava, </span><span style="text-align: left;">illustrated by Jocelyn Kao </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Publisher: Scholastic)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">If you could be a character from your new book, which one would it be?</h4><p> </p>I love Hua Mulan! But don't we all, as her story has been told through the ages? Mulan is so well known in the western world that she needs no introduction. I want to be Mulan because she is strong, kind, and resourceful. She is the epitome of girl power.<p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">What’s in the pipeline? Are you planning to write any more folk tales and/or fairy tales? (We really hope so!)</h4><p> </p>I would love to write a collection of folktales, myths and legends from Southeast Asia. The region, made up of 11 countries, known also as the Far East (a colonial term that also includes East Asia), has such unique fables, lore and myths that I feel children in the UK (and all over the world) should read about. I grew up with these stories being a person of Nusantara, a person from Southeast Asia, brought up in Singapore.<p> </p><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Header: Tita Berredo</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">*</p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><b>
Eva Wong Nava</b> loves fairytales and folktales. They make her better understand humanity and societies. Her first book of folktales, myths and legends was given to her by her mother, and they were tales from Greece. When she grew older, she discovered the tales from East and Southeast Asia, and since then, she has been obsessively reading and researching them.<div><br /><div>Website: <a href="https://www.evawongnava.com/">https://www.evawongnava.com/</a></div><div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">*</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div><div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Françoise Price</b> is Deputy Editor of <i>Words & Pictures</i> magazine. Contact <b>deputyeditor@britishscbwi.org</b></div><div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><b>Tita Berredo</b> is Illustrator Coordinator for SCBWI British Isles and Art Director of <i>Words & Pictures </i>magazine. Contact <b>illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org<br /></b><br /><br /><span face="Open Sans, sans-serif"> </span></div><p><br /></p>
</div></div></div>Fran Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00959449698914091121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-45899201230019315222024-03-10T06:30:00.551+00:002024-03-10T06:30:00.135+00:00WRITING... in a non-native language<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DXnazVistvZ_RXXGoh2WSWjXOD0A_ZPgF6aAx7MxuN3mNw6bHxboumKydxGuShksnT3QxvlxLFh9eONv3vHas13R5zJ9SdydGflYZ2BD59sdGYposPcr7JH3qXFKejAduOguIMAXDCuZxVYeShjwxlHp5zoLapPf1lOSjYiBzTaYZKmIAEUtoIT1gXM/s350/774972D6-94E6-4D02-AFC4-22EDCCAD8346.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DXnazVistvZ_RXXGoh2WSWjXOD0A_ZPgF6aAx7MxuN3mNw6bHxboumKydxGuShksnT3QxvlxLFh9eONv3vHas13R5zJ9SdydGflYZ2BD59sdGYposPcr7JH3qXFKejAduOguIMAXDCuZxVYeShjwxlHp5zoLapPf1lOSjYiBzTaYZKmIAEUtoIT1gXM/s16000/774972D6-94E6-4D02-AFC4-22EDCCAD8346.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Writing for children in itself can sometimes be a similar experience to learning a new language. Writing for children in a foreign language can present numerous added challenges. <b>Brigita Orel</b> shares her personal experience.</span></i></div></i><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
When you are writing for children as an adult, that in itself may seem as though you need to
employ a different language to the one you are used to. However, when you are already
writing in a language that is not your mother tongue, the task is twice as difficult. But not
undoable.
</span><p> </p>
I started learning English in school (my mother tongue is Slovenian) when I was 11 years old. The
language enchanted me, and in my twenties, I started writing in English. First, it was mostly
academic papers, and later on, some short fiction for adults. But my true love has always been
children’s literature, so it is no wonder I slowly, organically migrated to texts for that age
group. And right from the start, I encountered obstacles.
<p> </p>
<b>Goo goo gaga in another language</b><p> </p>
You may be fluent in a language but when you write for children, you soon discover that there
is a plethora of expressions that you do not know. How do very young children mispronounce
difficult words? What affectionate expressions do they use for their favourite toys and cuddly
bears? What words are too difficult for them to understand? When you do not grow up in a
language, all these things are a mystery. The only way to uncover all these secrets is to read
extensively and preferably in the age group that you wish to write for. This can also help
determine what reading level children of a particular age are.
<p> </p>
Another problem is access to the publishers when you do not live in the same country as
your readers. Attending conferences may be too expensive and some publishers and agents
only take submissions from citizens and residents. Your networking opportunities are very
limited and mostly only available online. When you are not a social media whizz, that may
prove to be problematic. Even if you are an active and successful user of social media, you
still miss out on personal connections.
<p> </p>
<b>The benefits of being an "outsider"</b><p> </p>
However, there are also advantages to writing from the standpoint of an “outsider”. When you
come from a culture your readers are not familiar with, you have plenty of interesting things
to offer. You can introduce your readers to your culture, tradition, interesting facts and history,
you may even introduce them to foreign words and expressions. Great examples of this are
<i>Bone Talk</i> by <b>Candy Gourlay</b>, or <i>Jummy at the River School</i> by <b>Sabine Adeyinka</b>. Perhaps such
a compelling introduction to a new cultural experience will tempt children to learn a new
language too.
<p> </p>
<b>Win-win for the writers and the children</b><p> </p>
By showing children a different view of life and the world around them, you help them
broaden their horizons, see things from a new perspective and maybe make them curious.
Research shows that multilingual and multicultural environments help children develop
cognitive and social skills, such as problem-solving, multitasking, and critical thinking skills
that they need to succeed in today's increasingly interconnected and globalized world. They
are also better equipped to communicate and collaborate with people from different cultures.
This results in fewer misunderstandings in their interactions, higher self-esteem and thus, better opportunities in life.
<p> </p>
But the process of discovery does not only happen on the side of the readers. When writing in
a language that is not your mother tongue, you, as the writer, learn a lot about both (or all) of
your languages and cultures, about the writing process and your target audience, but also
about yourself as a person. You may, for example, discover that you detest grammar but
absolutely adore whimsical and odd expressions that you learn along the way. You may find
that expressing certain things is easier in your second language compared to your mother
tongue. Or you may just feel that you can be more creative in a language that you acquired later in
life because it is not as ingrained in you as your mother tongue, and so it is easier to play with
words and meanings.
<p> </p>
The most important thing, however, is to persist. You have to keep learning your languages,
keep getting to know your target readers and above all, keep writing.<div><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>*Header image by <b>Ell Rose</b></span> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1V_AThC7JAJjv10JTGFqmzQCTbmIi-3ZpPeq9jEkWgP1ZTNfC_YGSnLfUx7ylJGnCYsItVkrwGfQqLaMJqg95gYZ-3Z-HBjTO4de6WkNyun5jgan0RRL3oMdXUM2UdAfxBQqC6eFxIVFUtnm8ML_fg6AUN4_9m7lJaH7FWaMFf1Hss1SIsMaSZaQfUrtc/s1009/portrait.JPG" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1009" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1V_AThC7JAJjv10JTGFqmzQCTbmIi-3ZpPeq9jEkWgP1ZTNfC_YGSnLfUx7ylJGnCYsItVkrwGfQqLaMJqg95gYZ-3Z-HBjTO4de6WkNyun5jgan0RRL3oMdXUM2UdAfxBQqC6eFxIVFUtnm8ML_fg6AUN4_9m7lJaH7FWaMFf1Hss1SIsMaSZaQfUrtc/s320/portrait.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Brigita Orel <br />[Picture credit: Brigita Orel]</span> </td></tr></tbody></table>
<b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div>Brigita Orel</b> studied creative writing at Swansea University. Her picture book, <i>The Pirate Tree</i>, was published by Lantana Publishing, and her novel for adults, <i>The Landscape of Loneliness</i>, is forthcoming from Cinnamon Press. She also writes stories for kamishibai performances and the occasional poem. She lives in Slovenia where she works as a translator.
<p><br /></p>You can find Brigita on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brizitka/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/brigitao?lang=en">Twitter/X</a> and via her website <a href="http://www.brigitaorel.com">www.brigitaorel.com</a><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html">Ell Rose</a> is the Illustration Features Editor of <i>Words & Pictures</i>. Contact them at: <b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Gulfem Wormaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04895549731290156724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-71811601095910757332024-03-10T06:30:00.520+00:002024-03-10T06:30:00.135+00:00DEBUT JOURNEYS AJ Clack<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWUyKSOP915D_g6DScJ3xmUGNKF88cKEMQSzfzJZxgKbCDCxpMRBUQ7aWsX3D78pimEiCcVm4aKpr8xMz059RNTvaY0xIMhSitk39K_uVnxCZ6IYFFkjMAoh_hcnrgj42zjs0Ej0hxB0HXlRs8V5lR81B18Twcnp5QosrwEgCEbvR8X_OsXCNap52eoHiK=s16000" /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background: repeat white; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; padding: 0cm;">There
are many routes to publication and Debut Journeys aims to celebrate them all.
This month <b>Mario Ambrosi </b>talks to <b>AJ Clack</b> whose </span></i><span style="background: repeat white; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; padding: 0cm;">Lie
or Die</span><i><span style="background: repeat white; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; padding: 0cm;"> was published on 7 March by Firefly Press.</span></i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 105%;"><o:p><span> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Where are
you now and where did you write your book?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am sitting in my
office with the dogs in the corner. I do most of my writing here or in the
car while waiting for the kids to finish one activity or another!</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><b> What’s it about?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><b><span style="background: repeat white;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;">Lie or Die</span></i><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"> is a dark and twisty YA Thriller that’s set in
a reality TV game show, based on the popular party game Mafia. <i>The Traitors</i>
meets <i>Big Brother</i>, it’s a murder-mystery game in which the innocent
Players must find the killer Agents before they are murdered in their sleep. It
follows 17-year-old Kass, who is persuaded to audition by her fame-hungry
friend Thea. Once in the game, Kass realises that everything is not as it seems
and, </span><span style="line-height: 105%;">when
the housemates start dying for real, the game becomes a fight for survival.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kass must catch the killer or die trying. Reality
Television just got real.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #313131; line-height: 105%;">
<b><span style="background: repeat white;">Tell us about your route to publication</span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><b><span style="background: repeat white;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I started writing
properly about seven years ago. Before then I had studied playwrighting,
written plays in my university days and had been commissioned to write a play
for the Edinburgh Festival which ran for two years. I have also worked on
children’s TV pilots and voice/overs and some development scripts. But when my
children were young I stopped writing completely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I decided to try to write a novel and when I
had finished, I had no idea what to do with it! I sent out some extremely
cringe-worthy submissions, then some slightly better ones and did get some agent
interest – but, despite thinking I had totally made it, nothing came of it. </span></span><br /><br /><br /><br />I started to learn my trade. I read – a lot, fiction and non-fiction, did courses, went to various conferences, <span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: inherit;">joined SCBWI, met writers in the same
position, and began to build a support system of brilliant authors-to-be around
me who became fantastic friends. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was accepted into the GEA Foundations and
worked with them on a new novel which did really well and got me an agent. That
novel went out on submission to publishers the very same week the UK went into
lockdown – the timing could not have been worse. Sadly, that novel got lost in
the Covid ether and my agent and I parted ways. I was completely devastated and
had no idea what to do next, or if I even wanted there to be another ‘next’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;">After a while feeling very sorry for myself
and wondering whether I was really cut out for the world of publishing I
decided to give it one more go. I wrote the first chapter of <i>Lie or Die</i>.
This coincided with a <i>Words <span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">&</span> Pictures </i>First 100 Words Competition, so with
nothing to lose I entered and won. <br /></span></span>This gave me the confidence to carry on and write a bit more. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>My writer friends encouraged me to submit the opening to the Undiscovered Voices Competition 2022. I <span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: inherit;">only had a beginning at this point, but I thought that entering would
give me the momentum and the motivation to continue and finish the manuscript
(something I wouldn’t recommend doing btw – waaay too stressful!).</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It worked!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I finished the first
draft the same week I got a call from the UV judges to say I had been long-listed – and then shortlisted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
a mad panic then to get the manuscript into shape before the anthology came
out. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My now agent read my
extract in the anthology, got in touch, and the rest is history!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7C-tMQq98JfpY0zhyphenhyphenPmEF8oWPtbYs0k4l9tLjza3GaCXt-v7XG1IrBkyN-yt2IQ7SqIR3E38QClDWmzfSMg2Fl12Z-eFZxBnGx6CTv9m86WtoYSXCjvcWKG4PlK8uQu68cmS2TcowIMJcx4Jua38sYqB48rlZIrwITtJwMMNrseQlkiNy5zcEfVWfg5zI/s1080/FFP009%20Lie%20or%20Die%20plain%20cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7C-tMQq98JfpY0zhyphenhyphenPmEF8oWPtbYs0k4l9tLjza3GaCXt-v7XG1IrBkyN-yt2IQ7SqIR3E38QClDWmzfSMg2Fl12Z-eFZxBnGx6CTv9m86WtoYSXCjvcWKG4PlK8uQu68cmS2TcowIMJcx4Jua38sYqB48rlZIrwITtJwMMNrseQlkiNy5zcEfVWfg5zI/s320/FFP009%20Lie%20or%20Die%20plain%20cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">AJ Clack's debut novel, published by Firefly Press</span></span></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><b><span style="background: repeat white;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><b><span style="background: repeat white;">What do you do when you’re not writing?</span></b></span><b><span style="line-height: 105%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><b><span style="background: repeat white;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have four kids, so I
spend a lot of time on the side of rugby or football pitches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love walking my dogs and reading (not at
the same time!). I enjoy gaming — board games like Catan, Azul, and Silver Bullet, and playing console games with my daughter. I also love watching films and, of
course, lots of reality TV!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #313131; line-height: 105%;">
<b><span style="background: repeat white;">What was the biggest bump in the road when it
came to getting your book out into the world and how did you overcome it?</span></b></span><b><span style="line-height: 105%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><b><span style="background: repeat white;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think myself to be
honest! I had a lot of imposter syndrome and found it hard to overcome this and
to enjoy the process. It’s taken a while and it still sits on my shoulder from
time to time whispering in my ear, but I am learning to handle it better and
take time to enjoy the achievements.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #313131; line-height: 105%;">
<b><span style="background: repeat white;">Any tips for budding writers hoping to follow
in your footsteps?</span></b></span><b><span style="line-height: 105%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t give up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a hard road we’ve chosen and it’s not
easy. I think you need to have a certain amount of stubbornness to get through
and to keep picking yourself back up. If I had given up during Covid I wouldn’t
be writing this now and if I can do it, anyone can. Also, don’t try to do this
alone, find your people, join crit groups, talk to other writers, have critique
partners, and nurture your support group.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #313131; line-height: 105%;">
<b><span style="background: repeat white;">What’s next for you?</span></b></span><b><span style="line-height: 105%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><b><span style="background: repeat white;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am working on
something new but I can’t tell you about it at the moment – sorry!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small; line-height: 105%;">*Header image: <b>Shannon Ell </b>& <b>Tita Berredo</b></span><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">*</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcwhgnZTOS8x-iKxI0WA8vZPepPZHaaj1lWdZ-XOm2peedsmTaXuq3BtyGMw4SuVd2YyTz8JUS76J6YxahhJX6FsaudEIQtHqy-1YjcBCm0CVrardAj47uZMoL7LSuJ27HnEa_nRdEOrnEn6ziMVQiLQoD_EvmPqOS8uIpyezx1r-EhbszynDo7onNDli/s1407/AliClackpic1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcwhgnZTOS8x-iKxI0WA8vZPepPZHaaj1lWdZ-XOm2peedsmTaXuq3BtyGMw4SuVd2YyTz8JUS76J6YxahhJX6FsaudEIQtHqy-1YjcBCm0CVrardAj47uZMoL7LSuJ27HnEa_nRdEOrnEn6ziMVQiLQoD_EvmPqOS8uIpyezx1r-EhbszynDo7onNDli/s320/AliClackpic1.jpg" width="246" /></a></span></span></div><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #313131; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>AJ Clack</b> moved from
a small village in Wales to London to pursue a career in television. She worked
on a huge range of shows from Teletubbies to Friends, while also writing plays
for the Edinburgh Fringe and developing scripts/pilots for children’s
television. She now lives in Essex with a handful of teenagers and can often be
found freezing on the side of a football pitch.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ell Rose </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">is the
Illustration Features Editor of <i>Words & Pictures</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Find their work at <span><a href="http://www.fourfooteleven.com">www.fourfooteleven.com</a></span>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Contact them at <b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #222222; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; padding: 0cm;">Tita
Berredo</span></b><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #222222; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; padding: 0cm;"> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art
Director of <i>Words & Pictures. </i></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; padding: 0cm;"><a href="https://www.titaberredo.com" target="_blank"><span>www.titaberredo.com</span> </a></span><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #222222; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; padding: 0cm;">Contact
her at</span><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; padding: 0cm;">: </span><b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "inherit",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">*</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><b><span style="background: repeat white; border: 1pt windowtext; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; padding: 0cm;">If you would
like to feature in a future Debut Journeys, please email Mario Ambrosi at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1222814162697318696/4329311971161277263"><span style="color: blue;">ambrosimario9@gmail.com</span></a> or find him on X:
@marioambrosi</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Mario Ambrosihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08617128579954171524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-5270812789274167632024-03-10T06:30:00.516+00:002024-03-10T06:30:00.135+00:00SCBWI FACES Ell Rose<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS65iReFMubibv5b-Ac3JYXRrU0t8pzhnc9F7UgdX1fvHoaoPeDZNNMZiQbJPw9hxratQvC56FGwvKAFMnNYvZAqaXfR4kJc4bFcvo-JrdpTdmeJwdrT0EqhG7LI8UW9xiAiISfB9kklXdHmlnVSIOUf6SiXn6ok_koLHpE1DzS_9onn4yv0ytHDLqZ1jP/s350/SCBWI%20Faces.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS65iReFMubibv5b-Ac3JYXRrU0t8pzhnc9F7UgdX1fvHoaoPeDZNNMZiQbJPw9hxratQvC56FGwvKAFMnNYvZAqaXfR4kJc4bFcvo-JrdpTdmeJwdrT0EqhG7LI8UW9xiAiISfB9kklXdHmlnVSIOUf6SiXn6ok_koLHpE1DzS_9onn4yv0ytHDLqZ1jP/s16000/SCBWI%20Faces.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>SCBWI Faces goes behind the scenes to meet our volunteers. This month <b>Loretta Flockhart </b>chats to <b>Ell Rose</b>, Illustration Features Editor for </i>Words & Pictures.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCozwZVISrbUTILW30FWteGruMrxUywg4KwQqbUTDx7IxLVb3XsfZ3CQxFaX6lorT6YHanN7VfqTUYIrIZjH_HWZVC5GMli8Yopx71I5bwLGBa4YScIF6Kzx45ngAkxBS30hK6Uu04EkHzimB_o01ar8lGA-xsoFiZN0D88ucWZgJTrABxW9X_uzbeNW9/s1920/ER5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCozwZVISrbUTILW30FWteGruMrxUywg4KwQqbUTDx7IxLVb3XsfZ3CQxFaX6lorT6YHanN7VfqTUYIrIZjH_HWZVC5GMli8Yopx71I5bwLGBa4YScIF6Kzx45ngAkxBS30hK6Uu04EkHzimB_o01ar8lGA-xsoFiZN0D88ucWZgJTrABxW9X_uzbeNW9/w300-h400/ER5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Ell Rose</b> is a non-binary illustrator & animator based in Edinburgh. They have two cats that sometimes feature in their work in either comics or illustrations/animation. They are available for editorial, non-fiction and fiction books and commercial work as well as 2D motion graphics.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><div dir="ltr" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span color="inherit" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>
What do you illustrate?
</b></div><p><br /></p><p>My illustration work is cute and colourful, the main focuses being characters and bringing them to life. Currently I’m working on a children’s book with a client and it’s such a wonderful collaboration between myself and the author.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrO0I5kqvopuD85-hrTHcStDrOOd3LmybYJMC45kkIb7EipipBW4dNM8GqbOLvrOegyLqUpWABF8l0RRWw2nyHNZBSP1GPbYXFots1t8vyUuEyzXrHO0a0eHl_u_QZs-NoRw2xSGJ9W6_9kYJrXoIcwRfQspWzpTGQzGLd-lMgeIoTNeWNdHps5e6QMJjG/s1920/ER4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrO0I5kqvopuD85-hrTHcStDrOOd3LmybYJMC45kkIb7EipipBW4dNM8GqbOLvrOegyLqUpWABF8l0RRWw2nyHNZBSP1GPbYXFots1t8vyUuEyzXrHO0a0eHl_u_QZs-NoRw2xSGJ9W6_9kYJrXoIcwRfQspWzpTGQzGLd-lMgeIoTNeWNdHps5e6QMJjG/w400-h400/ER4.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ell Rose's newest illustration, to go alongside their 30th birthday</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>
Do you have a ‘day job’ as well as volunteering and making art?
</b></div><p><br /></p><p>My day job is freelance illustration and motion design/animation, which is absolutely amazing, I really enjoy the work I do and I get to meet some lovely people through it.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>
Describe your creative space</b></div><p><br /></p><p>I mostly work in my living room, I have a standing desk with a wide monitor, and a pretty hefty PC. I mainly use my iPad so often am just curled up with terrible posture on my couch illustrating.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpVDMRThk52QRcWfdFQ2SH23i3acVDKeKkgKTOiwb64JinpTHPNe2hZDYuvjN7S51LI02uQ1tz9_8uow9t_wPf0VxnneTDDj6jbOqj9IudsCzgZPPCTFqc-DdXeSGMYno1179EdO5atHzYHdlw-PxEC7SCwR3Dx9HnUxm-dZZMh8NiCZUyU5mvaOE8kbE/s1920/ER3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpVDMRThk52QRcWfdFQ2SH23i3acVDKeKkgKTOiwb64JinpTHPNe2hZDYuvjN7S51LI02uQ1tz9_8uow9t_wPf0VxnneTDDj6jbOqj9IudsCzgZPPCTFqc-DdXeSGMYno1179EdO5atHzYHdlw-PxEC7SCwR3Dx9HnUxm-dZZMh8NiCZUyU5mvaOE8kbE/w400-h300/ER3.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Ell Rose's work desk. The moss ball is called King Kwentin. Ell has a lot of <br />Sanrio things on their desk, and tombow pens</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>
How long have you been a SCBWI volunteer?
</b></div><p><br /></p><p>It will be a year on April 3rd, which is really exciting for me — I’ve really loved working with everyone and being part of the <i>Words & Pictures</i> team.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>
Describe the main tasks of your role as a SCBWI volunteer</b></div><p><br /></p><p>As the illustration features editor, I illustrate the headers, talk to other illustrators to get really fun ideas together for comics or other features. I make sure a new upcoming illustrator is featured every month too.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>
Has volunteering influenced your art in any way?
</b></div><p><br /></p><p>It’s definitely given me more resources to improve my work and to be inspired.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>
What are the advantages of being a volunteer?
</b></div><p><br /></p><p>You get to work with some really wonderful people and build a community, the networking aspect is great.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3WsgVmFIF2CKJy5bezrAnJ4XxBHDlt_WpCG5GrpJrbw_lixSvJKiIVVlNEkQ5fO75d33TC1SPTUh-B2-2Pon306EnqHlo0lcDJYLUf1DkqVKTJBIdPLqFbUBNs4OgUjhuDaKz5jXgPGQ557mGxoEigV9gHgMtj7a1MWtA87tXJfCBLW9Vp4NBpGE8Ocv/s1170/ER2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1170" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3WsgVmFIF2CKJy5bezrAnJ4XxBHDlt_WpCG5GrpJrbw_lixSvJKiIVVlNEkQ5fO75d33TC1SPTUh-B2-2Pon306EnqHlo0lcDJYLUf1DkqVKTJBIdPLqFbUBNs4OgUjhuDaKz5jXgPGQ557mGxoEigV9gHgMtj7a1MWtA87tXJfCBLW9Vp4NBpGE8Ocv/w400-h390/ER2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At the SCBWI conference in Manchester (photo credit Sarah Broadley)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4nhbkvRDD5lWYKN5ZQXt0O9mdpOlh1j84wfcVk_NhQN_n77mpxCWBQA9VkDT3hT-vTOnPJADBaygbwgoBnxgPIneSR6016LM58Sd_qbezcvhlOja8ds6DiT77ysKCQWiPsnHB7hWq3IzUlWlUFApm7k5cTjNNpouYKxlu_qJ8tx-XpPGCitkc_6kef3u/s1145/ER1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="840" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4nhbkvRDD5lWYKN5ZQXt0O9mdpOlh1j84wfcVk_NhQN_n77mpxCWBQA9VkDT3hT-vTOnPJADBaygbwgoBnxgPIneSR6016LM58Sd_qbezcvhlOja8ds6DiT77ysKCQWiPsnHB7hWq3IzUlWlUFApm7k5cTjNNpouYKxlu_qJ8tx-XpPGCitkc_6kef3u/w294-h400/ER1.png" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At the SCBWI conference in Manchester (photo credit Tita Berredo)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>
How many hours per week do you spend volunteering?
</b></div><p><br /></p><p>It ranges, it’s difficult to say as a lot of the time it includes emails back and forth.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>
Do the boundaries between volunteering get blurred or do you have clearly demarcated creating/volunteering times/space?
</b></div><p><br /></p><p>I usually try to keep certain aspects of the work like illustrating headers and uploading articles to one day a week</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>
Favourite children’s book?
</b></div><p><br /></p><p>This is a difficult question as there are so many that have had a big impact on me, however. Currently <i>Mini Rabbit Not Lost</i> by <b>John Bond</b> remains at the top of my list alongside the rest of that series.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Get in contact with Ell via their email hello@fourfooteleven.com and see their work <a href="http://www.fourfooteleven.com">here</a> or on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fourfooteleven.illustration/">Instagram</a>. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Header illustration by Tita Berredo and Ell Rose; </span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">other images courtesy of Ell Rose</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">*</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Loretta Flockhart </b>has a background in publishing, an MA in Creative Writing and is an English language teacher / writing tutor. She enjoys working with adults and children, whose first language is not English, to write poetry and stories. Find her on <a href="https://twitter.com/lolajflo" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">X </a>(formerly Twitter). </div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">Anne Boyere</b> is one of <i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">Words & Pictures'</i> Feature Editors and runs the #SCBWIchat on X (formerly Twitter) chat about books for all ages <a href="https://twitter.com/SCBWI_BI" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">@SCBWI_BI</a>. You can find her on <a href="https://twitter.com/AmusedNonQueen">X</a>. </div><p><br /></p><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">*</span></p></i><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><p><br /></p></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">Tita Berredo</b><b> </b>is Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of <i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">Words & Pictures</i>. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">Follow her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/titaberredo/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, </span></span><a href="https://twitter.com/titaberredo?lang=en" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">X</a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"> and </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.titaberredo.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">www.titaberredo.com</a> or c</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">ontact her at</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">:</span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</span></b></span></div></span></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></b></span></div><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; outline: 0px; text-align: left; transition: 0.3s;" /></div></i></div></div><p style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"></p></div>Anne Boyerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12321189567241917683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-23721154992516013322024-03-03T06:30:00.861+00:002024-03-16T08:58:14.831+00:00ORAL STORYTELLING Reading work aloud<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc4lNCQatZb2zrWXdDPAoYO7kg_1ob6k-FboNnbU_DH2RXAvRxCBqwWlouM4WXOBES_KCUj1QO0Epjvu_0HTx29wP5lkYw5jK6RijwKO-VOv_D8Kst2X56SS9rQ8q3C6NySz3WV_Ybg22VuQjRt6Qze2NJ8oqJxudgS1vfwr1B5cUzJEC0q7-a9gvgXE/s350/Oral_Storytelling%20v2%20350.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc4lNCQatZb2zrWXdDPAoYO7kg_1ob6k-FboNnbU_DH2RXAvRxCBqwWlouM4WXOBES_KCUj1QO0Epjvu_0HTx29wP5lkYw5jK6RijwKO-VOv_D8Kst2X56SS9rQ8q3C6NySz3WV_Ybg22VuQjRt6Qze2NJ8oqJxudgS1vfwr1B5cUzJEC0q7-a9gvgXE/s16000/Oral_Storytelling%20v2%20350.png" /></a></div><h1><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">In this 3-part bi-weekly series storyteller <b>Chip Colquhoun</b> shares many of the key lessons authors can learn from the art of oral storytelling.</i></h1><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This week, authors all over will visit hundreds of schools for World Book Day 2024 with timid trepidation. They may possess </span>a confident, entertaining voice on paper, birthing entire worlds within the mind of each reader – but in person that voice can feel worryingly raw, thin, and unsure. How can it compete with the growing multitude of mighty media demanding young people's attention? Will it turn off potential readers or – far worse – disappoint existing ones?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet they go forth – partly from a passion to share the empowering joy of creativity with new generations, partly from the realisation that a single school visit will pay the typical author more than their annual royalties.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The good news is that reading your work aloud is a powerful way to inspire young people into reading. I can say this with certainty because I began storytelling professionally a whole nine years before the publication of my first book, and I was constantly being invited back into schools because teachers and parents saw increased enthusiasm for reading among their children after my visits (usually accompanied by a rise in reading standards). </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That was without a book in sight! If telling stories <i>without </i>a book turns reluctant readers into recreational ones, it stands to reason that telling them <i>from</i> a book – something they can see, hold, even smell – should have at least as great an effect.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">better</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> news is that reading your work aloud is easy once you start to use the 'Keyring Skill' of good storytelling: </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Tell the story <i>with </i>your listeners, not <i>to</i> them</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A performer knows they’ve done a good job when the audience has been focused on them and they receive rapturous applause at the end. A </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">storyteller </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">knows they’ve done a good job when they detect obvious signs that their audience has engaged with the experience – for instance, immediate questions about decisions taken by the characters, the truth of events, where the story came from, etc. All this shows that the audience are considering what the story means for them, and won't be forgetting it any time soon.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For me, this was best summed up by a <i>Primary Times Children's Choice Awards</i> reviewer who attended one of my storytelling shows at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018. She wrote, "It felt more like a conversation than a performance."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I call this the 'Keyring Skill' because it is the only skill you really need in order to read like a storyteller. Every other storytelling 'hack' for engaging listeners is just a key skill to hang from this ring: good to know, but only needed if it fits the listeners you're with. 'Doing all the voices' may</span> mesmerise<span style="font-family: inherit;"> some listeners by the world you're bringing to life – but others may just laugh gleefully at your performance whilst getting distracted from the story itself.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That said, to further boost </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">your </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">confidence for your next public reading of your work, here's my guide to 'Doing all the VOICE': five key engagement techniques to hang from your keyring skill...</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">V is for Vocal Adjustment</span></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is something you do all the time, usually without thinking about it. If you’re concerned, you lower your pitch; if you’re excited, you raise your pace; if you’re trying to get someone’s attention across a crowded room, you project.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For those on the receiving end, there’s an almost universal
unconscious understanding of what these Vocal Adjustments mean. Someone speaks
to you with a lower pitch than usual? We want to know what’s wrong. Someone’s
speaking too fast? We want them to slow down so we can understand what’s got
them so excited. A loud voice cuts across a great distance? We turn to look, checking whether it’s our attention they want. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So if all this nuance of language can be transmitted
automatically, you can be sure of enhancing your reading by putting just a
little thought into it in advance. When reading a passage, consider how it’s
making you feel. How would you adjust your voice if trying to convey that same
feeling? Try reading the passage out loud with that same Vocal Adjustment, and
you’ll share the same emotion with your listeners.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can apply this approach to characters in a story too.
What emotion is the character feeling? How would you adjust your voice to
convey such a feeling? Read their dialogue with that same Vocal Adjustment, and
all your listeners will feel a greater understanding of the character.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember: adjusting your vocals is not the same as
‘doing all the voices’. The latter makes </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">you</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> the object of attention.
Vocal Adjustments designed around emotion cause a creative response within the
mind of the listener, as they imagine how the characters are feeling or get a
better sense of the action taking place.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">O is for Openings</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you’re confident that your listeners will predict the
next word, then preceding it with the inflexion of a question mark, along with
a slight pause, can prompt them to say it for (or with) you. For example: "Mirror, mirror on the...?"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doing this gives you an opportunity to confirm the
engagement of your listeners – but not just for you. When they hear themselves
providing the right response, they’ll recognise their own engagement. This will
give rise to a ‘feedback loop’: hearing themselves engaging with the tale will
encourage them to engage even more.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once your listeners are familiar with your use of this
technique, though, it can be fun to play around with it, and provide an Opening
when in fact the next word is </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">not</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> what you’d expect. The fact that
they still make an attempt is proof of their engagement – but the gasp,
laughter, or other sounds of surprise or delight will again create that
feedback loop.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Be careful not to overuse this technique though. A reading
with too many Openings can become tedious, especially if the listeners haven’t
yet become acquainted enough with the tale to accurately predict what’s coming, or they’re never allowed to be right.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I is for Indication</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s say you’re listening to someone telling a story about
a spider. They say, “This story is about a very small creature…” – and, at the
same time, hold out a closed hand that isn’t quite a fist. They look at their
hand and add, “…who was actually…”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Slowly they open their fingers, palm towards the ceiling.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“…a spider,” they finish.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In that moment, what are you imagining to be in their hand?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even without the presence of an actual arachnid, the
storyteller’s gesture has guided your imagination to create an Indication
of one. And if the listeners are creating, they’re investing in the experience
of the story – which is the very definition of engagement.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Indication works best when it combines three core elements:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">a physical gesture (eg a hand held out);</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">a suggestion of mass (eg by not fully closing the hand); and</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">the teller’s sight line (eg looking at their hand).</span></li></ol><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of these, item 3 is the most important. If you look up as if
you’re seeing an elephant and declare, “The elephant stood up!” then your
audience will be more convinced that you are indicating an elephant standing
up. That in turn will encourage them to envision the same, even though you
haven’t used a physical gesture nor given any suggestion of mass.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Item 2 is perhaps the most subtle of the ingredients, but a
powerful one nonetheless. If you hold up a completely closed fist, how could
anyone imagine a spider actually waiting safely in your palm for your
revelation? How could they believe you’re holding an apple, a sword, a rope </span>– <span style="font-family: inherit;">or
anything else?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">C is for Conversation</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the most direct example of reading with your
listeners. As you go through the story, invite your listeners to comment on it,
say what they think is about to happen, what they would do in a similar
situation, etc. There is quite simply no method of confirming and compounding
the engagement of your audience than this.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Conversation needn’t just be about the story </span>– i<span style="font-family: inherit;">t can also
cover the </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">telling</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> of the story. For example, you can combine it with Vocal Adjustment by asking your
listeners to suggest how a character might sound. You can also ask them how they
think the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Environment</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> should sound (see below).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are two important factors to consider when using this technique.
The first is to avoid giving your audience any suggestion of control over the
story. Instead of asking, “What happens next?” your question should be, “What
do you <i>think</i> will happen next?” Such avoids the potential of engagement-busting
disappointment when you read on to reveal an action which contradicts your
listener’s suggestion. If all you invited was their thoughts, you can
legitimately move on with the words, “Shall we find out?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The second factor to consider is knowing when to move on.
Don’t lose sight of the fact that you’re telling a story – and you need time to
finish it!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep those factors in mind, though, and Conversation may be
the most powerful key skill on your keyring.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">E is for Environment</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This final technique is the easiest form of audience
participation: inviting your listeners to create the Story Environment
with you.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For example, you read that a wind is blowing through the
trees. Why not invite your listeners to make the sound of that breeze? By
contributing to the atmosphere of the story, they’ll feel further invested in
it. Don’t worry about silencing them afterwards either. Just continue to read,
raising your voice ever so slightly if needed, and you’ll soon find that your listeners
quieten down naturally in order to discover the action that takes place in the
setting they helped establish.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We All Engage Differently</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As writers, we're more aware than most of the uniqueness of every individual. Not everyone is a fan of eye contact, and a performer who demands that all eyes look in the same direction could in fact be erecting a barrier to engagement rather than enabling it. Conversely, allowing a listener to relax and enjoy a story in their own way could result in far greater engagement than the listener is otherwise capable of.</span></p><div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But what about listeners who keep turning to chat with their friends during a story, perhaps making sudden noises or exclamations to the amusement of those around them? Are they engaging with the tale? </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In my experience </span>– <span style="font-family: inherit;">and the experience of every other traditional storyteller I know </span>– <span style="font-family: inherit;">those listeners are always providing some sort of commentary on the story, or contributing their own sound effects, dialogue, gestures etc. So why would you silence that? That’s a clear sign that they’re engaged! Just keep reading – they'll be keeping an ear out to make sure they don't miss anything, honest to promise.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Always keep the Keyring Skill in mind – read </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">with </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">your listeners rather than </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">to </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">them – and this will help you consider how to adapt your reading in order to broaden and increase the level of engagement from each unique listener.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the next part of this series, we'll ask: Is there anything oral storytelling can teach us about how to <i>write</i> an engaging story...?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">For more advice on using the skills of a storyteller in your public readings, find Chip's book <b>All the Better to Read You With</b> in bookshops now </span>–<span style="font-family: inherit;"> illustrated by Korky Paul and published by Epic Tales.</span></i></p></div><h2><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></div><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">*Header image: In-house collaboration between Ell Rose and Tita Berredo</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chip Colquhoun</b> began storytelling for children in 2007 and was asked to write the EU’s guidance on using stories in classrooms in 2015. He became a children’s writer when The History Press commissioned him in 2016 to write <i>Cambridgeshire Folk Tales for Children</i>. He’s since had 22 books published, most as part of the <i>Fables & Fairy Tales</i> series he co-produces with illustrator Korky Paul (published by Epic Tales), and is currently working with the National English Hub and the National Literacy Trust to raise the rate of recreational reading in schools. You can find him at <a href="https://storytellerchip.com">storytellerchip.com</a></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html">Ell Rose</a><span> is the Illustration Features Editor of </span><i>Words & Pictures</i><span>. Contact </span><b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html">Tita Berredo</a><span> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of </span><i>Words & Pictures</i><span>. Contact</span><b> illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org<br /></b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></p></div></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Ell Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073314993135215866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-85730418216799828792024-03-03T06:30:00.855+00:002024-03-08T13:54:12.638+00:00KNOWHOW Educational Publishing (Part 1)<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSlZT4z5Pbr4INYfppATr0loMqVMUpx3fTLWzcv7oxOibJcRTZGI29FOu-Sbz8W2YsPvb1rVAt_pR7hlu52gzbFOCi-u6pqXmIh1vQaP4MV7QgMmPwWZdX3oGRRwlbK2Vnu8tfheEmgDPFp22OjO1M4Tqu7pEjXwfNmduoSg8RK_OjWYmMu1LECL1tRw/s320/writing%20knowhow%20350%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSlZT4z5Pbr4INYfppATr0loMqVMUpx3fTLWzcv7oxOibJcRTZGI29FOu-Sbz8W2YsPvb1rVAt_pR7hlu52gzbFOCi-u6pqXmIh1vQaP4MV7QgMmPwWZdX3oGRRwlbK2Vnu8tfheEmgDPFp22OjO1M4Tqu7pEjXwfNmduoSg8RK_OjWYmMu1LECL1tRw/s16000/writing%20knowhow%20350%20(1).png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In this new KnowHow series, <b>Lynn Huggins-Cooper</b> is sharing her expertise on all things educational publishing and opening up a new world of possibilities.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e6E53uLabSlvrZ4iGI7vJIJZseYNx3XhxZTkEC0KK9TIyrejOgo39NKIGZwfB-gEFudS2X6DzbmaxBog_PT83E9G0KLplpZLZR7VUlUJAW2eU7Cv-sa-MqMk0v691c1CF3BaaLqoDriYhfsQa_XBMXwMvUzXe6r2F73YXWxtsSTyfA0S9e0kkd4Gseo/s183/book5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e6E53uLabSlvrZ4iGI7vJIJZseYNx3XhxZTkEC0KK9TIyrejOgo39NKIGZwfB-gEFudS2X6DzbmaxBog_PT83E9G0KLplpZLZR7VUlUJAW2eU7Cv-sa-MqMk0v691c1CF3BaaLqoDriYhfsQa_XBMXwMvUzXe6r2F73YXWxtsSTyfA0S9e0kkd4Gseo/s16000/book5.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNvJsg4lF79n-mEEBMDfUl0LmrAlciniNCaqcSLFnwMulCMhWU4T7TqMgTZHAzZqXsUl8TGRd-XHOM5yzAotHbrj7b0DHj70KcZjnkyGzLU1lsx7CVLac8iBMDGMJ-1jsbdu6fh64sd-choroqxyC_xXZJGK1_Fm6EdI2y50tsTXEq7e8IG6QtZJcM_8/s182/book2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="144" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNvJsg4lF79n-mEEBMDfUl0LmrAlciniNCaqcSLFnwMulCMhWU4T7TqMgTZHAzZqXsUl8TGRd-XHOM5yzAotHbrj7b0DHj70KcZjnkyGzLU1lsx7CVLac8iBMDGMJ-1jsbdu6fh64sd-choroqxyC_xXZJGK1_Fm6EdI2y50tsTXEq7e8IG6QtZJcM_8/s1600/book2.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_40B4Pi32SpioIFXBTZ9vUqfXr8qGOmEGNLHehqxOmu4AD9aMz9zfppL6MMA4_AK0yf0-mqJzN05v4npvBBb0fmGsZ3OjI0aZHoHlYixcGb8jTS5UKm8J7Tx0pgwtGK9mn0BDNVmF7Twqok3M2ctEimxkVnyA5I9hXp9gIkX3EwQIzpwlUsI3M2iqRso/s182/book3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="121" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_40B4Pi32SpioIFXBTZ9vUqfXr8qGOmEGNLHehqxOmu4AD9aMz9zfppL6MMA4_AK0yf0-mqJzN05v4npvBBb0fmGsZ3OjI0aZHoHlYixcGb8jTS5UKm8J7Tx0pgwtGK9mn0BDNVmF7Twqok3M2ctEimxkVnyA5I9hXp9gIkX3EwQIzpwlUsI3M2iqRso/s1600/book3.jpg" width="121" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPxLNELF9j0fN5PXmzzvYTIEPL_E5BC0VlP-R-2ZVv_ysjgNmhUH7TL_SPR9gYbD5a_vT6PfmhEJaznVRHHS27v4snH2w-6hAixQ6jsEsBtzKh4xQL90oJTMQZMJ1DqCvyVp8c5Vs_2RcWfOGzfGpaV5vvmmf19XEUjYR1cYDe1FCCwTkp8NGGDo0_j8/s179/book8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="127" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPxLNELF9j0fN5PXmzzvYTIEPL_E5BC0VlP-R-2ZVv_ysjgNmhUH7TL_SPR9gYbD5a_vT6PfmhEJaznVRHHS27v4snH2w-6hAixQ6jsEsBtzKh4xQL90oJTMQZMJ1DqCvyVp8c5Vs_2RcWfOGzfGpaV5vvmmf19XEUjYR1cYDe1FCCwTkp8NGGDo0_j8/s1600/book8.jpg" width="127" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div>What is 'Educational Publishing'?</b><p></p><p> </p>
Educational publishing is a wide umbrella term that covers many different types of books, apps, worksheet content, video and educational game creation and more. There are many publishers, packagers and resource creation companies involved in this type of publishing around the world. Globally, this multi-million-pound sector is a major source of employment for writers – and teachers who would like to become writers. Could you see yourself as becoming part of this world, with its ceaseless production and the wealth of opportunities it offers?
<p> </p>
In a series of six articles, starting today, I am going to outline a range of opportunities available to educational writers, so you feel confident about the market and can work on ideas and proposals.
<p> </p>
I have been writing educational books for more than 25 years and have written hundreds of titles for publishers such as Harper Collins, Hachette, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, A and C Black and more. I have written many series of non-fiction books used by schools and libraries worldwide, and I have been a features writer for TES and have written for educational comics and magazines such as National Geographic Kids. Educational writing gave me my way into publishing, as a young teacher – and it has been a wonderful part of my journey as a writer. Could it be a way in, or an additional source of work, for you?
<p> </p><b>
Types of educational writing
</b><p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Learning Schemes for Schools – science, history, maths, DT etc.</li><li>Books for teachers – resource books for teaching ideas etc.</li><li>Textbooks for KS3-5</li><li>Reading scheme books – fiction and non-fiction designed to feed into an integrated learning scheme to teach reading skills</li><li>Trade Editions – books stocked in chain retail bookstores such as Waterstones, indie bookshops and online booksellers such as Amazon; bought by public lending libraries and eligible for <a href="https://twitter.com/plr_uk?lang=en" target="_blank">PLR </a>(more on that later in the series)</li><li>Activity books, to fill in – used by parents, tutors (and teachers); often core subjects such as English, maths and science but some other areas, plus topic-themed and character-driven cross-curricular books</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Apps – learning apps and reading apps</li><li>Content Creation for teaching websites – such as <a href="https://www.nagwa.com/en/uk/" target="_blank">Nagwa</a>, Twinkl etc.</li><li>Comics – educational CNF such as <a href="https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/" target="_blank">National Geographic Kids</a></li></ul><p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p><b>
Things to consider...
</b><p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-_j26Z33IsGu1kXb1IXX7aQ582mf5Le_CiGfeSyGOw3BqP2qtQ0FqBnfyESpQphlTXyZSm6yGmtZ_4KLcTkmpBPIXZiMEcwsroJ6zSIv7jjZGcOAxj-N0eDtlBYtLbwntJIEk8o-TtS1Iyt16VjKTc5_j8ZxmEdA1HQ6gBiJCSCErBqNkz5KKJ3woc4/s153/book16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="135" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-_j26Z33IsGu1kXb1IXX7aQ582mf5Le_CiGfeSyGOw3BqP2qtQ0FqBnfyESpQphlTXyZSm6yGmtZ_4KLcTkmpBPIXZiMEcwsroJ6zSIv7jjZGcOAxj-N0eDtlBYtLbwntJIEk8o-TtS1Iyt16VjKTc5_j8ZxmEdA1HQ6gBiJCSCErBqNkz5KKJ3woc4/s1600/book16.jpg" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpU-cHXqONsCVvn5WnEY28r5rv2lw9o0wfFR2tQWC9-sF3KuToX6pN2hGHBMpcAchvfkWSQigo1ZEPDqDi8HbftzGHRHA8E-SU0FISj88PBYduZGHFIQn-vjVTKWusR5YLSAmY_SCzbLHNEHS0sNIP0ARxcWqhFp6o9Uw2ReVPLHQj11zbzq07cprGoE/s152/book11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="107" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpU-cHXqONsCVvn5WnEY28r5rv2lw9o0wfFR2tQWC9-sF3KuToX6pN2hGHBMpcAchvfkWSQigo1ZEPDqDi8HbftzGHRHA8E-SU0FISj88PBYduZGHFIQn-vjVTKWusR5YLSAmY_SCzbLHNEHS0sNIP0ARxcWqhFp6o9Uw2ReVPLHQj11zbzq07cprGoE/s1600/book11.jpg" width="107" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhyphenhyphenHTn2G5Bq7AybsCpGQZkk6iKEBoZFdiopWBlwxwlXI2iofdPXAxTZwPkoVLgwaxL4R9q1mw9sh_RCu_5OVEfJ7y7NfKojpg0Xite_2H41ww22k4z4iQ7rFdnDKYQj1W8ZR5dsFCHJjFUdFBb35v9OVvKggLhfLD_1bJNw739UIH03Y1COjdhxS_DqQ/s153/book6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="121" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhyphenhyphenHTn2G5Bq7AybsCpGQZkk6iKEBoZFdiopWBlwxwlXI2iofdPXAxTZwPkoVLgwaxL4R9q1mw9sh_RCu_5OVEfJ7y7NfKojpg0Xite_2H41ww22k4z4iQ7rFdnDKYQj1W8ZR5dsFCHJjFUdFBb35v9OVvKggLhfLD_1bJNw739UIH03Y1COjdhxS_DqQ/s1600/book6.jpg" width="121" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3B95_kE-eZ77DRqH5Xf8CvdjCV7Pt6tsENfArAh6brzA65r7dEc3QO6W1rSSDWpztQasVUTYcWK_PFUS9ZfYOtpPHG3Hp7FgyGzjcJdHwIbhUthDs5fGNAA0YHZOuVOxR3JZ8whmYjFtDafNYMxJaKoQzEhHqE3JSuuCi-4mTgWp9JcUr_JXCN5tE4E/s152/book1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="123" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3B95_kE-eZ77DRqH5Xf8CvdjCV7Pt6tsENfArAh6brzA65r7dEc3QO6W1rSSDWpztQasVUTYcWK_PFUS9ZfYOtpPHG3Hp7FgyGzjcJdHwIbhUthDs5fGNAA0YHZOuVOxR3JZ8whmYjFtDafNYMxJaKoQzEhHqE3JSuuCi-4mTgWp9JcUr_JXCN5tE4E/s1600/book1.jpg" width="123" /></a></div><br /><p></p>As you can see, there are many ways to dip a toe into the educational publishing world! Until next time, if you are considering educational writing, think about these questions, and jot down some notes:
<p> </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Where do I fit - what are my areas of strength or expertise in terms of the curriculum?</li><li>What are my passions?</li><li>Why should publishers commission me to write educational books - what relevant experience, skills, expertise and subject knowledge do I have?</li><li>Which age range could I write for?
</li></ul><p> </p>
Keep your notes handy, ready for next month's article - they could help you to write up a proposal of your own!
<p> </p><b style="font-weight: bold;">
Coming soon in this series:
</b><p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p>
Part 2: Educational Publishers and Book Packagers
<p> </p>
Part 3: Writing for the Home Learning/Activity Book Market
<p> </p>
Part 4: Writing Children's Non-Fiction
<p> </p>
Part 5: Writing for Educational Comics and Apps
<p> </p>
Part 6: The Business of Educational Writing
<p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Header image: In-house collaboration between<b> Ell Rose </b>and<b> Tita Berredo</b></span></div><p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: right;"> </p><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfSdmuLW_mcJcPiVwp4nLeNH23NhM2QsXWw94amueGkn76XxMLqhUHBpGPIFt0NRd6RivwUTSlCPp9O6PRZslNbu8eFnt18SyYDpCPtY5K8m75nvBN9cdWmwtwVb34mE6fNPPsvl6IpdlT9EFlJ2sgVuocF7sQzQIp7-ukElqepVbIWbfTtBjx_6sAEtP/s2523/Headshot%201%20Lynn%20.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2523" data-original-width="1682" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfSdmuLW_mcJcPiVwp4nLeNH23NhM2QsXWw94amueGkn76XxMLqhUHBpGPIFt0NRd6RivwUTSlCPp9O6PRZslNbu8eFnt18SyYDpCPtY5K8m75nvBN9cdWmwtwVb34mE6fNPPsvl6IpdlT9EFlJ2sgVuocF7sQzQIp7-ukElqepVbIWbfTtBjx_6sAEtP/s320/Headshot%201%20Lynn%20.jpg" /></a></div>
<p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p>
Often described as a prolific writer with a diverse portfolio, <b>Lynn Huggins-Cooper</b> has written everything from <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/one-boys-war/lynn-huggins-cooper/ian-benfold-haywood/9781847801265" target="_blank">picture books</a> and <a href="https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Too-Ghoul-for-School-The-In-Spectres-Call-Audiobook/B004EVKC9U" target="_blank">MG series</a> to YA novels. She has written for children’s TV series, comics, websites, and as a features writer for the Times Educational Supplement.
<p> </p>
Lynn lectures on the BA (Hons) Creative Writing at <a href="https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/news/comics-creepy-worlds-and-creative-writing-interview-author-lynn-huggins-cooper" target="_blank">Falmouth University</a>. She has many ‘past lives’ that have seeped into her writing, including working as a wildlife warden at a lighthouse, and as an outward-bound instructor with young offenders.
<p> </p>
She co-organises <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/543046209039402" target="_blank">SCBWI North-East </a>with <a href="https://lucyfarfort.co.uk/" target="_blank">Lucy Farfort</a> and lives with her husband in a tiny house next to 900 acres of forest in the far north of England.
<p> </p><b style="font-weight: bold;">
Find Lynn:
</b><p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p><b style="font-weight: bold;">
Bluesky:</b><b> </b><a href="http://@hugginscooper.bsky.social" target="_blank">@hugginscooper.bsky.social</a><p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p><b style="font-weight: bold;">X (Twitter): </b><a href="https://twitter.com/HugginsCooper" target="_blank">@HugginsCooper</a><p style="font-weight: bold;"> </p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/EntertheWildwoods" target="_blank">Facebook</a><p> </p><a href="https://www.enterthewildwoods.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>Gulfem Wormaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04895549731290156724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-11883947400665043972024-03-03T06:30:00.854+00:002024-03-08T13:51:05.360+00:00MAKING COMICS A love letter<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXlYF2ReO_HKQ62IWdlzh9l-hdejba6QIN99hllZ0S7ceD0TjhhwZZLAU6ndyxSBw7jpO9QsXIJp8rJaG1YR1YkqY6KEkpEpGxaYmsVboc3yvQ3xBLe162rjaBhEbAevcrC3PFnpOAjNzRd-j0o2Eicx4_UjyHuOaLVSIehJ-_ymNoboQ0ONvo4SG_vQ/s350/2F712660-C234-4765-8C6D-6567C4E9649F.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXlYF2ReO_HKQ62IWdlzh9l-hdejba6QIN99hllZ0S7ceD0TjhhwZZLAU6ndyxSBw7jpO9QsXIJp8rJaG1YR1YkqY6KEkpEpGxaYmsVboc3yvQ3xBLe162rjaBhEbAevcrC3PFnpOAjNzRd-j0o2Eicx4_UjyHuOaLVSIehJ-_ymNoboQ0ONvo4SG_vQ/s16000/2F712660-C234-4765-8C6D-6567C4E9649F.png" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Comics are a vibrant and fast-changing medium of storytelling where all stories can be told, and anyone can enjoy them. It's never been a better time to create comics, writes <b>Emmeline Pidgen</b></i></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>
When people hear I work in comics they often make assumptions, or at least they used to. The go-to used to be that I draw superheroes, or that comics are only for ‘reluctant readers’ (comics are for everyone, people!). But with the stratospheric success of comics like <i>Dog Man</i>, <i>Bunny Vs Monkey</i>, and <i>Heartstopper</i>, public opinion is shifting. As the current boom of graphic novels in traditional publishing shows: the time for comics is now. <p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>
I grew up reading <i>The Beano</i> and <i>The Dandy</i>. Every Saturday after my swimming lesson I’d shuffle into the newsagents and hand over my 50p for a comic I’d read again and again and again. Fast forward 20 years and I’m working as a freelance illustrator and author; I’ve had books and comics published by IDW, Hachette and Broadview Press. I’ve been a guest at comic conventions, and I’ve hosted comic workshops up and down the country. It’s a joy and a privilege to do what I love every day (though it can be very tough too!). <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBQTX-dlmH7UOd1L6IGjBrqeQziSrD02zG2V1UF7tFqyr3OBtMg2F5YueA-9-N1S7h_Cz6W1gRjP0xsJBZqU0LctPIRCXzxQmpCFP7aFbv2gbVgcR3gz47BTLBACRQU7ASAMIDxvzZwSQ5k1gp1xbqo2zyidtHSDOhn2h_JDbU5iemQuxZKIWSg8QKDM/s1920/How%20to%20spot%20a%20galaxy%20comic%20by%20emmeline%20pidgen%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBQTX-dlmH7UOd1L6IGjBrqeQziSrD02zG2V1UF7tFqyr3OBtMg2F5YueA-9-N1S7h_Cz6W1gRjP0xsJBZqU0LctPIRCXzxQmpCFP7aFbv2gbVgcR3gz47BTLBACRQU7ASAMIDxvzZwSQ5k1gp1xbqo2zyidtHSDOhn2h_JDbU5iemQuxZKIWSg8QKDM/w400-h266/How%20to%20spot%20a%20galaxy%20comic%20by%20emmeline%20pidgen%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">How to Spot a Galaxy comic by Emmeline Pidgen</span></div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">
How do you make comics?</h4><p> </p>
My process for writing a comic or graphic novel runs differently from my novel or picture book process. With all my books, I usually start with a character sketch and a rough story idea, but with comics things get a little more unpredictable from then on. In comics the balance between script, art and panel rhythm is everything. So, it’s not so much a case of writing a manuscript and then creating the art afterwards; each element informs another and things are a lot more fluid.<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPCPfp3IqidUkAG0QcKEQUFXUVOm5FSlxLngMLIrd8VexvGjBD3TwVqmFHbN7tH9QhaojJ_YQgfuHP5fNBbYwRMSxw-QwGBn1NifZLLAzjjqlZpJbfmKxMX3FiZp__k5416aZr07ajvyOwwTJ27K5qPpnlTDM6QKC4hCBartDjULsR4YcnW80XY6408o/s640/Comic%20art%20by%20Emmeline%20Pidgen%20Illustration.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPCPfp3IqidUkAG0QcKEQUFXUVOm5FSlxLngMLIrd8VexvGjBD3TwVqmFHbN7tH9QhaojJ_YQgfuHP5fNBbYwRMSxw-QwGBn1NifZLLAzjjqlZpJbfmKxMX3FiZp__k5416aZr07ajvyOwwTJ27K5qPpnlTDM6QKC4hCBartDjULsR4YcnW80XY6408o/w400-h313/Comic%20art%20by%20Emmeline%20Pidgen%20Illustration.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Comic art by Emmeline Pidgen</span></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>
I usually let myself flow with what’s inspiring me most at the time. Some days I’ll focus on story, sometimes I’ll just draw the characters over and over, other days I’ll be inspired to workshop different panel structures. It feels like working on a puzzle, and seeing the moment it all clicks together is fantastic. Comics have so much freedom to play and experiment with just the sheer joy of storytelling, and that’s really refreshing.</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92MCF7PHbuMCNRmdZN9WZrzhqLqy91c87nPi5xb9VtWQpsxcJ6WNYg6F14QgytfZqpS8RSx6fOfztHSWAxLHJGQ_JVKj-1KxMXqSopuS1dqHTEpS7qnh7zqGW-axEdeB_wjglwcCe0H5hxkkhZyBCSHtQuc0hjXPNscj7BHtn40yYFqHA1UxilL7ll6k/s1200/Emmeline%20Pidgen%20mermaid%20illustration.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92MCF7PHbuMCNRmdZN9WZrzhqLqy91c87nPi5xb9VtWQpsxcJ6WNYg6F14QgytfZqpS8RSx6fOfztHSWAxLHJGQ_JVKj-1KxMXqSopuS1dqHTEpS7qnh7zqGW-axEdeB_wjglwcCe0H5hxkkhZyBCSHtQuc0hjXPNscj7BHtn40yYFqHA1UxilL7ll6k/w400-h400/Emmeline%20Pidgen%20mermaid%20illustration.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9IueTc1dPgxAM7QqNUn5tRuVotyrYAA8HFaOEVZEWmAfeyTGd7ci0tz4ibtuJSQPzMaKBB6pk8LkKzUiDLioUOwlbsxSBuv0VTWXO06hRr9GAtjbs8OeAtW3QOJRjavs9qStqjj-toE59azZCRac62bh1T2n-UrTVLpt_biulGcnv8k1aYZ2JtEOml4/s1782/Cardigan%20girls%20character%20illustration%20by%20Emmeline%20Pidgen.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9IueTc1dPgxAM7QqNUn5tRuVotyrYAA8HFaOEVZEWmAfeyTGd7ci0tz4ibtuJSQPzMaKBB6pk8LkKzUiDLioUOwlbsxSBuv0VTWXO06hRr9GAtjbs8OeAtW3QOJRjavs9qStqjj-toE59azZCRac62bh1T2n-UrTVLpt_biulGcnv8k1aYZ2JtEOml4/w248-h400/Cardigan%20girls%20character%20illustration%20by%20Emmeline%20Pidgen.jpeg" width="248" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mermaid illustration (<i>Top</i>) and Character Girls character</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> illustration, both by Emmeline Pidgen</span></div> <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">
Writing for comics vs other books</h4><p> </p><div><br /></div>
Writing a manuscript for a comic is very different to other books. It also works very differently if you’re writing and illustrating your own comic rather than collaborating with a separate artist. I’m an author/illustrator, so maybe I’m a little biased, but I would always urge writers to trust their artists (and letterers!) to know the best options for panel layouts and rhythm. Constructing a comic visually is its own craft. Artists will usually produce their best work when they have a little wiggle room with a script, rather than prescriptive descriptions of each panel. </div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div>I tend to think of it like a screenplay, or in fact, even more minimal than that, as big chunks of dialogue or too many speech bubbles on a page can be overwhelming. Very often dialogue in a manuscript will need to be shortened, but there’s a joy in that distillation process. You’re left with what’s important. The best comics are those where writers and artists work collaboratively to bring out the best in each other. There’s beauty in the balance!<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HUVJHVToJdmOLJuYf7ltPamHCQrDI4lf4QN7Li0SX_AKIvd5UBbEC4SN8eR8n3yc9IKr1Pdln706cGheC0sBp6Q04zAX3gEgafJNUGfaWjvrbE6yIigO6rLlUuDqxWaz9LxVSoWnoFdtxbFau2_TfFP3K2rTFmcyb0bZ2f-TKqkobpF3vloIT2aY9aM/s2059/Motherhood%20diary%20comic%20by%20Emmeline%20Pidgen.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HUVJHVToJdmOLJuYf7ltPamHCQrDI4lf4QN7Li0SX_AKIvd5UBbEC4SN8eR8n3yc9IKr1Pdln706cGheC0sBp6Q04zAX3gEgafJNUGfaWjvrbE6yIigO6rLlUuDqxWaz9LxVSoWnoFdtxbFau2_TfFP3K2rTFmcyb0bZ2f-TKqkobpF3vloIT2aY9aM/w305-h400/Motherhood%20diary%20comic%20by%20Emmeline%20Pidgen.jpeg" width="305" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Motherhood Diary comic by Emmeline Pidgen</span></span></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">
What’s so special about comics?</h4><p> </p><p><br /></p>
One thing that’s unique with comics is the ability to manipulate time. Not in a sci-fi way (though sure, sometimes), but through panels on the page. The creator can shift the rhythm of the panels to expand and contract; a single page in a comic can cover a few seconds or an entire year. Even within a standalone panel you can show a character’s journey within a scene. You can up the intensity and speed for the reader with small, sharp panels; flicking between action and emotion. You can alter the flow of speech bubbles to change the rhythm of the page. There’s just so many ways to mould the storytelling in a comic before you even say a single word.<p> </p><p><br /></p>
A really important part of making comics is learning to let go. There’s often no point having a huge, detailed monologue in the script when you can show that feeling succinctly with illustration. Likewise with the illustration sometimes it’s the spaces and details you leave out that can really heighten a moment.<p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">
Top tips?</h4><p> </p>
The most important thing you can do if you want to make comics is read comics. Ideally, grab a comic from a bookshop or your library then read it three times: once for fun; once where you really pay attention to the art; and once where you dissect the use of panels, bubbles and layout. Look at which bits grabbed you as a reader, where you were excited to turn the page, and what made you fall in love with a character. There aren’t really rules in comics, and there’s never been a better time to experiment with them. Even before thinking of getting comics traditionally published you can experiment with webcomics, cartoons on social media, or even taking part in challenges like Hourly Comic Day. Have fun with it!<p> </p><p><b>STOP PRESS!</b> Emmeline has just released a new mini comic, available on her <a href=" www.emmelineillustration.com/comics">website</a> or to <a href="https://ko-fi.com/s/7b9a775e0e">download</a> free/pay what you want.</p><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Header illustration: Ell Rose; </span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">all other images courtesy of Emmeline Pidgen </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2ar8ZW7FIf-pHFHyqjxobE3ME0DfEbYuTfoQigCkJJs6E1Jnn9lVc7cKabBrXSAPsLRbY-_212fRmu_qOoMjFmDqEBoSYNNAR8VVpoC7wZfTmnz3ST5IRBzV7FOTE1J7S4DxXA9oIba3tgfDtbnzFhGDhORCQOX6WPfp9ieWD7K7hQ7TUNoVzIn9GNY/s800/Emmeline%20Pidgen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2ar8ZW7FIf-pHFHyqjxobE3ME0DfEbYuTfoQigCkJJs6E1Jnn9lVc7cKabBrXSAPsLRbY-_212fRmu_qOoMjFmDqEBoSYNNAR8VVpoC7wZfTmnz3ST5IRBzV7FOTE1J7S4DxXA9oIba3tgfDtbnzFhGDhORCQOX6WPfp9ieWD7K7hQ7TUNoVzIn9GNY/s320/Emmeline%20Pidgen.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Emmeline Pidgen</span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><div><b>Emmeline Pidgen</b> is an illustrator and author living in Lancashire, England. She is represented worldwide by Thao Le of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. Emmeline has worked with clients like The BBC, Zara, Hachette and The National Trust, and was named National Freelancer of the Year in 2016.</div><div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can see more of Emmeline’s work here:</span></div></div><div><a href="http://Emmelineillustration.com">Emmelineillustration.com</a></div><div><a href="http://Instagram.com/emmelinedraws">Instagram.com/emmelinedraws</a></div><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;">*</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html"><b>Françoise Price</b></a> is Deputy Editor of <i>Words & Pictures</i> magazine. Contact <b>deputyeditor@britishscbwi.org</b><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html"><b>Ell Rose</b></a> is Illustration Features Editor of <i>Words & Pictures </i>magazine. Contact them at <b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org<br /></b><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="text-align: start;" /></p>
</div>Fran Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00959449698914091121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-28142286087963498922024-03-03T06:30:00.853+00:002024-03-05T15:49:39.950+00:00FEATURED ILLUSTRATOR Marie-Charlotte Yao<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfQsR9s-LIDnRD_Aj6o1ZQ02r-pdAEmSK5FQzpaA9JXvIBFB4RJBp7RnqYkKZiQob65rXZAiNHLwU7KFUaFL07N_LzF2rRodqt-MLuidantQ0sUiyqIKJGBLzt2ofTSCZQyqErtbuUwmwuJSI-yEXJPAo36ZVc_9LRbyD4f2FL5PC1i8Oz81mqzUpWAM/s350/IMG_1008.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfQsR9s-LIDnRD_Aj6o1ZQ02r-pdAEmSK5FQzpaA9JXvIBFB4RJBp7RnqYkKZiQob65rXZAiNHLwU7KFUaFL07N_LzF2rRodqt-MLuidantQ0sUiyqIKJGBLzt2ofTSCZQyqErtbuUwmwuJSI-yEXJPAo36ZVc_9LRbyD4f2FL5PC1i8Oz81mqzUpWAM/s16000/IMG_1008.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">This Months featured illustrator is one of the hosts of <b>Friday Doodle Club</b> on instagram and recently signed to <b>The</b> <b>Plum Agency. Marie-Charlotte Yao (Macha) </b>is a Leeds-based illustrator and graphic designer, with a masters degree in film editing and cinema SFX.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi, my name is Marie-Charlotte Yao, but most people call me Macha. I’m a children’s illustrator and graphic designer living in Leeds. I arrived in UK in 2016 after growing up in France and living most of my young adult life between Asia (China and Japan) and France.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnNpCaxGmGBk6JGDL_lqC05aBImiw7nzAlMMSoTKm_RdjFLNrIVLLWVlYJ1uhif0RhQWRge5wuU3ylKrVEPl7bX_LLqJor6l8wmB95mhuRHP0z0wg2YIN9ZSz7h4zcLa7EOqi_HpTMAYxztsX9J3tjzwCxxfxrz3qpUnw8cneNFO7IfsYykHCH6J3alI/s1000/Bio%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnNpCaxGmGBk6JGDL_lqC05aBImiw7nzAlMMSoTKm_RdjFLNrIVLLWVlYJ1uhif0RhQWRge5wuU3ylKrVEPl7bX_LLqJor6l8wmB95mhuRHP0z0wg2YIN9ZSz7h4zcLa7EOqi_HpTMAYxztsX9J3tjzwCxxfxrz3qpUnw8cneNFO7IfsYykHCH6J3alI/w400-h400/Bio%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Little me in my natural environment in Brittany.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have had a bit of a winding path that finally led me to where I am now. As a kid I remember getting lost in <b>Richard Scarry</b> books and later reading an incredible amount of <b>Bandes Dessinées</b>. <i>Astérix</i> was my absolute fave. Growing up I would often make my own little graphic novels. I was really passionate about film too and ended up doing a master's degree in film editing and cinema SFX in Paris, and even got the opportunity to intern at Cartoon Network Paris. From then on, I worked as a freelancer with different companies. I took many online classes and set up my portable graphic design studio whilst I was living in Asia. It was an amazing time, but not always living ‘the dream’; there were times I was creating logos for my family members while surviving on 7/11 lunch boxes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbrvXQib0LssikxACTOmwUQtlPNJ7IwbhHF32NzWv7UQ9HLzuK_qj3Yg2EXwrWLv4H37zGXT8oboUBZbZ737ccqY5eQhuaZ6t72tSTiapcbmPa-7xEpE1oYIQLIbjMSSOMAnefGKlyzsEHVC3WCnwWIGMqnscx7jEHzh-lIDlBkGNNMsatsF8aS3MF8I/s1000/Bio%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbrvXQib0LssikxACTOmwUQtlPNJ7IwbhHF32NzWv7UQ9HLzuK_qj3Yg2EXwrWLv4H37zGXT8oboUBZbZ737ccqY5eQhuaZ6t72tSTiapcbmPa-7xEpE1oYIQLIbjMSSOMAnefGKlyzsEHVC3WCnwWIGMqnscx7jEHzh-lIDlBkGNNMsatsF8aS3MF8I/w400-h284/Bio%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Living life as a digital nomad in China circa 2009.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having continued to illustrate in and alongside my graphic design work, I realised that I still really wanted to try and make it in children’s publishing, my first love. Moving to the UK was also a big factor, as the books are just so beautiful. Never judge a book by its cover they say, well, it’s impossible here! Being a new mum at that time, I spent a lot of time at the library, reading stories to my kids, and also daydreaming about having my own books there one day. I eventually took a leap of faith and decided to join a Make Art That Sells class about Illustrating Picture Books. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjertMQUPu1e8Md34M8FxX5kJ7GxeXPlmA_grW9tR0hB6KbYzlJ4g8ZRZJOk0QKupzVPpwmorh372ufsoatoDO3uE-VXSonqaKLdNQq03Hdhvp17Usl76z3SS9mb49OGI2-2a2uXkRC_aUhFkbe-6ZLq-REjUXjdtQ0hYQ4GW3ZwMLUP1deukHXhQh1IIE/s1000/Bio%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="1000" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjertMQUPu1e8Md34M8FxX5kJ7GxeXPlmA_grW9tR0hB6KbYzlJ4g8ZRZJOk0QKupzVPpwmorh372ufsoatoDO3uE-VXSonqaKLdNQq03Hdhvp17Usl76z3SS9mb49OGI2-2a2uXkRC_aUhFkbe-6ZLq-REjUXjdtQ0hYQ4GW3ZwMLUP1deukHXhQh1IIE/w640-h374/Bio%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My first assignment on the MATS children’s books course – a world away from my art now!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a bit overwhelming to see all the incredible work from other students when I was at the very beginning of my journey, but by the end I learned a lot of technical and design-based skills and met my work family! They have been here every step of the way since then: <b>Jen</b>, <b>Brenda</b> and <b>Sandra</b>. We launched <i>The Friday Doodle Club</i> after taking the class together. It’s a weekly Instagram based drawing challenge where we release new prompts each week that anyone can get involved with. We hope to inspire artists (and ourselves) and help with ideas for new projects.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN57Vu3TgErpKehUOkDuqsq7RhZgRDOdJ0qaCj-wVzFCr2_9Ydy_BECe0yQO67UZPZselNlciT70CnEGlRRr2sTsd7jUZrGRCw7FnCUS78chpfdJtaW8oKbA7lNgwXsyAaSMi0rVZHRLwCPGo73e5joBvrCvsi7yIVuTkcVZX3qFEYs7tDCLYNJcJ25sQ/s1000/Bio%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN57Vu3TgErpKehUOkDuqsq7RhZgRDOdJ0qaCj-wVzFCr2_9Ydy_BECe0yQO67UZPZselNlciT70CnEGlRRr2sTsd7jUZrGRCw7FnCUS78chpfdJtaW8oKbA7lNgwXsyAaSMi0rVZHRLwCPGo73e5joBvrCvsi7yIVuTkcVZX3qFEYs7tDCLYNJcJ25sQ/w400-h400/Bio%204.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The FDC insta account – come join us.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since taking the course, I’ve worked hard to further my understanding of the children’s publishing market, develop my style, and develop a suitable portfolio. I also joined SCBWI last year just before the Bologna Book Fair, and even though I wasn’t able to join their incredible events this year, it was lovely to meet them at Bologna. I’m so thankful for their portfolio review there, as it made it possible to get my work in front of a publisher I really love <b>Scholastic</b>. I also managed to get a portfolio review with 3 agencies I admired a lot. I got incredibly valuable feedback, and it was such a roller coaster of emotions. I went home with many new friends in my heart, a much better appreciation of where I fitted in the market, what I wanted to do going forward, and how to take my portfolio to the next level. BCBF was a real turning point for me, and I would recommend a visit to every illustrator, once you have a portfolio you are proud of. Getting feedback there, or at any other event where you can get industry reviews, is so helpful. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH0wNOTDrC3sTSuO_p79gOhqPsAXARRWLL5o9xrP9nwRwHP0BMDiwSDFSSDRvyAv5xyRtaWsSYFrrDsWaXCs9_Z1kF-4AWHUfaepxned-mnWYxyCBZr2m5kzwamykDSAEBJmSjULwfHKoIgpXMU2lcEaUvgHOOoSD44FVBps5Ox8Z7DUfo-ESF0pAyiU/s1000/Bio%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH0wNOTDrC3sTSuO_p79gOhqPsAXARRWLL5o9xrP9nwRwHP0BMDiwSDFSSDRvyAv5xyRtaWsSYFrrDsWaXCs9_Z1kF-4AWHUfaepxned-mnWYxyCBZr2m5kzwamykDSAEBJmSjULwfHKoIgpXMU2lcEaUvgHOOoSD44FVBps5Ox8Z7DUfo-ESF0pAyiU/w300-h400/Bio%205.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Me meeting my favourite cartoon character <i>Bluey</i> in Bologna.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the prior years, I submitted my work to agencies without luck, but meeting agents in Bologna really helped to build a relationship. I am pleased to say that a year on from BCBF 2023, I was offered representation by 2 of the 3 agents I met and have now signed with The Plum Agency! So never lose hope, you never know when the little seeds you <a name="_Int_4KhX0VKQ">are planting </a>will bloom! I feel super lucky, and I’m still pinching myself. This is the proof believing in yourself, hard work, and determination can lead you exactly where you dream to be.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bo0KMHetmTOu3zh2ybOyEkhNcFv4wTwsOoZ8i4QQltxUeaIC60c6jhajDt-ig5fokInuu9KNv_H1SdGDssTZwepP-kau6kduwbBOKgd_fZ-oqbdShl1cVEDe3RyVjnD-D_UptVIxPzJ0Xg9iCuOkN7gOLzx4_tomXQyUs5cKnHb1ECTt4xeimvSUVug/s1000/Bio%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1000" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bo0KMHetmTOu3zh2ybOyEkhNcFv4wTwsOoZ8i4QQltxUeaIC60c6jhajDt-ig5fokInuu9KNv_H1SdGDssTZwepP-kau6kduwbBOKgd_fZ-oqbdShl1cVEDe3RyVjnD-D_UptVIxPzJ0Xg9iCuOkN7gOLzx4_tomXQyUs5cKnHb1ECTt4xeimvSUVug/w640-h462/Bio%206.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">An example of a MG portfolio piece I've worked on since Bologna.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If I had to describe my work, I’d say I’m all about fun characters and vibrant/neon colours, as I love 90s aesthetic so much (some may say I’m a bit stuck in that era, my Spotify playlist can’t say otherwise!). I strongly believe children’s books should inspire and empower young readers to be confident in themselves and their abilities. I was a total tomboy growing up and still enjoy illustrating sassy girls on skateboards.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6E6yixRsqoJg5LLqPOWZrqiSe9ybOciT44oXqcf-JSyJhETCZEDGe5GGIDoN09TRKUPHEjXtLWZHG0Wn8bkPp24Ko8-GhOazApDXPaXNcxpUHK28qKA1Rzr9l8DbRqeLaMMEVgzGBXvWzclqBqc8rT_41C_CXZzEogRkVVGXTGBFZxQAUOLE2YFy4_HE/s1000/Bio%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6E6yixRsqoJg5LLqPOWZrqiSe9ybOciT44oXqcf-JSyJhETCZEDGe5GGIDoN09TRKUPHEjXtLWZHG0Wn8bkPp24Ko8-GhOazApDXPaXNcxpUHK28qKA1Rzr9l8DbRqeLaMMEVgzGBXvWzclqBqc8rT_41C_CXZzEogRkVVGXTGBFZxQAUOLE2YFy4_HE/w640-h454/Bio%207.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The cool person I’ve always dreamt to be ;)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I work digitally 99% of the time, mainly on my iPad and laptop, although I carry a notebook for doodling bits that sometimes become ideas for future illustrations. I recently developed a passion for multicoloured lead pencils, as they allow me to create my signature neon outlines, and also for Posca pens, because - what’s not to love about a pen that can paint?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3YcnbUgJTfGgmk44sezd6iem5reCSr-iW1rCnF-b1gvkp0FMhgdRFPNbS3SZh65ec4hI4YMOXmitpsQdlAHxfTPa3JTBRxwOo_rYr52TtfV8TLaE6s_dN6iqM2QaY49Czk8MwE3uSZYa7_poLw8CbQ2RWXUydeQoaOY1AADDzCV5Cp82eVdue2D6KAA/s1000/Bio%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="771" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3YcnbUgJTfGgmk44sezd6iem5reCSr-iW1rCnF-b1gvkp0FMhgdRFPNbS3SZh65ec4hI4YMOXmitpsQdlAHxfTPa3JTBRxwOo_rYr52TtfV8TLaE6s_dN6iqM2QaY49Czk8MwE3uSZYa7_poLw8CbQ2RWXUydeQoaOY1AADDzCV5Cp82eVdue2D6KAA/w309-h400/Bio%208.jpg" width="309" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">How cool are those little pencils? </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before I start working on any project, I do a lot of research and create a fun mood board for it that I can often refer to. It’s one of the best parts of the job. It usually includes work from other illustrators, colour palettes, and a ton of real-life pictures. I also constantly take reference pictures when I’m travelling or in day-to-day life: my phone is full of images of rain puddles. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbGkso5q2UkE6iOjV4KT2uPzRMlnrEfbvODpL6_dpLb71ftdMAf9Y4uNwm8tG3xfhtMzoNFwfkiavTwR8w8BappJNyNFi8BAUkhUsVOTZwH34W0TdFMVZvLQXLZKeCw5gI-CbsPmYAUrV3Fswc16a1ufCI4H9OM3dJ26BGMccEJDUceVwmIVTuC3ZKjw/s1000/Bio%209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1000" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbGkso5q2UkE6iOjV4KT2uPzRMlnrEfbvODpL6_dpLb71ftdMAf9Y4uNwm8tG3xfhtMzoNFwfkiavTwR8w8BappJNyNFi8BAUkhUsVOTZwH34W0TdFMVZvLQXLZKeCw5gI-CbsPmYAUrV3Fswc16a1ufCI4H9OM3dJ26BGMccEJDUceVwmIVTuC3ZKjw/w400-h301/Bio%209.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Example of a mood-board I’ve created before starting to work on a kids' magazine cover about Lunar New Year</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m super excited for what’s to come. My focus right now is on chapter books/middle grade, and graphic novels - I dream of writing my own graphic novel one day… but I would also love to make some picture books as well…yes, I want to do all the things ;) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rQyX_gqupYodhD7dLHOgQE5QFsTPGhfMkfghDUuVYhkZSzbMR12wuPA3JEn0UwNz9MgQ76FZFqYRe84z1DinV-bh24x9ugRTgbZwK__0_bdigsbPb9rxot7gPrQrR55M8u4vLIXaHPZPTdcSMTcFVW2LAfAO_3-chsYUNrhfles6KsBc4EQFuzu_fKo/s1000/Bio%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="699" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rQyX_gqupYodhD7dLHOgQE5QFsTPGhfMkfghDUuVYhkZSzbMR12wuPA3JEn0UwNz9MgQ76FZFqYRe84z1DinV-bh24x9ugRTgbZwK__0_bdigsbPb9rxot7gPrQrR55M8u4vLIXaHPZPTdcSMTcFVW2LAfAO_3-chsYUNrhfles6KsBc4EQFuzu_fKo/w448-h640/Bio%2010.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Graphic novel I created for the Folktale Week challenge 2023.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bPyG3ea7uLSWyqhwPHe2uc0mqVHII7At175x3UFa6mk2XwEMxsh9WiG2AXJmC8klg0LjcEJLVpRxlstz7JSttqiYqmJm-XBKhphqev-dMwoe4qiCjLunlLN9YzCHqndE_1dXtHiGfes1pz94OgqdwjWDnvrU8H64dWQAAyCZAVrvA7XfaGiKpXl6XBo/s1000/Gallery2.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1000" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bPyG3ea7uLSWyqhwPHe2uc0mqVHII7At175x3UFa6mk2XwEMxsh9WiG2AXJmC8klg0LjcEJLVpRxlstz7JSttqiYqmJm-XBKhphqev-dMwoe4qiCjLunlLN9YzCHqndE_1dXtHiGfes1pz94OgqdwjWDnvrU8H64dWQAAyCZAVrvA7XfaGiKpXl6XBo/w320-h216/Gallery2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZE69X-pAcV-x_VR6SKAzYYSzE9Yse0SINnPlEwAoSiP5bSlWhEDHgg2RdGlUX76quFshG90-3PxjKJRPkGtIFoHg1wzgB3Vl9iFYM5e0grt-F4qiIhN0Z4krHoUnZxd6w9rol1_tNZJ3GPQSxr_teESVot9Vw5xjiugvmuCachDbyucEHd1gO_XDS2o/s1000/Gallery5.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZE69X-pAcV-x_VR6SKAzYYSzE9Yse0SINnPlEwAoSiP5bSlWhEDHgg2RdGlUX76quFshG90-3PxjKJRPkGtIFoHg1wzgB3Vl9iFYM5e0grt-F4qiIhN0Z4krHoUnZxd6w9rol1_tNZJ3GPQSxr_teESVot9Vw5xjiugvmuCachDbyucEHd1gO_XDS2o/s320/Gallery5.jpg" width="241" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrN8DE7QuNh6imSkLI8ek_FM3ovuQDIDbU46AIy2t7sQQ_KDcMRGWHw20rGHoJ3Zp6AuseO2mhUYoxkIipr657JIdH4MVeH8ev_DhIBFbjEwStLHTGX0G5mwe36i7Tt96c2YzqMHDIgRZBjOHuDRoIkY4YAHbg2Y5_G_lnI83P6t_pZnwlv6gbR-2oeew/s1000/Gallery6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="683" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrN8DE7QuNh6imSkLI8ek_FM3ovuQDIDbU46AIy2t7sQQ_KDcMRGWHw20rGHoJ3Zp6AuseO2mhUYoxkIipr657JIdH4MVeH8ev_DhIBFbjEwStLHTGX0G5mwe36i7Tt96c2YzqMHDIgRZBjOHuDRoIkY4YAHbg2Y5_G_lnI83P6t_pZnwlv6gbR-2oeew/w274-h400/Gallery6.jpg" width="274" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKSc1YwwNl43qer_ApijHD1Xu2rA8Jb4XTnqW01uPkrYGHtZsLptfkb5YRKUBWnR1sK7K0rxB2U_7rnMk4zHICrgBtrsN7xd4EuLq-NI33Xh-7qDOHNQdifRITMwVfTJM5wcaE7MJ97xnuhRE8wNltbQcPtlrlbfBJNgFulhZ3WprFjILCdc5KwN95zY/s1000/Gallery7.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="683" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKSc1YwwNl43qer_ApijHD1Xu2rA8Jb4XTnqW01uPkrYGHtZsLptfkb5YRKUBWnR1sK7K0rxB2U_7rnMk4zHICrgBtrsN7xd4EuLq-NI33Xh-7qDOHNQdifRITMwVfTJM5wcaE7MJ97xnuhRE8wNltbQcPtlrlbfBJNgFulhZ3WprFjILCdc5KwN95zY/w274-h400/Gallery7.jpg" width="274" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPSaQCCVDa8Ugi2MuUwOtNJN7jhq6PDPvrL5aLKqxOAMcs_WQ2tul3NB28Z0zyr_pCynChhRLPb5flt4kk5lfRRuyMA29M7XB5tz8hQ0l2LPlgfGDHGn15qPU5JiriKR9b7Vgu_qCbHDtn7rRynZ7yQlZlFtrXK0YeD4TKELBtAaTPYogpvNNafHG8XY/s1000/Gallery8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="833" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPSaQCCVDa8Ugi2MuUwOtNJN7jhq6PDPvrL5aLKqxOAMcs_WQ2tul3NB28Z0zyr_pCynChhRLPb5flt4kk5lfRRuyMA29M7XB5tz8hQ0l2LPlgfGDHGn15qPU5JiriKR9b7Vgu_qCbHDtn7rRynZ7yQlZlFtrXK0YeD4TKELBtAaTPYogpvNNafHG8XY/s320/Gallery8.jpg" width="267" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PEBPl95V5JcT2idbyRmkOQ0EG3EyvzqGU5WkMM-1xucOx0CZ-5fuDxj56aw3X5wdPDOtv9PepWK1vn4L7vz2_l2AJl42eusRieNDCifuBXz9YWhgUJ-Fqtr9wag85jAnjGQIPXH0AfCAa-8kugE2f0IUq2n2ORJywQAfY8MWyH1Jid01aIaV5sXpWMk/s1000/Gallery9.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="838" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PEBPl95V5JcT2idbyRmkOQ0EG3EyvzqGU5WkMM-1xucOx0CZ-5fuDxj56aw3X5wdPDOtv9PepWK1vn4L7vz2_l2AJl42eusRieNDCifuBXz9YWhgUJ-Fqtr9wag85jAnjGQIPXH0AfCAa-8kugE2f0IUq2n2ORJywQAfY8MWyH1Jid01aIaV5sXpWMk/s320/Gallery9.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKo2lU9mbrcB6tvhKxaX4PkzZ69b1VhDx6PJaiYzpVQhLSZE0-FdSg9VrFMpSbazFmm_iw3ZXL6fikZD4c1KlHeLWdcNd6660BGHTxRou7tuGNPRPTEo89MIQTTw8KPSPTK2aRaiAQOpPrDGSgBOkUa4ckTMBAlLwHAKiSsuxHkYra0J4uOfHabQ12OME/s1000/Gallery10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1000" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKo2lU9mbrcB6tvhKxaX4PkzZ69b1VhDx6PJaiYzpVQhLSZE0-FdSg9VrFMpSbazFmm_iw3ZXL6fikZD4c1KlHeLWdcNd6660BGHTxRou7tuGNPRPTEo89MIQTTw8KPSPTK2aRaiAQOpPrDGSgBOkUa4ckTMBAlLwHAKiSsuxHkYra0J4uOfHabQ12OME/w400-h355/Gallery10.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJrv4y6QY_oVJ9voDqB7H3MqCW9CvYpuRnUpQhdc0QTZo1jBk-h2F6VDYlMwa9YXGGaxIuxEnaxT_nE44KJhMA9ookq38QNV5XoJ7n8pR6YWObOzpbNoctW0eFcf2-MKWooYMQxS90Q16GbrgtALTEmZyHILihwo6Ds0ZE1Oar5eJNJWkKDmzI5EY03c/s1000/Gallery11.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJrv4y6QY_oVJ9voDqB7H3MqCW9CvYpuRnUpQhdc0QTZo1jBk-h2F6VDYlMwa9YXGGaxIuxEnaxT_nE44KJhMA9ookq38QNV5XoJ7n8pR6YWObOzpbNoctW0eFcf2-MKWooYMQxS90Q16GbrgtALTEmZyHILihwo6Ds0ZE1Oar5eJNJWkKDmzI5EY03c/w400-h400/Gallery11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8QNq-oAm3RWMlIDrTOwFaDUGr2-43zWiOsPaCn8JrQmaQJE9FsCexWGAP1H5i1WtjK6cJ2CyujE5bYauIwx__koPBtGswQlOieBM0Xcx9apLIIEQkb7L1hTX_ZM407K-0GGaBtIuLciON-ilHkZUws9uXte_U0ZbQknDykkXSyxgDMVUrz170SM-LZ0/s1000/Gallery12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1000" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8QNq-oAm3RWMlIDrTOwFaDUGr2-43zWiOsPaCn8JrQmaQJE9FsCexWGAP1H5i1WtjK6cJ2CyujE5bYauIwx__koPBtGswQlOieBM0Xcx9apLIIEQkb7L1hTX_ZM407K-0GGaBtIuLciON-ilHkZUws9uXte_U0ZbQknDykkXSyxgDMVUrz170SM-LZ0/w400-h356/Gallery12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gallery of illustrations</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">*All images: </span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Marie-Charlotte Yao (Macha)</b></span></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">*</div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">See <b>Macha’s</b></span></span> <a href="http://yaomacha.com" target="_blank">Portfolio</a><br /></span></span><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Follow </span></span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Macha</b></span><span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> on </span></span><a href="http://www.instagram.com/yaomacha">Instagram</a></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span>Follow </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Macha</b></span><span> on </span><a href="http://yaomacha.substack.com">Substack</a></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Contact <b>Macha</b> via <a href="mailto:yaomacha@gmail.com">Email</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For any business inquiries, please contact <b>Macha’s</b> <a href="mailto:lucy@theplumagency.com">agent</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p></span></div><div> <span style="background-color: white;">*</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ell Rose</b><span style="background-color: white;"> is the Illustration Features Editor of Words & Pictures.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Find their work at </span><a href="https://fourfooteleven.com" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">fourfooteleven.com </a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Follow them on </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fourfooteleven.illustration/" style="background-color: white;">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/4foot11illo" style="background-color: white;">Twitter</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Contact them at <b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b></span></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p>Ell Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073314993135215866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-77297971350840634602024-03-03T06:30:00.844+00:002024-03-03T06:30:00.134+00:00OPENING LINES March 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwViH56POCy5z-FFgni-l_RpfNkdXPQBn0PwlZRh3fyofAvL-qhjGACLil3TcnfKW16wcL7IlWHE0zR5V6c-9mkM-9pP9TAM_tfN8RexeHiWvpA2LjnyRiOQqFm7LtkORnn0heN0g_EE02F-ClY-vdLa0OAvEGWLUzTVagG3bUn_BgRA3pW8s5glGl7o/s350/831BF835-0041-4DFD-A097-43D81F65551D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwViH56POCy5z-FFgni-l_RpfNkdXPQBn0PwlZRh3fyofAvL-qhjGACLil3TcnfKW16wcL7IlWHE0zR5V6c-9mkM-9pP9TAM_tfN8RexeHiWvpA2LjnyRiOQqFm7LtkORnn0heN0g_EE02F-ClY-vdLa0OAvEGWLUzTVagG3bUn_BgRA3pW8s5glGl7o/s16000/831BF835-0041-4DFD-A097-43D81F65551D.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This month <b>Chip Colquhoun</b> brings you the opportunity for feedback on your <b>Opening Lines</b> from former Usborne Commissioning Editor – and current Megaphone Write co-director –<br /><b><a href="https://scribblingsuit.com/" target="_blank">Stephanie King</a></b></i></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwdkmTmN76UKkfHuernKA_m_5s6_ZemkwfM3r8IwEWV-MloBH_7XHyC-0olScmZGnwzwbPUUBnhUWJOC8CyX33iYkbK4ryQojF1U0Vkjq4-0crcaSef7pCpaazyeMAK1JnTBDzM2dUbJrnc-1u4mBRRURO1DNnSA4D4Nkf3Zk-uhb6s0blCv7bJ3KjsEb/s400/2403%20Stephanie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwdkmTmN76UKkfHuernKA_m_5s6_ZemkwfM3r8IwEWV-MloBH_7XHyC-0olScmZGnwzwbPUUBnhUWJOC8CyX33iYkbK4ryQojF1U0Vkjq4-0crcaSef7pCpaazyeMAK1JnTBDzM2dUbJrnc-1u4mBRRURO1DNnSA4D4Nkf3Zk-uhb6s0blCv7bJ3KjsEb/s320/2403%20Stephanie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></i></div><h4><i style="font-weight: normal;">Opening Lines</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> gives you a chance to get some professional feedback on those all-important first few words so you can fine-tune your submissions. Three entries will be chosen at random for feedback. If yours is selected, it will be published anonymously here in April with Stephanie’s response.</span></h4><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><h3><b><br /></b></h3><h3><b>Meet Stephanie</b></h3><div><b><br /></b></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Once her English Literature studies at UCL were over, Stephanie King embarked on a career in children's publishing. After a little brand licencing here and copywriting there, she joined <a href="https://usborne.com/gb/" target="_blank">Usborne</a> as an editorial assistant. But she didn't sit in that post for long. Within years, she was Commissioning Fiction Editor.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Stephanie commissioned and edited an excitingly eclectic range of books for readers from age seven to YA, including many by bestselling and award-winning authors such as <b><a href="https://www.sarahhaggerholt.com/" target="_blank">Sara Hagger-Holt</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/Hickesy?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank">Phil Hickes</a></b>, <b><a href="https://williamhussey.co.uk/" target="_blank">William Hussey</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/glintinhereye?lang=en" target="_blank">G M Linton</a></b>, <b><a href="https://annmmartin.com/" target="_blank">Ann M Martin</a></b>, <b><a href="https://serenakpatel.com/" target="_blank">Serena Patel</a></b>, <b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/frothyseawitch/?hl=en-gb" target="_blank">Meredith Russo</a> </b>and <b><a href="https://darrensimpsonwrites.co.uk/" target="_blank">Darren Simpson</a></b>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Stephanie enjoyed 15 happy years employed by Usborne. But more recently, she felt called to spread her wings wider by establishing herself as a prominent freelance editor. Naming her business after the <a href="https://scribblingsuit.com/" target="_blank">'Scribbling Suit'</a> donned by <i>Little Women</i>'s heroine Jo whenever she sat down to write, Stephanie now continues to work with Usborne, but also supports <a href="https://www.faber.co.uk/" target="_blank">Faber</a>, <a href="https://www.hachette.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hachette</a>, the inclusive fiction studio <a href="https://www.storymix.co.uk/" target="_blank">Storymix</a>, the <a href="https://goldeneggacademy.co.uk/" target="_blank">Golden Egg Academy</a>, and many others.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Stephanie is passionate about finding and nurturing talented children’s writers of colour, keen for all children to see themselves reflected in the books they love. So when she was offered the role of Co-Director at <a href="https://megaphonewrite.com/" target="_blank">Megaphone Write CIC</a>, a mentoring scheme for unpublished children’s writers of colour, Stephanie accepted eagerly.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">You could say Stephanie's life revolves around finding, encouraging, and enabling the best children's fiction to reach readers who love and need it. What would she say after reading the first 100 words of <i>your </i>manuscript? Enter this month's <i>Opening Lines</i> for the chance to find out!</p><h3><br /></h3><h3>How to submit your Opening Lines</h3><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div>Please email <a href="mailto:openinglines@britishscbwi.org" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0b9dcc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;">openinglines@britishscbwi.org</a> and write OPENING LINES ENTRY in the subject line. Your email needs to contain:</div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">• </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">your story’s title</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• your 'elevator pitch' – usually just one or two sentences totalling no more than 40 words conveying the key character, crisis point, genre and/or theme of your story and</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• the opening lines of your story, (eg the first paragraph), to a maximum of 100 words.</span><br /><o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Make sure we receive your submission by <b>7 April 2024</b>. Three entries will then be selected at random to be sent to Stephanie.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">We’ll publish the results around 5 May 2024.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Please note that, by submitting to <i>Opening Lines</i>, you give <i>Words & Pictures </i>the right to publish the content of your submission anonymously. However this is not an exclusive right so you are free to submit your story elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></p><h3><br /></h3><h3>Who is eligible?</h3><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">You need to be an unagented, current SCBWI member and resident in either the UK or Europe.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">To join SCBWI and take advantage of the many opportunities like this one to be supported in the development and pursuit of your craft – and also find advice on marketing your work, meet fellow writers and artists and much much more – visit <a href="http://scbwi.org">scbwi.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p>If you've received feedback from <i>Opening Lines</i>, how did it help you? If it led to you finding an agent or a publisher please contact us – we'd love to hear your story.</p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">*Header image: in-house collaboration between Ell Rose and Tita Berredo</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></span><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Chip Colquhoun</b> began storytelling for children in 2007 and was asked to write the EU’s guidance on using stories in classrooms in 2015. He became a children’s writer when The History Press commissioned him in 2016 to write <i>Cambridgeshire Folk Tales for Children</i>. He’s since had 22 books published, most as part of the <i>Fables & Fairy Tales</i> series he co-produces with illustrator Korky Paul (published by Epic Tales), and is currently working with the National English Hub and the National Literacy Trust to raise the rate of recreational reading in schools. You can find him at <a href="https://storytellerchip.com">storytellerchip.com</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html" target="_blank">Ell Rose</a></b><span> is the Illustration Features Editor of <i>Words & Pictures</i>. Contact them at </span><b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b><br /><br /><b><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html" target="_blank">Tita Berredo</a></b><span> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of </span><i>Words & Pictures</i><span>. Contact her at: </span><b>illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p></p></div>Chiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16127163051790098899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-31177084474647120812024-03-03T06:30:00.817+00:002024-03-03T06:30:00.133+00:00SLUSH PILE CHALLENGE January 2024 Results<p> </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIA2DHNhp1Y1ar_UkYULhM7EcZyidpzxKR53yfleEyW8w-tyo62DYf-A_1HQoyBrCaExPr9n3mhCWFqMkeULzSaid7XK8v-pT4s_sMfmlUfgJ5nh1ssFrLZqc5d5NhiBKayzDLtH-4MKkiTLFdrDGGRnoX4md_xVotLeuD0ZC1XZtjS9RitMeLHqdppn-/s350/slushpile%20350.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIA2DHNhp1Y1ar_UkYULhM7EcZyidpzxKR53yfleEyW8w-tyo62DYf-A_1HQoyBrCaExPr9n3mhCWFqMkeULzSaid7XK8v-pT4s_sMfmlUfgJ5nh1ssFrLZqc5d5NhiBKayzDLtH-4MKkiTLFdrDGGRnoX4md_xVotLeuD0ZC1XZtjS9RitMeLHqdppn-/s320/slushpile%20350.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Katie Blagden</b> of <b><a href="https://thebrightagency.com/uk/literary/about" rel="nofollow">The Bright Literary Agency</a></b> set the January 2024 Slush Pile Challenge.</i></span></div><p> </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXnc2WXWDT1hGt8X-cJm_8XzLT06B7vYbLgnWhkoc0PL47n_ktD0IWddpRykHI1IBNU1wed-yA_jLzugsooHJm-1mbLyZ2SLWPxHXerK4oVAacgAAx88OOJ0RWwq8eYAId9wMR5PI-RokQTEMsObPpKtgbxEPcQrMTtIzj3ac6T1IPdbWmk16zuiNZHT7/s900/KATIE%20BLAGDEN.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXnc2WXWDT1hGt8X-cJm_8XzLT06B7vYbLgnWhkoc0PL47n_ktD0IWddpRykHI1IBNU1wed-yA_jLzugsooHJm-1mbLyZ2SLWPxHXerK4oVAacgAAx88OOJ0RWwq8eYAId9wMR5PI-RokQTEMsObPpKtgbxEPcQrMTtIzj3ac6T1IPdbWmk16zuiNZHT7/s320/KATIE%20BLAGDEN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p> </p> Katie wanted to see “submissions from traditionally underrepresented groups, including BIPOC, queer, neurodiverse, disabled and working-class authors and author-illustrators. I’m looking for entries from chapter books right up to YA, including fiction and graphic novels. <p> </p> Please submit in ONE DOCUMENT: <p> </p> • A logline <p> </p> • A short synopsis <p> </p> • About you <p> </p> • First three chapters <p> </p> Please only submit it your manuscript is complete – not WIP I’m afraid!” <p> </p>
<p> </p> We received 19 entries from members across the British Isles and Europe for this competition. Katie read <b>all </b>of the submissions. This is what Katie told us when announcing the results: <p><br /></p> “Thank you so much to all the writers who entered this Slush Pile Challenge. It was such pleasure to dive into all the stories and I was so impressed with the standard of writing throughout.<div><br /></div><div><div> There were several entries that caught my eye with great premises, wonderful characters and unique voices. However there were a couple of pieces that really stood out to me and to that end I’ve picked one winner and one very highly commended and I’m delighted to offer both of these writers a one-to-one about their writing.</div><div><br /></div><div>The winner is <b><i>Code In The Castle</i></b> by <b>Marjorie (Marnie) Forbes Eldridge</b>. I found the premise and set up for this one instantly compelling and the writing really drew me into the mystery. The settings were really well drawn and the characters felt fully fleshed out and intriguing. I also really loved the code-breaking elements in the story as I think this will really appeal to kids who like interactive elements in stories.</div><div><br /></div><div>The highly commended entry is <b><i>Little Witch Finds A Family</i></b> by <b>Nicola Brooks-Williamson</b>. Again the set up and premise of this one felt original and intriguing and I loved the contrasting settings between the urban flats and the fantastical rooftop full of magic. I was also instantly drawn to Sarah’s character and desire for connection, something I think a lot of children today are looking for.</div><div><br /></div><div>A final word to all the writers who entered and weren’t picked; please don’t be disheartened! Every agent and editor have differing tastes, opinions and criteria for writing they acquire and often the reasons for passing on a piece have very little to do with the strength of the writing or story. Keep submitting, entering competitions and honing your craft.”</div><div><p> </p>
<p> </p> Congratulations to <b>Marjorie (Marnie) Forbes Eldridge</b> from all of us at <i>Words & Pictures</i>. We hope you are well on your way towards getting your writing published. <p> </p><p><br /></p> Well done to <b>Nicola Brooks-Williamson</b> for being judged as very highly commended. <p> </p><p><br /></p> Thanks to everyone who entered. Keep writing and we hope you will be encouraged to try your hand at appropriate competitions. <p> </p><p><br /></p> <b>Katie Blagden</b> works across the Literary list, representing authors across all areas of Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children’s, YA and Graphic Novels. Before joining the literary team she worked for Bright in marketing, with previous experience as a bookseller and as a video producer. She loves working with authors to find their books an audience and particularly enjoys building lasting relationships with editors and authors alike. Katie is an advocate for centring traditionally underrepresented voices and actively works to discover and develop authors and author-illustrators from diverse backgrounds. She is also dedicated to working with authors to realise their writing ambitions, including evolving them into new genres and age-ranges. When she’s not reading Katie is a contributor on the Graham Norton Book Club on Audible and she also runs the Bright Dungeons & Dragons club! <p> </p><p><br /></p> <a href="https://thebrightagency.com/uk/literary" rel="nofollow">The Bright Agency</a> are a collective of specialist agents who represent many award-winning artists ranging from debut to established names. <p> </p><p><br /></p> We’re devoted to discovering, developing, nurturing and promoting the best in global talent throughout their career. <p> </p><p><br /></p> We’ve seen their stories on best-seller lists, translated into more than 40 languages, performed on stage, adapted for screen and become contemporary favourites. This is where stories become classics and characters become friends. <p> </p><p><br /></p> We love seeing new work and we'd love to see yours. Talent is exciting and when you help it grow it's incredible. We’re proud of our ability to discover and establish new artists and authors. We’re also proud that we still represent people who were with us when we first opened and who've truly bloomed over the years. Could you be next?<p> </p><p><br /></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkpJqNbknborBx9MNIGxH-1DBwgTfG_SIA2vHLVTFl0tGksklemtzNre8c4SxVBqlK7q9Czc2Zdl24rQs7940AQ_NKiBHrbc1cpTp7T-k7s7otICblo_6pg6zzv0_utF6pjDovDG7YtsMdHmvIFrKaHfES9UVg6HjzV1PulNNNhIwKGPZ-LsFZQ5Unu8U/s320/ELAINE%27S%20PICTURE.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkpJqNbknborBx9MNIGxH-1DBwgTfG_SIA2vHLVTFl0tGksklemtzNre8c4SxVBqlK7q9Czc2Zdl24rQs7940AQ_NKiBHrbc1cpTp7T-k7s7otICblo_6pg6zzv0_utF6pjDovDG7YtsMdHmvIFrKaHfES9UVg6HjzV1PulNNNhIwKGPZ-LsFZQ5Unu8U/s320/ELAINE%27S%20PICTURE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p> </p> <b>Elaine Cline</b> has been a SCBWI member for over eight years and loves to write picture books, chapter books and middle-grade. She loves writing about food. She lives by the sea and has a dog. Elaine is a member of the <i>Words & Pictures</i>' editorial team, managing The Slush Pile Challenge for writers. Connect with Elaine on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/elaineccline" rel="nofollow">@elaineccline </a> <p> </p><p><br /></p>
</div></div>Elaine Clinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05514206748350961899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-59235184149611021002024-02-25T06:30:00.330+00:002024-02-26T13:48:33.710+00:00ILLUSTRATOR IN ACTION: Winter Conference<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3X_soWFT2gmR6V_NR7-7SXiUVmfWow6xh1OiSuj-N7d22j37PJFXKRX7SIVN3T2cQ2tsl3yF1ad1OcEJu_S12olp6gcTToq8J10SW1g4oQX9vPw_yCuBsjRvUA_A9nnrAI17JTp5Z8lIKt8rzC0QxrCZ5dCIn09E1Kp7EsJuqdRznf7SQ9uQ14ZCoEs/s450/IMG_6470.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3X_soWFT2gmR6V_NR7-7SXiUVmfWow6xh1OiSuj-N7d22j37PJFXKRX7SIVN3T2cQ2tsl3yF1ad1OcEJu_S12olp6gcTToq8J10SW1g4oQX9vPw_yCuBsjRvUA_A9nnrAI17JTp5Z8lIKt8rzC0QxrCZ5dCIn09E1Kp7EsJuqdRznf7SQ9uQ14ZCoEs/s16000/IMG_6470.jpeg" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Illustrator Coordinator </span><b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Tita Berredo</b> was </span></i><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">in New York </span></i><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">at the SCBWI Winter Conference, and covered the illustration side of the event in an insightful video for us!</span></i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="359" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EDiNKP_N6cI" width="432" youtube-src-id="EDiNKP_N6cI"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat white; border: 0px; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Click twice to watch full screen</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; 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margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyC3haHVt3wExR9LeZx4rkPlp_7Nx0Wdt31Ub0IDrgjE_vCrQKbJK840Af4MofZznCmJ2VAFmwNFhNcnjyR5WvPxtUE2DflRvGOSqGr7kb1HEcxQXXw12TN8gARNNw-bIMjd_9H5VwJ1yNDz4fY4QdZpPGk3F3B2dcMEvrUUu5Tk36Q0ZMzECMUiWR=s800" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: left; color: #f2132d; float: left; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyC3haHVt3wExR9LeZx4rkPlp_7Nx0Wdt31Ub0IDrgjE_vCrQKbJK840Af4MofZznCmJ2VAFmwNFhNcnjyR5WvPxtUE2DflRvGOSqGr7kb1HEcxQXXw12TN8gARNNw-bIMjd_9H5VwJ1yNDz4fY4QdZpPGk3F3B2dcMEvrUUu5Tk36Q0ZMzECMUiWR=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" width="200" /></a></b></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"></i></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; display: inline; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Tita Berredo</b> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of <i style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Words & Pictures</i>. She has a Master's degree in Children's Literature and Illustration from Goldsmiths UOL, and a background in social communications, marketing and publicity. </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://www.titaberredo.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">www.titaberredo.com</a></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">F</span><span style="background-color: white;">ollow </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/titaberredo/" style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">@titaberredo</a><span style="background-color: white;"> on </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/titaberredo/" style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Instagram</a><span style="background-color: white;"> and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/titaberredo" style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Twitter</a><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"></i></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; clear: both; display: inline; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; display: inline; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Email: </span><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org" style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">lluscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</a></i></p></i></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;" /></span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></p></i></div></div><p><br /></p>Tita Berredohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032392847821209681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-83478847969850342602024-02-25T06:30:00.329+00:002024-02-25T12:28:28.819+00:00BRANCHING OUT Tamsin Cooke<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCncWwrKwJFa-ev0SIi9w6c-sAwJXzQhK-LujKbNtmd8lb83V8IG9k_eEzoaMX56vzK7G2uImRQwRyPIM1RMkgvj4UGqVrqeI3BwJjUqtDPqw73AtMAApiiTGbWzE6yxAIbastBwL8KkZHzRxQe5W2jZydB_7oJ0VdB2vKb4gpHdZQbG11uvOgAyohU3u8/s350/Branching%20Out%20header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCncWwrKwJFa-ev0SIi9w6c-sAwJXzQhK-LujKbNtmd8lb83V8IG9k_eEzoaMX56vzK7G2uImRQwRyPIM1RMkgvj4UGqVrqeI3BwJjUqtDPqw73AtMAApiiTGbWzE6yxAIbastBwL8KkZHzRxQe5W2jZydB_7oJ0VdB2vKb4gpHdZQbG11uvOgAyohU3u8/s16000/Branching%20Out%20header.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">It's the fourth instalment of our Branching Out series which explores ways in which SCBWI members have diversified into multiple areas of creativity. This week, Production Editor </span><b style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">Tracy Curran</b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"> talks to children's author </span><b style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">Tamsin Cooke</b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">, who also writes educational texts, including </span>Rewilding<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Children's Imaginations<i>.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWDm3deUSdV9Rv4P01HtGB7-7uKJmBFhCC1oF5OuB4QQyNWoKaMkluLcOx1rUflsYBQdZYCeMu-VZzrzOMBzYl1eiFM4K2cKKJG_UcQjV61ABxKRjp9azJmtCQ27o4bfE-ACSHaQAs2HO2ocUH6e5M9lJ5wfw4bastOX0pbwAr-_XwO2VDq5gUeCjKKOb/s900/F0dCObqWYBUcUAo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWDm3deUSdV9Rv4P01HtGB7-7uKJmBFhCC1oF5OuB4QQyNWoKaMkluLcOx1rUflsYBQdZYCeMu-VZzrzOMBzYl1eiFM4K2cKKJG_UcQjV61ABxKRjp9azJmtCQ27o4bfE-ACSHaQAs2HO2ocUH6e5M9lJ5wfw4bastOX0pbwAr-_XwO2VDq5gUeCjKKOb/w400-h300/F0dCObqWYBUcUAo.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>Rewilding Children's Imaginations </i>is an educational text aimed at parents and teachers. It's aim is to use folktales and storytelling to encourage children to get creative outdoors.</span></div></div><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi Tamsin, you write children’s fiction and have also released an educational resource book called <i>Rewilding Children’s Imaginations</i>. Which came first for you?</span></b></div><div><b><br /></b><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Hi there, thank you so much for having me. Fiction came first. I’ve told stories all my life, whether as a sister, an au pair, a teacher, a mum, and then as a writer of children’s books. I got to write lots of stories for <i>Rewilding</i> as well. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The manual is full of retellings of folktales from all around the world, along with lesson plans that go with each one. I often include an element of a myth or a legend in my children’s fiction, so <i>Rewilding</i> felt like a natural extension.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9Zvirwy56qykiEY-iNAVUkKkmzo475iK_5HcUIO4bdiggZVni8Zjsk1veoNRlDBYrHUvQIdRmmR_yF1nnkKKlR7o2kUba2THZ2RahpUFV0jSSDD943N0gKxJrnwB79wM6_H1ibE9ii33Updn-NZThJ0QG-JMraSXkPKn5EeU_LZ0ITjQXsczp8OU552X/s2480/Image%2031-01-2024%20at%2017.13%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="1654" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9Zvirwy56qykiEY-iNAVUkKkmzo475iK_5HcUIO4bdiggZVni8Zjsk1veoNRlDBYrHUvQIdRmmR_yF1nnkKKlR7o2kUba2THZ2RahpUFV0jSSDD943N0gKxJrnwB79wM6_H1ibE9ii33Updn-NZThJ0QG-JMraSXkPKn5EeU_LZ0ITjQXsczp8OU552X/w266-h400/Image%2031-01-2024%20at%2017.13%20(3).jpg" width="266" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tamsin Cooke</span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Why did you decide to branch out?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I was approached by a fabulous team who asked me to join their project. <b>Pia Jones</b> is an amazing art therapist and has written beautiful therapeutic fairy tales, and <b>Sarah Pimenta</b> is an extraordinary artist and illustrator. I was really excited to come on board because it sounded like such a worthwhile project. It’s all about connecting children to their imagination through folktales and nature, and that’s something I’m passionate about. I think all children need the time and space to be creative, and not worry about the outcome and just enjoy the process. <br /><br /><i>Rewilding Children’s Imaginations</i> is aimed at teachers, parents or other adults who work with children and encourages them to use folktales and storytelling to help children get creative in nature. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBhJDezvtBei-m-C7Df8NyKAlY8tb2-i-C1YTP5-RPW2LWGTxtgbH-TW1y8U8BqaNaZ92KaOwURawAsZXa-lkvFgv-XDoA7bTqSuxJCZiNx1vYhpxlfpUp0RzSDBfUWHVTzvzcFPZQHYzUT-acnOFeb2cdDLEEWFZj7LTSe7VsXBkbSpLA3p4VPLNmGsM/s1024/5dce9e01-85a9-491d-962c-1646a2446441.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBhJDezvtBei-m-C7Df8NyKAlY8tb2-i-C1YTP5-RPW2LWGTxtgbH-TW1y8U8BqaNaZ92KaOwURawAsZXa-lkvFgv-XDoA7bTqSuxJCZiNx1vYhpxlfpUp0RzSDBfUWHVTzvzcFPZQHYzUT-acnOFeb2cdDLEEWFZj7LTSe7VsXBkbSpLA3p4VPLNmGsM/w400-h266/5dce9e01-85a9-491d-962c-1646a2446441.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Working as part of a team contrasts with Tamsin's fictional writing</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div>What, if any, were the differences between writing this text and writing for children themselves?</b></div><div><br />Each of the stories – retellings of folktales – were created with the hope that they’d be read aloud, either by a teacher or by the children themselves. As we were writing them, we thought about the rhythm, the tempo, and the sound. We also kept them short in case people wanted to memorise them instead of reading from a page. </div><div><br /></div><div>The book is separated into the four seasons – so we have folktales and activities for spring, summer, autumn, and winter. And I have to admit, as I was writing the winter tales, I kept thinking about children huddled in blankets, possibly drinking a hot chocolate sitting in a den somewhere, while their teacher told them the story.</div><div> <br />Folktales also have a certain vibe. I normally write immediate, fast-paced adventure stories, so it was fun writing in a slower, more classic style.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>What have been the highlights and the challenges of diversifying?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div>One of the highlights was being part of a team. As a writer, a large part of the creative process is spent on your own. You might have a crit group, an agent and an editor (who are all absolutely wonderful and a team as well), but the bulk of the book is created on your own. This was something different. It was a collaboration from the outset. We selected the folktales together (wanting them to be from all over the world so that as many cultures as possible could be represented and appreciated) as well as all the various activities. <div><br /></div><div>We’d have frequent Zoom meetings together, to decide who was doing what, and we’d share our work constantly. It felt very special to be part of a team and a lot of the meetings were filled with laughter. Another highlight of the project was getting the chance to utilise my skills as an ex-teacher. It was fun creating lesson plans again and trying out the activities to make sure they worked.</div><div><br /></div><div>There were a few challenges. On occasion we might disagree and would need to compromise. I’m used to being a bossy author, so I had to learn! But I’d say the biggest challenge was time management. We all had our main jobs while fitting this in. And the project was immense.<br /><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqnEwgmRd5ozKSB7ZzMZ-LXi3L9qBksrU2YuqVf8m-YP91OKUzDLcARs6K5DXL8ACxtm72PSBWyZu2vuRiB71u_OGJua_Rwl2DxES-Iz32lgQuiRFzRXdds5BoFx5a3tEDfUm07M5QA5kE-AyT3WuUNUiIsF2D9etjCTIiI-Ng4APFwUnyhsDJgRg0Q0y/s4032/IMG_3204.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqnEwgmRd5ozKSB7ZzMZ-LXi3L9qBksrU2YuqVf8m-YP91OKUzDLcARs6K5DXL8ACxtm72PSBWyZu2vuRiB71u_OGJua_Rwl2DxES-Iz32lgQuiRFzRXdds5BoFx5a3tEDfUm07M5QA5kE-AyT3WuUNUiIsF2D9etjCTIiI-Ng4APFwUnyhsDJgRg0Q0y/w300-h400/IMG_3204.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tamsin writes middle grade fiction for children and this came first</span></div><br /><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>What advice would you have for anyone interested in writing educational texts or in trying new things in general?</b></div><div><br />Go for it! It can be a bit scary to branch out or do something different, but you never know where it may take you. So if you’re passionate about something have a go. I think there’s a big demand for educational resources right now. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><b>What is your ultimate goal in terms of branching out? Do you have a big picture of where you would like this journey to take you?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I love visiting schools as an author, and some of the workshops I run are from the manual. When I’ve talked to some teachers, not only are they struggling to find the time to fit creativity into the very busy curriculum, a few are also a little nervous on how to teach creativity - whether that’s art, drama, poetry.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I would love to run an inset day. Not only to offer guidance, but also to give teachers a chance to play and reconnect with their own imagination. I think, as adults, we sometimes forget how good it is to play and not worry about the finished product. It’s great for mental health to just let go. In fact I’d love to run adult workshops for anyone who wishes to reconnect with their creativity and play.</div><div><br /><b>Thanks so much for your time! </b><br /><br />An absolute pleasure. Thank you for having me.<br /> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*Header image: </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Ell Rose</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Tita Berredo</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*All other images: Tamsin Cooke</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">*</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Tracy Curran</b> is the Production Editor for <i>Words & Pictures</i> and enjoys writing </span>picture<span style="font-family: inherit;"> books, young fiction and lower middle grade novels. Known as </span>Little<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Cornish Writer, you can find her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/littlecornishwriter/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/WriterCornish">Twitter/X</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/writercornish">Facebook</a>. She also enjoys reviewing children's books on her blog, <a href="https://www.thebreadcrumbforest.com">The </a></span><a href="https://www.thebreadcrumbforest.com">Breadcrumb Forest</a>.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 17.12px;"><b>Ell Rose</b> is the Illustration Features Editor of <i>Words & Pictures</i>. Contact them at <b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><b>Tita Berredo</b> is the Illustration Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of <i>Words & Pictures</i>. Contact her at <b>illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>LittleCornishWriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17706619333940620256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-77227943098797314532024-02-25T06:30:00.317+00:002024-02-25T06:30:00.134+00:00AFTER THE WHIRLWIND Polly Owen<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYCK9FtisjcQQlrAMhN8lf5KueiaN-3FfPLWuOG_b5At8ugJvC9hYV1farc3D4c6fgJGOb-VO5lhdtBE0e6hNBnxedqTeVZ_VFTN0JKh0YVnSNDw00p8b3RkzZOEfvcAiHSYlDKT3p4UA4VVOfemESdx6jHowHsrVHKgkqJlSZqvJyev2JMgAs3ZOPCg3/s350/Afterwhirl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYCK9FtisjcQQlrAMhN8lf5KueiaN-3FfPLWuOG_b5At8ugJvC9hYV1farc3D4c6fgJGOb-VO5lhdtBE0e6hNBnxedqTeVZ_VFTN0JKh0YVnSNDw00p8b3RkzZOEfvcAiHSYlDKT3p4UA4VVOfemESdx6jHowHsrVHKgkqJlSZqvJyev2JMgAs3ZOPCg3/s16000/Afterwhirl.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Now that the whirling debut dust has settled, <b>Lui Sit</b> invites <b>Polly Owen</b> to talk about one thing she's learnt since becoming a published author.</i></div><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
My debut year has definitely been a whirlwind, far greater than anything I expected. As a long time, pre-published author, you get used to not expecting much. So, seeing those first positive reviews and articles is a huge relief, and somewhat unbelievable. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, there will be the odd negative review or ‘one star’ due to delivery time. But producing something that even one person enjoys, feels great. I was advised not to read reviews, but who has that much self-control?! Especially for a first book. I do agree that you should take some comments with a pinch of salt. Not everything is for everyone. But you will reach your audience, and hopefully by the end of the year, you will start believing in yourself again, like you did at the start of your writing journey.<div><br />
<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvQI5GVqPp0rRoLiLmLY09GHjT0g87RiaB3yrPfOa-1uDuLAZOZLrB8oI-biuUdEDFm-BXCaj0JJZgSDk2jaFNzPyL5Ajum2XanBi_zZzvWImWXsLQnP369C3UH_eAhc6Sm16CQKEiuOhi38wA7yzau8hMz2yPO87vGn_JbpNH4LD1w5G8vnSO6sSdzNN/s1044/Watford%20Central%20Library%20events%20readings%20darwins%20super-pooping.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1044" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvQI5GVqPp0rRoLiLmLY09GHjT0g87RiaB3yrPfOa-1uDuLAZOZLrB8oI-biuUdEDFm-BXCaj0JJZgSDk2jaFNzPyL5Ajum2XanBi_zZzvWImWXsLQnP369C3UH_eAhc6Sm16CQKEiuOhi38wA7yzau8hMz2yPO87vGn_JbpNH4LD1w5G8vnSO6sSdzNN/w400-h290/Watford%20Central%20Library%20events%20readings%20darwins%20super-pooping.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A reading event at Watford Central Library</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><br /><div>
This year saw me face some big fears such as public speaking and even posting on social media platforms! I had barely used social media in the past, but I tried to embrace all forms (okay, TikTok was a tad too far). I had read an article on how you could have the best book in the world but if nobody knew about it, it wouldn’t be successful. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As I have M.E. I knew I was always going to struggle with lots of events so I did what I could online, including a few blogs and competitions. Sometimes I felt like I was talking about my book too much but I was reassured that everyone's feeds are busy and they don’t see you as much as you might think. Despite everything I did, it was my publisher’s marketing team that had the greatest reach. I would never have managed to get onto lists or into libraries around the world without them. I felt relieved that I hadn’t given in to the urge of self-publishing. I think self-publishing is great, but I, personally, couldn’t have achieved this and admire those who can.
<p> </p>
One of the best things I did was join a group of debut authors on X (formerly Twitter), which was a wonderfully supportive environment (so thank you <b>Kael</b>, for inviting me, and everyone else in the group.) This way, we could promote each other’s books, which is a lot easier than banging on about your own. My daughter also helped promote <i>Darwin's Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular</i> and made a great dolls scene, with mini books for those debuting at the same time as me.</div><div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qRelTQnfBD4QW_O5vb-dJT2kiw_zhhJ5RmshGHrgw4E2_VNTfQyh3dmhBewwrJQBvg9xEqrh9ltatvCqC9aSX5nl6y6qTfG3Gsx8FpJpy34vHv_T9eGhIlPjULzc1nnx6ombMwxjvQNoygdPMJXkebd0jUrl_MpKhPMOxoyjxORoQkfg3Vh_uMaVSAPu/s545/Picture2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="409" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qRelTQnfBD4QW_O5vb-dJT2kiw_zhhJ5RmshGHrgw4E2_VNTfQyh3dmhBewwrJQBvg9xEqrh9ltatvCqC9aSX5nl6y6qTfG3Gsx8FpJpy34vHv_T9eGhIlPjULzc1nnx6ombMwxjvQNoygdPMJXkebd0jUrl_MpKhPMOxoyjxORoQkfg3Vh_uMaVSAPu/s320/Picture2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxC7rLaYb7MPmdoRQgX3F31u7aCIdNKOK47n0r17d47HCca2WdxP68utlTQBPfjUGHHU7iCwiADfGX1I1EqgMs_p5xUctorpc-dpoL4HI56NgmQwe2wnJ410l6qGicH_p-FZw8yxARqyl-fpDBwec-X1-BctFsvwxJwb7hmp4gmStrpWceNeuyR2YuXvK4/s542/Picture1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxC7rLaYb7MPmdoRQgX3F31u7aCIdNKOK47n0r17d47HCca2WdxP68utlTQBPfjUGHHU7iCwiADfGX1I1EqgMs_p5xUctorpc-dpoL4HI56NgmQwe2wnJ410l6qGicH_p-FZw8yxARqyl-fpDBwec-X1-BctFsvwxJwb7hmp4gmStrpWceNeuyR2YuXvK4/s320/Picture1.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Polly's daughter is fantastic when it comes to helping with promotion</div></span><p></p><div><br /></div>
One of the first things that felt strange about being published was coming across my book in magazines or being reviewed and having no idea it was going to happen. Someone may tag you or you may miss it completely but you quickly realise that it’s not your baby anymore. It’s out there with a life of its own and you can only watch, helping with the odd social post where you can.</div><div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkl4aIO6H3U5Rw24SmvW6IRhZK6b7GF__CiWu8QDiVckG6fuC9HmHm7UkPWa13WXGE7eglb3H02KAZ5X_xGyamiciXOggxkZOHkc2DNLgW4rhKCOSk8u-oqLEkiHk8jLdHCOel8IXbrM8hxes4v_buhSoKmTxGmE182aSmAKBpLmrNRO2B7nOvoL8TavZD/s827/Picture3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="827" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkl4aIO6H3U5Rw24SmvW6IRhZK6b7GF__CiWu8QDiVckG6fuC9HmHm7UkPWa13WXGE7eglb3H02KAZ5X_xGyamiciXOggxkZOHkc2DNLgW4rhKCOSk8u-oqLEkiHk8jLdHCOel8IXbrM8hxes4v_buhSoKmTxGmE182aSmAKBpLmrNRO2B7nOvoL8TavZD/w400-h225/Picture3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">A surprise magazine review</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
I was thrilled to see reviews appear in <i>The Guardian</i> and <i>BBC Wildlife Magazine</i> as well as being selected as a recommended school book by <i><a href="https://www.booksfortopics.com/book/darwins-super-pooping-worm-spectacular/">Books for Topics</a></i>.
I was also surprised to receive a parcel with copies of <i>Darwin</i> in German, Dutch, Italian and Korean (and particularly surprised by the Dutch title!). I’ve also recently spotted a French version online, so the surprises keep coming!</div><div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmVuf62bjydC1ZRQIuTTPG2BithBrMD4bPPi1R0GioBFTA8MFvefgq0BRnWWSX_dUcIGTRel1bTXJTkDDRyXMmnuy2AReyxbLSuJyEEQ9ZfrrpO9I_-f7C2pR6g2PO7QAn2Zs0BAtn6mRanY_nLgM0L6ehI6SbTfDwxASLq7M3tov8geHL1I4-UWeuSNo/s1789/Korean%20edition%20darwins%20super-pooping%20worm%20spectacular.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1789" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmVuf62bjydC1ZRQIuTTPG2BithBrMD4bPPi1R0GioBFTA8MFvefgq0BRnWWSX_dUcIGTRel1bTXJTkDDRyXMmnuy2AReyxbLSuJyEEQ9ZfrrpO9I_-f7C2pR6g2PO7QAn2Zs0BAtn6mRanY_nLgM0L6ehI6SbTfDwxASLq7M3tov8geHL1I4-UWeuSNo/s320/Korean%20edition%20darwins%20super-pooping%20worm%20spectacular.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA7KvlUyH9E74cW9CsCDeWHtb13dB-rEB57EgTORFCcx-9rV1HPYVw28eEeq31FhafAkKRVYlNymhmYfg_7r5saKPHI-EPkWgE-9DHjckPEymcpS1wrKySBFyib5-BMEaGLEQJLzKfVL3Qi3G7ttD53WVVOF3mGO3c4Nroe03Q2cGg1tmWgsBzWpICZhN/s4032/Darwins%20super-Pooping%20Worm%20Spectacular%20foreign%20editions%20languages%20german%20italian%20dutch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA7KvlUyH9E74cW9CsCDeWHtb13dB-rEB57EgTORFCcx-9rV1HPYVw28eEeq31FhafAkKRVYlNymhmYfg_7r5saKPHI-EPkWgE-9DHjckPEymcpS1wrKySBFyib5-BMEaGLEQJLzKfVL3Qi3G7ttD53WVVOF3mGO3c4Nroe03Q2cGg1tmWgsBzWpICZhN/s320/Darwins%20super-Pooping%20Worm%20Spectacular%20foreign%20editions%20languages%20german%20italian%20dutch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Polly's book has been translated into multiple languages</div></span><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>
By the end of the year when I thought things would quieten down, it became book awards season. <i>Darwin</i> was lucky enough to feature in Amazon's Best Books of 2023, Kirkus reviews’ best Picture Books and (a personal highlight) in posts by <b>Michaela Strachan</b> and <b>Chris Packham</b> (I’m a big fan!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iC9WkLUj9as2t1aLBgJnw6mDjdCh1uqJ6VDtewr5c7VpmZVobMT1WHQ2gIZVT__ffSmTYFYnw4S-sTGHuAqCqR6PhrQnLEjTBIjQtWvOkCE1NqtRdeSmhA3Hudx5cPLCTamEGIHtg_0O-9DX3rhhJvUxa8dP-vwgUpP-zSxIXcdaO6Dz2DbiycnbHHHW/s667/Picture4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="667" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iC9WkLUj9as2t1aLBgJnw6mDjdCh1uqJ6VDtewr5c7VpmZVobMT1WHQ2gIZVT__ffSmTYFYnw4S-sTGHuAqCqR6PhrQnLEjTBIjQtWvOkCE1NqtRdeSmhA3Hudx5cPLCTamEGIHtg_0O-9DX3rhhJvUxa8dP-vwgUpP-zSxIXcdaO6Dz2DbiycnbHHHW/w400-h224/Picture4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmxVW9VjWKyQYuiP4XLzv4gqx_mEjaiZtZotUmwHD_36_dNiMC4ZBjOwYYjsaEnE3R55I2XdrfxhMxVaJkhq7s7HFbVK_e3r60Ft2N_5M0nNEaaOl6OmzMPD_RpkBTaWd3egbZgY9p7QJta7uGaS3B7poWwBwxfFwW1FCv-VFby24ox-_4XCeRuRAkwmU/s2480/kirkus%20best%20book%20of%20the%20year_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="2480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmxVW9VjWKyQYuiP4XLzv4gqx_mEjaiZtZotUmwHD_36_dNiMC4ZBjOwYYjsaEnE3R55I2XdrfxhMxVaJkhq7s7HFbVK_e3r60Ft2N_5M0nNEaaOl6OmzMPD_RpkBTaWd3egbZgY9p7QJta7uGaS3B7poWwBwxfFwW1FCv-VFby24ox-_4XCeRuRAkwmU/s320/kirkus%20best%20book%20of%20the%20year_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGboJ7IZh93uHnZhVqDeHqYAj5nzrWVe3vDFFR5SBUuujoPbKpzajpeUs0I9cOTx6z8eNnYnxq0JisTv2VK6j1UAUxFCPPqyHnNU_WG4AajN5bj__3cy_Ths5ZS827Zl4r4BUfuxawEdkVwIYH6qFDLrAUPswRMv0YRyxGwrJ2-GZfthEbaFafAH9FCqU/s4032/Writementor%20Picture%20Book%20award%20Darwins%20Super-Pooping.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGboJ7IZh93uHnZhVqDeHqYAj5nzrWVe3vDFFR5SBUuujoPbKpzajpeUs0I9cOTx6z8eNnYnxq0JisTv2VK6j1UAUxFCPPqyHnNU_WG4AajN5bj__3cy_Ths5ZS827Zl4r4BUfuxawEdkVwIYH6qFDLrAUPswRMv0YRyxGwrJ2-GZfthEbaFafAH9FCqU/w400-h300/Writementor%20Picture%20Book%20award%20Darwins%20Super-Pooping.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Award season has brought some wondeful and well-deserved accolades</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>
All this promotion and marketing is for one thing: selling books. And how well your books are selling is never far from your mind. At the period end there are a few months before you get the official numbers – the anticipation nearly killed me! Even when I got the figures, I had nothing to compare them to so I was unsure if it had done as well as expected. As a debut there are so many things you still don’t know and so much is out of your control. The best thing you can do is just get on with writing.</div><div><br />
<p>So, one year on, what have I learnt? You might not know where to focus your time (schools, book shops, festivals etc). You might not have any clue about sales numbers. Your book isn’t yours anymore and you’ll find it popping up in surprising places and languages. But you should prepare as much marketing in advance as you can. Not just one social media post/comp but a few to mark different events. Prepare presentations and props. Make costumes, bookmarks, stickers, badges. Have your website up and running along with a database or app for recording income, contacts, events etc.</p><div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMrDlYpgNZ4SoSNKeZ0oDI8m7iFzEmiHAr84DgxsQ9geVEcJXPuDkmXEr01ovK9NlSHu0l91SAv_noAAKgc3BISL5IdPmC7k6p0WUj1nVDKLn-gPgZ36Xb-kI-6kOGSodh7HVGXLj1xmzqNpS9UjD0jpv9sCA0xba5AjpIJXHxdjw30jEA54VKTTAfPsC/s1805/Harpenden%20book%20signing%202023%20darwins%20super-pooping%20worm%20spectacular%20worm%20costume.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1805" data-original-width="1170" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMrDlYpgNZ4SoSNKeZ0oDI8m7iFzEmiHAr84DgxsQ9geVEcJXPuDkmXEr01ovK9NlSHu0l91SAv_noAAKgc3BISL5IdPmC7k6p0WUj1nVDKLn-gPgZ36Xb-kI-6kOGSodh7HVGXLj1xmzqNpS9UjD0jpv9sCA0xba5AjpIJXHxdjw30jEA54VKTTAfPsC/w259-h400/Harpenden%20book%20signing%202023%20darwins%20super-pooping%20worm%20spectacular%20worm%20costume.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A book signing where
my daughter made and wore a worm costume!<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>What I wouldn’t do: I don’t think book shop signings were a good use of my time. I sold between two and eleven books at the three I did. I sold a lot more at school visits which were more rewarding as you see how enthusiastic the children are. Going back to my own primary school was a particular highlight, and speaking to the children who lived in the same blocks of flats that I grew up in. It was great to show them one of the many occupations available to them.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlNFsJu_TPXiZ3jNZ9IhGLGMi8ErxGk94rw-0FnbjKX_TiJei7MN6sAjKAxDTn6fL8V_21KjYBfuNjrjo2HodxhpFCF_xLl67kpg4Eo90FnLYhdAQxlrXkA8QAVeWYuUAurE_v37bzwT3hl-2M8YaXuTi6ULGpGE9zwrT01twuGBIr19gLD-bgDm4Qw2U/s510/Picture6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="383" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlNFsJu_TPXiZ3jNZ9IhGLGMi8ErxGk94rw-0FnbjKX_TiJei7MN6sAjKAxDTn6fL8V_21KjYBfuNjrjo2HodxhpFCF_xLl67kpg4Eo90FnLYhdAQxlrXkA8QAVeWYuUAurE_v37bzwT3hl-2M8YaXuTi6ULGpGE9zwrT01twuGBIr19gLD-bgDm4Qw2U/w300-h400/Picture6.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Visiting my old primary school</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
And after the whirlwind? Well, I don’t think the whirlwind has quite died down. I think things will always be a bit busier now. Every time it’s <i>Darwin</i>’s birthday or earthworms are in the news, there is the chance of a mini whirlwind. But the debut year really can be a great, memorable time so photograph, screenshot and scrapbook everything you can. And enjoy it. Good luck!
<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8V79w82tHB0fKHAw93DpPg4kOjSq7LR11gG6E9zKjFRh4dKUMCVboMlK2AXnm3HCA15R7S0hr-HLUcavlJHTdkge3K779k_76KDqmGu8gk-quXn7LGl9Yeok3xOIzOsUn-XF84KdKp4Cz-nne-sTSQJd4VkJOHszjtiP51wec5N4Osv7qk0UR0v8Ki2Yt/s500/darwins-super-pooping-worm-spectacular.jpg.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="426" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8V79w82tHB0fKHAw93DpPg4kOjSq7LR11gG6E9zKjFRh4dKUMCVboMlK2AXnm3HCA15R7S0hr-HLUcavlJHTdkge3K779k_76KDqmGu8gk-quXn7LGl9Yeok3xOIzOsUn-XF84KdKp4Cz-nne-sTSQJd4VkJOHszjtiP51wec5N4Osv7qk0UR0v8Ki2Yt/s320/darwins-super-pooping-worm-spectacular.jpg.webp" width="273" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><i>
Darwin’s Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular </i>(Illustrated by <b>Gwen Millward</b>), published by Quarto, January 2023. Learn the funny and fascinating story of Charles Darwin and the ground-breaking discoveries that resulted from his love of the humble worm in this hilarious, illustrated children’s book.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4erCFpSgvDYcGheHzjVrLRYfuDtPDTMm9P-sZOkZmdCg2ehbfTTWAL5BUvNr-r2ASGOjNX_2n6ov5-jQ3VE3gMnqQhHzJRtc55Bue3Dl-JPqluztS7pn9zKkUGoAMHrm5IhcugBQshZYoHMksqnuYlAiKON1_3RKEKcOTRayost-U2gJgEW7BH9SGeyYa/s171/9781382041423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="134" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4erCFpSgvDYcGheHzjVrLRYfuDtPDTMm9P-sZOkZmdCg2ehbfTTWAL5BUvNr-r2ASGOjNX_2n6ov5-jQ3VE3gMnqQhHzJRtc55Bue3Dl-JPqluztS7pn9zKkUGoAMHrm5IhcugBQshZYoHMksqnuYlAiKON1_3RKEKcOTRayost-U2gJgEW7BH9SGeyYa/w313-h400/9781382041423.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Polly’s second book <i>Made for Us</i> (OUP) was published in Feb 2024, illustrated by <b>Daniel Duncan</b>. Made For Us is an independent reading book for 6-7 year olds and looks at inclusive design and how design can make life easier and more fun for everyone. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuT0RJHv0LiwsMA0UtMEJ-mKrPgA5WbYsr9-qzAh0DYewD6gG-falUQfLHmP9pjqTBvMPRTMZOLV6H8HVQxLxd-N0HBqB5zqkfyHcynFutkSVBZWJPl_ioSUhvUO_1eZAiLMy84hxSFQ9ZjRPbp3fPE_rDwXvRWu6_-H_Pg8LU6n5g-HyqzQ_6nBGxFYFw/s183/Picture9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="137" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuT0RJHv0LiwsMA0UtMEJ-mKrPgA5WbYsr9-qzAh0DYewD6gG-falUQfLHmP9pjqTBvMPRTMZOLV6H8HVQxLxd-N0HBqB5zqkfyHcynFutkSVBZWJPl_ioSUhvUO_1eZAiLMy84hxSFQ9ZjRPbp3fPE_rDwXvRWu6_-H_Pg8LU6n5g-HyqzQ_6nBGxFYFw/w239-h320/Picture9.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Polly Owen</b> is an author from Hertfordshire. With a degree in mathematics and statistics, she loves STEM subjects and incorporating serious science into silly picture books. Nature and history play a big part in her non-fiction books but she also loves to write in rhyme. Follow her on <a href="https://twitter.com/pollypoem">X</a> , <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pollypoem/">Instagram</a> or visit her <a href="https://pollyowen.com/">website</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">*</div></div><b>Lui Sit </b>writes MG, non-fiction, adult short stories, and memoir. She is agented by <b>Becky Bagnell </b>of Lindsay Literary Agency. Find her on <a href="https://twitter.com/Lui_Loowee_Sit">X</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lui.land/">Instagram</a> and on her <a href="https://www.lui-land.co.uk/">website</a>.<br /></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">*</div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></div><b>Anne Boyere </b>is one of Words & Pictures' Feature Editors and runs the #SCBWIchat X chat about books for all ages <a href="https://twitter.com/SCBWI_BI">@SCBWI_BI</a>. You can find her on <a href="https://twitter.com/AmusedNonQueen">X</a>.</div></div></div></div>Anne Boyerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12321189567241917683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-48677698663294435092024-02-25T06:30:00.283+00:002024-02-25T06:30:00.133+00:00CREATIVE SECRETS Luke Palmer<div style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6UraX23tS3BrrxoWezfJvjxXJqVTRS2qYnFDtUgfrvXV9aIMe0CuM7NXaXA7GTapGyyag3Nn999ml4DjOSz4JRFWl6Q74afSLt1DOmLWgKb83jVydghYqmBQDKqsN7fulKXmrrMHQJA79y6t8OZW1KonCfwjOc45V56lRHkVdZdA8i6hW60BVDbXFnJ-/s350/Header%20image%20.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6UraX23tS3BrrxoWezfJvjxXJqVTRS2qYnFDtUgfrvXV9aIMe0CuM7NXaXA7GTapGyyag3Nn999ml4DjOSz4JRFWl6Q74afSLt1DOmLWgKb83jVydghYqmBQDKqsN7fulKXmrrMHQJA79y6t8OZW1KonCfwjOc45V56lRHkVdZdA8i6hW60BVDbXFnJ-/s16000/Header%20image%20.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>To discover </i></span><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">how others are working, <b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Loretta Flockhart</b> speaks to writers and illustrators </i></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">about their creative spaces, inspirations, routines and tools. </span></i></div><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">This month, we hear from writer <b>Luke Palmer.</b></i><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"> </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Luke Palmer</b> i</span>s a poet and author. His debut YA novel, <i>Grow</i>, published by Firefly Press was long-listed for the 2022 YOTO Carnegie Medal and the 2023 UKLA Book Awards, and listed in Sunday Times Children’s Books of the Year 2021. His most recent YA novel, <i>Play,</i> was published in 2023 by Firefly Press.</div><p> </p><p><br /></p><b>
What’s your ideal creative space and where do you usually end up working?</b><p><br /></p><p>Anywhere quiet. Libraries are good but I tend to do most of my work in the office in the garden. Most days it’s just bird noise and the gentle buzz of distant traffic.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9hZM10AGm2lIK3nCilBzPJI3oK1F3iJEVFDA1cWiVppfTHBV03jIOSYUhOV-u4LrpEYwKBnJVnYqhEXyb4rGVFsEMbsGt2_zB3rdaIWCadWLVz9FO1KgnK1e593xHdEDwF5xQT6evwnl0LNCNCF843nkQ2UV95qQwNcQsmxqRn0klKgKbXNR5-r5EXUe/s2099/20231226_140925.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2099" data-original-width="1574" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9hZM10AGm2lIK3nCilBzPJI3oK1F3iJEVFDA1cWiVppfTHBV03jIOSYUhOV-u4LrpEYwKBnJVnYqhEXyb4rGVFsEMbsGt2_zB3rdaIWCadWLVz9FO1KgnK1e593xHdEDwF5xQT6evwnl0LNCNCF843nkQ2UV95qQwNcQsmxqRn0klKgKbXNR5-r5EXUe/w300-h400/20231226_140925.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Luke in his office in the garden</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><b>
When do you do your best work?</b><p><br /></p><p>I need to be alone and a bit cut off from the real world, to feel plugged in, but on the outside of it. It’s about finding the perfect place to observe the world from a distance.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><b>
Where do your ideas come from? </b><p><br /></p><p>My ideas tend to arrive in moments of introspection and reflection. They creep up on me most often when I’m in motion – walking, cycling, on a train or while driving. They need to be left alone for a bit, not scared away. I let them come back to me and get used to me, like feeding a stray cat.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><b>
What are your favourite tools for writing? </b><p><br /></p><p>For poetry it’s pen and paper – a Mitsubishi Uniball eye micro pen. I have drawers full, in case they get discontinued; and some good, heavy weight Italian paper. I use Papuro Milano notebooks for most of my work.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCo2F9krHMbRuwub4DAQ6CMCb6i0KPEtjPtLUtR-F8UcxFvXw8_vHg5uS80Aft-8KBd8Kx1XJxDrJfEbqBT8ko9Itl9Prc-oTVdA-gMjdnAQRLrbwVG8AEFzKRNJgqo1K-b7sH9NLcPyW_cFhozVh7L4RC8z94nVIexUjO7o3AeUxAvHjH3fE28Pijwt5H/s4032/20231226_141535.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCo2F9krHMbRuwub4DAQ6CMCb6i0KPEtjPtLUtR-F8UcxFvXw8_vHg5uS80Aft-8KBd8Kx1XJxDrJfEbqBT8ko9Itl9Prc-oTVdA-gMjdnAQRLrbwVG8AEFzKRNJgqo1K-b7sH9NLcPyW_cFhozVh7L4RC8z94nVIexUjO7o3AeUxAvHjH3fE28Pijwt5H/w300-h400/20231226_141535.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">Papuro Milano n</span>otebooks and Mitsubishi pens</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
I also use my phone’s notes app but there’s something about writing longhand that I still find vital. To poetry especially, it’s a physical act and the movement is essential for freeing something in your mind. Poems stay in the notebook for several drafts and don’t get typed up until I’m sure they’re nearly done. <p><br /></p><p> </p>
Prose is different. Ideas or rough sketches go in the notebook – a new one for each book – but once the foundations are down, I go straight onto the laptop. The notebook is usually abandoned once I’m ‘above ground’ and the book has its own momentum. <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><b>
What encourages or hinders your work?</b><p><br /></p><p>I find it hard to write with music playing because it infects the music of the writing. Sound is an important quality in whatever I’m working on. I’ve tried noise-cancelling headphones which are great for editing, but it can feel like I’m underwater and too artificial for the creating part of the work.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmZJAesSNdKLCymbmUapJ9eVvUoO5N2U4fuNMiuhKBtbrf7NXOMPP8hHuyu_oq82WFvfGHsQN868XfNUUQ9DG-fpb_l6sHHZ3meUzhmRLhTWNr8uQa0c8WMtpE9L3UGT7zsMaUvLHqmltizTgxSNq0Ff0oWxXrmDdsoKylFBu7jQzRpLPeU4g6-zv0tR6/s3509/20231228_135658.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3509" data-original-width="2833" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmZJAesSNdKLCymbmUapJ9eVvUoO5N2U4fuNMiuhKBtbrf7NXOMPP8hHuyu_oq82WFvfGHsQN868XfNUUQ9DG-fpb_l6sHHZ3meUzhmRLhTWNr8uQa0c8WMtpE9L3UGT7zsMaUvLHqmltizTgxSNq0Ff0oWxXrmDdsoKylFBu7jQzRpLPeU4g6-zv0tR6/w324-h400/20231228_135658.jpg" width="324" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Luke writing in his notebook </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><p></p><b>
How far into a new project do you feel comfortable sharing your ideas? </b><p> </p>
Quite a long way, actually. Because I write character based books, I’m living with those characters in my head for a while before I tell anyone about them. I need to work out who they are, what kind of story they want to be in, and what ideas I could explore within it. I need to explain these things to myself before I can share them. I have to let most of the story reveal itself before I can do that. <p> </p>
I talk to my characters to share my ideas and ask them what they’d think if… or what they’d do if…. Sometimes it’s a hard no, but most of the time they’re willing to see where things end up. There’s always the delete button if you wind up somewhere you don’t want to be. <p> </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGA9Y8kdNmMVe9UqP0-5O9VViDylTo5H5ufjqKjG7yo6yn0imXUMne-mh5tTfg4Pustim_B9J5qMFzptbIEpZPjDBIJFbjIN8HDoQsRgEvMqtA1qYO63YAt3_VmWK2Uw7LLYl-Ssci6pQrj4QRWxgUOn9fAJsiFle7g8U1-UCzGcYewMK5VQkJmH2PFmQ/s4032/20231226_142203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGA9Y8kdNmMVe9UqP0-5O9VViDylTo5H5ufjqKjG7yo6yn0imXUMne-mh5tTfg4Pustim_B9J5qMFzptbIEpZPjDBIJFbjIN8HDoQsRgEvMqtA1qYO63YAt3_VmWK2Uw7LLYl-Ssci6pQrj4QRWxgUOn9fAJsiFle7g8U1-UCzGcYewMK5VQkJmH2PFmQ/w400-h300/20231226_142203.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Luke's books, <i>Grow</i> and <i>Play</i> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><p></p><b>
Do you work in the same way for each project?</b><p><br /></p><p>I wrote <i>Grow</i> in a very different way to <i>Play</i>, and the third book was different again. <i>Grow</i> was exploratory. I knew the character and where they needed to get to, but the journey wasn’t planned at all. <i>Play</i> took a long time to settle into its form. Its narrative structure demanded more planning early on.</p><p> </p>
The third book tumbled out in just a few months almost fully formed. I’m not sure I’ve settled on one formula yet, or if I want to. I want to keep pushing myself to write differently, to try new things.<p> </p><p><br /></p><b>
Has the way you create changed over time or is it the same as its always been? </b><p><br /></p><p>As father to three young children, my available time has changed. Alongside my teaching job, I have two days each week dedicated to writing. Before the kids, when I worked full time, I used to joke that I wrote poems because anything longer would never happen.</p><p> </p><b>
Raymond Carver</b> talks about the same thing in his essays. The novel is an unattainable pipe dream for someone working a 50+ hour week with a family on top. So it was poetry, writing in spurts or in snatched minutes, before I began to carve out time for longer forms. <p> </p><p><br /></p><b>
Have you surprised yourself about the way your creativity flows?</b><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I’ve learned how to better cope with not writing. There’s people who apply the write every day habit - that any words are better than none because it provides raw material - and those who don’t think like that.<p> </p>
So maybe it’s not the words, but life that’s the raw material. If your life isn’t producing that urge to put one word after another, I don’t think you should force it. I’ve learned to trust that the urge will come back when it’s ready.<p> </p><p><br /></p><b>
What’s your one essential piece of advice for others?</b><p><br /></p><p>Get used to sharing your work. Put it out there early. I’m not saying publish it before it’s ready but find people to share with. And not just those who’ll say it’s good. Find people who get what you’re trying to do, and will offer you suggestions about how to do it better. People who energise your writing are vital. They will energise you and push you forward. Being that catalyst for someone else’s writing is hugely rewarding, especially when they go on to succeed. Writing’s a more collaborative process than most people think. Find your collaborators.</p><p><br /></p><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">*Header image:<b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"> Ell Rose</b> and <b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Tita Berredo</b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">**All other images courtesy of <b>Luke Palmer</b> </span></p><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></div><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">*</div><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></div><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can find Luke on Twitter <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #0d1221;"><a href="https://twitter.com/lcpalmerpoet" target="_blank">@lcpalmerpoet</a>. Luke's </span><span style="background-color: initial;">website is</span><span style="background-color: initial;"> <a href="http://lukepalmerwriting.com" target="_blank">lukepalmerwriting.com</a></span></span></div></div><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*</span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Loretta Flockhart</b><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"> </b>is the Creative Secrets editor for </span><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Words & Pictures</i><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">. </span></span><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">You can find her on Twitter </span><a href="https://twitter.com/lolajflo" style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">@lolajflo</a></span></div></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">*</b></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Ell Rose</b><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"> is the Illustration Features Editor of </span><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Words & Pictures</i><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">. Contact them at <b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b></span></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></span><b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Tita Berredo</b><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of </span><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Words & Pictures</i><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">. Contact her at: <b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</b></span></span></div></div><p> </p></div>Loretta Flockharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12975068580750099147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-19402153127571381272024-02-25T06:30:00.247+00:002024-02-25T06:30:00.133+00:00CELEBRATIONS February 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9sLR1_Qm7g5FJs4oDN-aZOg2ArWxSAa8P8SImNyorbF9rpJ6tApnRrLAMQ7SA6n8idH46Pi1foTmSf_S5SbVCRWvdmFNBd66FsvCEnk7CW9dIOoC8Cxu7VgNN_mxsUwknPnOnXZ0JYYHTGtKdOmMYr6gIumwzx15HIqi7sdbYfP460Hi4lvJcDTMhofE/s350/Celebrations%20header%20original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9sLR1_Qm7g5FJs4oDN-aZOg2ArWxSAa8P8SImNyorbF9rpJ6tApnRrLAMQ7SA6n8idH46Pi1foTmSf_S5SbVCRWvdmFNBd66FsvCEnk7CW9dIOoC8Cxu7VgNN_mxsUwknPnOnXZ0JYYHTGtKdOmMYr6gIumwzx15HIqi7sdbYfP460Hi4lvJcDTMhofE/s16000/Celebrations%20header%20original.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>February has been a rather gloomy month so let's brighten things up</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>by celebrating some good news...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><p></p><div><br /></div>Congratulations to <b>Tonka Uzu </b>and <b>Elena Arevalo Melville</b> who have a picture book coming out on World Book Day in early March. <div><br /><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JklgmV9fHYGqDeoJz_HlSQgzz8pGOyTvyi2u-t6bKapBuypJISADa4xXgPuCbM4quZme8YrPKO_240dmS-5n-Wa-SSLXX6BMT6v4qu6f4gYm1OqcJFcgbkztULxoFw9x7j8jJyvd4L1RtJZJGwzBzPHdmgNQCm1sInmIBE3N7Zx_Je1Y83soU8D1DMy9/s1000/thumbnail_COVER-Elki_Is-NotMyDog_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="824" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JklgmV9fHYGqDeoJz_HlSQgzz8pGOyTvyi2u-t6bKapBuypJISADa4xXgPuCbM4quZme8YrPKO_240dmS-5n-Wa-SSLXX6BMT6v4qu6f4gYm1OqcJFcgbkztULxoFw9x7j8jJyvd4L1RtJZJGwzBzPHdmgNQCm1sInmIBE3N7Zx_Je1Y83soU8D1DMy9/w264-h320/thumbnail_COVER-Elki_Is-NotMyDog_.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Written by Elena Arevalo Melville and illustrated by Tonka Uzu</div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><i>Elki is Not My Dog</i> is being published by Scallywag Press and is about a stray dog who befriends a group of children:<br /><br />Elki does not have a home – she is a stray dog who finds kindness in the company of a little group of children. They play together during the day, but Elki must stay alone outside every night because dogs are not allowed in their block of flats. One day Elki disappears and is found injured. Who will look after her and how?</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvTgQpiGQzT82GpcfSLFOdkvF2flvyat2VJWVpfQOKTa3cmf9opI7msaJirVw5Alx045iVcuJPHZ4RmSPQ3XIbVOs6yhmbE5bEQuJ25thiMnVWQGaTGTc7VYJYbNG_tu43kvV8tLxiebZbvTJACE0wUNUdBgWQNLTRYpqzLW_bCWhtq-0VY9ulczs22rF/s1920/thumbnail_Elki_NotMyDog_PUBLICITY-evenbright-m.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1920" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvTgQpiGQzT82GpcfSLFOdkvF2flvyat2VJWVpfQOKTa3cmf9opI7msaJirVw5Alx045iVcuJPHZ4RmSPQ3XIbVOs6yhmbE5bEQuJ25thiMnVWQGaTGTc7VYJYbNG_tu43kvV8tLxiebZbvTJACE0wUNUdBgWQNLTRYpqzLW_bCWhtq-0VY9ulczs22rF/w400-h200/thumbnail_Elki_NotMyDog_PUBLICITY-evenbright-m.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>You can find out more about the book by following the following hashtags: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/elkiisnotmydog/">#ElkiIsNotMyDog</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/scallywagpress/">#scallywagpress</a> #ElkiPictureBook. We wish you both every success!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Liz Flanagan </b>is celebrating the release of the final book in <i>The Legends of the Sky </i>trilogy. <i>The Pirate's Dragon, </i>a middle-grade novel,<i> was </i>published on 15th February with UCLan Publishing. Liz says, "It's been a long wait for this one and I thought we wouldn't get there - so I'm over the moon and very grateful for this."</div><div><div><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNS0QY8JujAJeH6pWmcG9tLKsTaMEd_nD_9alVV0RW3KqGLbR_dJ5faCXY6cvnZjqQhYnlRCQGnDUbmGummQla_KJbXRPAUg1zdXEmJyLNaMLjcSAZPZBlj8AXVm7F6AblMOgthV6uOh5nU-sRZ-ZksTnnxAHg5FpRF6zFB2IcVYw5ZIAdl3uuOFd2s6_0/s1657/Dragon3%20thumbnail%20copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1657" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNS0QY8JujAJeH6pWmcG9tLKsTaMEd_nD_9alVV0RW3KqGLbR_dJ5faCXY6cvnZjqQhYnlRCQGnDUbmGummQla_KJbXRPAUg1zdXEmJyLNaMLjcSAZPZBlj8AXVm7F6AblMOgthV6uOh5nU-sRZ-ZksTnnxAHg5FpRF6zFB2IcVYw5ZIAdl3uuOFd2s6_0/w261-h400/Dragon3%20thumbnail%20copy.jpeg" width="261" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Pirate's Dragon </i>is the final instalment of a trilogy</span></div><div><br /></div>The cover art is by <b>Joe Todd-Stanton </b>and the book is the third in the series after <i>Dragon Daughter </i>and <i>Rise of the Shadow Dragons, </i>which were previously published by David Fickling Books. The novels follow sworn enemies, Serina and Raff, who are thrown together in dramatic circumstances when caring for their young dragons. When the dragons are threatened, can they persuade their families to work together to save them?<div><br /></div><div>We're so pleased the book is out in the world, Liz - it sounds wonderful! If you'd like to find out more, then please check out <a href="https://lizflanagan.co.uk/blog">Liz's blog</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, congratulations to <b>Gaynor Andrews</b>. Her debut picture book, <i>Pandora and the Story Forge</i>, illustrated by the wonderful <b>Marie Alice Harel</b>, is going to be published by Rocket Bird Books on 24th September 2024. More information can be found <a href="https://rocketbirdbooks.co.uk/about-us/catalogue">here</a> and below:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ1HO_x1j_6WzU7bPlk_c-iu-OHQn-rhxvFrl2D7NZCjHH6x6PsI5_1IQlzxGuQNu5HEovO3bkaJQW7jOpj5UwGmnXdYbMXJHnIol1LQZP3uhwezCg7sVcxbs88ik22bRFL1tYLs_bR31f2CBhzHDbRpjJikjkCJf0OlJUsINzMO1-Lagzprgey7EHnf0/s943/image001%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="809" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ1HO_x1j_6WzU7bPlk_c-iu-OHQn-rhxvFrl2D7NZCjHH6x6PsI5_1IQlzxGuQNu5HEovO3bkaJQW7jOpj5UwGmnXdYbMXJHnIol1LQZP3uhwezCg7sVcxbs88ik22bRFL1tYLs_bR31f2CBhzHDbRpjJikjkCJf0OlJUsINzMO1-Lagzprgey7EHnf0/s320/image001%20(1).png" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Have you got good news to share? A new book? An offer of agent representation? An award? Don't be shy! </span><span>Why not send an email over to <span><b>production</b></span></span><span><span><b>@britishscbwi.org</b></span></span><span> together with a picture and any links so we can celebrate with you.</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: right;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;">*Header image: i</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">n-house collaboration by <b>Ell Rose</b> & <b>Tita Berredo</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p></div></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span>*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div><b>Tracy Curran </b>is the Production Editor for <i>Words & Pictures </i>and enjoys writing picture books, young fiction and lower middle-grade novels. Known as Little Cornish Writer, you can find her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/littlecornishwriter/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/WriterCornish">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/writercornish">Facebook</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>She also enjoys reviewing children's books on her blog <a href="https://www.thebreadcrumbforest.com/">The Breadcrumb Forest</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">Ell Rose</b><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"> is the Illustration Features Editor of <i>Words & Pictures</i>.</span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Find their work at </span><a href="http://www.shannonillustrates.com/" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit;">www.shannonillustrates.com</a></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Follow them on </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fourfooteleven.illustration/" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit;">Instagram</a><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/4foot11illo" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit;">Twitter</a></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Contact them at </span><b style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b></div><div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Tita Berredo</b> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of </span><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Words & Pictures. </i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Follow her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/titaberredo/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/titaberredo" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.titaberredo.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">www.titaberredo.com</a></span></div><div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Contact her at</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">: <b>illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</b></span></span>.</div></div></div>LittleCornishWriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17706619333940620256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-18443037240657221402024-02-18T06:30:00.474+00:002024-02-21T06:36:31.647+00:00SCBWI BENEFITS: International Conferences<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSF7C3oKKTKmKsMg5PYrdsDwcgHB4us0FIhtaYoIeDPsiR8K_QXzCz_cqE6hewblgxaGZpMS_0X3r36TGB_UTnUgZGoOm3sC_k7hcpfwkl6xN86l7CyY5WdChyphenhyphen9HDbw6afUMx3g4KOaBNqbTvbpr74C6Fl7VdGn7TqJLj6VwOZFqvqNLxjNle2nXy37Lw/s350/22E59274-4433-4701-B385-36D98EF50B5C.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSF7C3oKKTKmKsMg5PYrdsDwcgHB4us0FIhtaYoIeDPsiR8K_QXzCz_cqE6hewblgxaGZpMS_0X3r36TGB_UTnUgZGoOm3sC_k7hcpfwkl6xN86l7CyY5WdChyphenhyphen9HDbw6afUMx3g4KOaBNqbTvbpr74C6Fl7VdGn7TqJLj6VwOZFqvqNLxjNle2nXy37Lw/s16000/22E59274-4433-4701-B385-36D98EF50B5C.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ever thought of attending a SCBWI conference? <b>Julie Sullivan</b> talks us through the options.</i></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>SCBWI conferences</b><br /><br />The SCBWI conferences are one of the wonderful things about this organisation. Have you ever been to one? As one of the (probably) few people who has been to several in different countries (even one in Paris, where I was living at the time), I thought I would describe what it’s like to attend one and encourage you to do so, even if you might have to save up for a while and plan far ahead (2025, anyone?)</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLFoc05aDeEMHLQ5UCqgacPs2DW6kPPQ7LDUMe7c0CzxXiOthxlBN19n5l8HB8M_5t5xBH5hBL0JhsgD64vUevupVZz2iTivELMEc7SUVEtalR_suZy9Go7QEmAamZqLCxuTSHvKpmXwHI5TF56fuBXINmf0g0g0S0g2lMkEW3UzcKOaVmEFgBRiufcYs=w400-h300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">New York City in winter</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLFoc05aDeEMHLQ5UCqgacPs2DW6kPPQ7LDUMe7c0CzxXiOthxlBN19n5l8HB8M_5t5xBH5hBL0JhsgD64vUevupVZz2iTivELMEc7SUVEtalR_suZy9Go7QEmAamZqLCxuTSHvKpmXwHI5TF56fuBXINmf0g0g0S0g2lMkEW3UzcKOaVmEFgBRiufcYs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Big One</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The New York City conference is always held in February, which, frankly, is freezing cold. I have a coat I used to wear when I lived there that I never once needed in Europe. New York is windy and often snowy in February, and the average high and low temperatures are 7º C and -3º C. So if you do go, dress warmly!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The reason the New York conference is the biggest is that the US publishing business is mainly centred there. The biggest publishers and the largest agencies are in New York, and the US publishing business is probably the largest in the world, with $28 billion in revenue in 2023. If you are in the publishing business, this is the easiest conference to attend; most professionals can just drop in from their nearby offices. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This means that as an author or illustrator, your chances of connecting with someone from the 'Big 5' publishers or other publishers or agencies may be higher in New York than anywhere else. The huge US and Canadian market is potentially so lucrative that you might feel it can justify the expense. You may even be able to write off your trip if you can show it was helpful to your career. (And it’s cheaper in February as it's the off season!)</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The conference itself is enormous, but SCBWI does its best to make everything approachable. There are many smaller groups and special get-togethers, for example one just for illustrators, one for translators, one for LGBTQ+, and so on.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Take advantage of any special interests you might have to meet people you can keep up with. If you are an illustrator, remember that it is powerful to have your pictures on display in the Portfolio Showcase in this environment of people who can hire you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">New Yorkers can be brusque, but you will find that most children’s book people are friendly and kind. Attendees are from all over North America and even the world, so, many of them may also feel shy when they come. If you are from the British Isles and have never been to the US before, you may be put off by American brashness and over-sharing (I admit, these are our stereotypical traits) and, perhaps puzzled by people’s behaviour, but don’t forget, you have a superpower: your accent! Americans love British and Irish accents. As my English son-in-law says, it’s like being royalty.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Travel tips</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>February is one of the cheaper times of year to stay in New York, and everything is open, so it can be a fun month to visit.</span><span> </span><span>To save money on this trip, you can use a budget airline (but try to get a respectable one) or book far in advance. Ideally, you can stay in the hotel where the conference is held, which will be much less exhausting. But these hotels, because they have to be huge and in midtown Manhattan, are expensive. You can save a lot of money by staying in an AirBnB, a <a href="https://www.hostelworld.com/st/hostels/north-america/usa/new-york/" target="_blank">youth hostel</a> (which people any age can stay in), a more modest hotel in a less expensive neighbourhood, or a regular B & B, especially away from Manhattan. But don’t forget to factor in extra travel time and expense. </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A very useful app for getting around the city is <a href="https://citymapper.com/" target="_blank">Citymapper</a>, which will tell you how to get where you are going by public transport or on foot, with detailed maps and information that includes every bus and subway stop, even which subway entrance is closest to your destination.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1446" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfhjuRjObsQ204-7uiz8F5XAvBhO-dYQIRFQg2PmZoJHT1NxfLxYthZTHzBAd-efaoRjoc3gNXq4azXmLMTkb4LQsu2OsbnoiBJ1HIzkRcNaKMYq_976tX4BvW9Zlj7WO3inHp5LknmFThBzHizlBmW0sSpEWW4zYugSOFOM-QnHtbdFeSsxH4-CNxNA/w400-h299/Beverly%20Hills%20Los%20Angeles%20palm%20trees%20street.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Los Angeles</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfhjuRjObsQ204-7uiz8F5XAvBhO-dYQIRFQg2PmZoJHT1NxfLxYthZTHzBAd-efaoRjoc3gNXq4azXmLMTkb4LQsu2OsbnoiBJ1HIzkRcNaKMYq_976tX4BvW9Zlj7WO3inHp5LknmFThBzHizlBmW0sSpEWW4zYugSOFOM-QnHtbdFeSsxH4-CNxNA/s1446/Beverly%20Hills%20Los%20Angeles%20palm%20trees%20street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Los Angeles</b></span></div><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Los Angeles conference is a different beast entirely from the New York one. It takes place in August and under the palm trees, which can be an attraction in itself. While still a large conference, it does not usually compare in size with New York, mainly because there are fewer West Coast agencies and publishers. Although many professionals are happy to make the trip out to LA, it is just not as convenient for them. However, non-New York-based publishers and agents proliferated during the pandemic, and you might be more likely to meet them in Los Angeles.<br /><br />SCBWI was started in Los Angeles, and is based there, so the organisation has a soft spot for the city. There is no question that the weather is a major attraction for most non-local attendees, and you should be able to get some swimming and even a beach trip in. The same caveats as for New York apply to the Los Angeles conference hotel, but with an extra one: if you stay in the hotel itself, you may end up saving a lot of money on transportation. Los Angeles is not a public transport town. You will need a car to go almost anywhere, and although Uber, Lyft, and other services are convenient, regular taxis, buses, etc. are not nearly as common or frequent as in the UK or New York.<br /><br />If you are a currently enrolled student in a university program, you may be able to <a href="https://summerhostel.hh.ucla.edu/ " target="_blank">book cheap rooms at UCLA</a> (which is more central than most of the other campuses) in August. An alternative if you are a woman is to try <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/hostasister/" target="_blank">Host a Sister</a>, “an international community of women” with more than 560,000 members around the world willing to host you in their homes (exercise the usual caution).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegBOyj-LRx1mzHCOXHJcKG98Gdhapmqn_HoIiY2DfSrs3Q_f3yGQMu_VLTWHBVXQg5bPv8c9Cqu3sutaRWkFo3mG7qZVRhyphenhyphenLW_VCRyoFKuDj4HJ-H9HHSQL4s66zvSnZP-xkDT6QYsLTHHekTPDAGpeTc2ZxLJ5Reodq4ebygjvN97-WvkQsIpRW_jrI/s225/SCBWI%20British%20Isles.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegBOyj-LRx1mzHCOXHJcKG98Gdhapmqn_HoIiY2DfSrs3Q_f3yGQMu_VLTWHBVXQg5bPv8c9Cqu3sutaRWkFo3mG7qZVRhyphenhyphenLW_VCRyoFKuDj4HJ-H9HHSQL4s66zvSnZP-xkDT6QYsLTHHekTPDAGpeTc2ZxLJ5Reodq4ebygjvN97-WvkQsIpRW_jrI/w400-h400/SCBWI%20British%20Isles.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">SCBWI British Isles logo, designed by Tita Berredo</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>British Isles</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The British Isles SCBWI conference, in my humble opinion, is the best. It’s a much more manageable size,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> for starters, and it is easier to meet people who are not too distant from you geographically, which can be a great way to start a new friendship. Connections are easier when you don’t live hundreds or thousands of miles away from someone you might like to talk to again, as can easily happen in the American meetings. Don’t forget to bring a costume for Saturday night. It’s a good way to meet people even if you’re shy – there’s always something to talk about if you have a fish in your beard (hi </span><a href="https://domconlon.com/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Dom</a>!), <span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>carry a funny accessory, or are dressed as a character from your favourite novel!</p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1280" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhE-_C_U1cyYyjPTMz0hCVVU1fVGXuuRrMkTjIgiDWS6NyX6KsxfEcHoCQrUI5UdoHc2qttDTy25ZXs_M4232jJdn4AQYJ5YIdGv-f1XzBV_TdJFXDo4dSgvmeUeqkNe8aoRAayhv1OVLgGuRxsaDzNAux6s6bRHDe-csVOwBBWMkIS5XwhRxpKJQyhUU/w400-h334/Virtual%20class%20-%201280x1066.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A virtual conference</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhE-_C_U1cyYyjPTMz0hCVVU1fVGXuuRrMkTjIgiDWS6NyX6KsxfEcHoCQrUI5UdoHc2qttDTy25ZXs_M4232jJdn4AQYJ5YIdGv-f1XzBV_TdJFXDo4dSgvmeUeqkNe8aoRAayhv1OVLgGuRxsaDzNAux6s6bRHDe-csVOwBBWMkIS5XwhRxpKJQyhUU/s1280/Virtual%20class%20-%201280x1066.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Virtual conferences</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In recent years, SCBWI has offered a Virtual Conference for the New York and Los Angeles conferences. I don’t know if they will continue to do this, but I hope so. I am still in a writers group with friends I met at one of the break-out groups from the virtual conference in 2021 — they have become friends online, and several have even come to visit in real life. While a Zoom conference is obviously not the same experience, this is a more affordable and convenient option, and you will still get some of the benefits of attending in person, namely access to the conference speeches and panel discussions, break-out rooms, peer and sometimes agent or editor critiques, and other individualised events. In addition, you have access to everything at your own pace, because the virtual conference is available for up to a month afterwards.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Besides the Big Two (New York and Los Angeles), remember that as a SCBWI member, you have the right to attend virtual conferences anywhere. Check out the listings on the <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/regional-virtual-events" target="_blank">Regional page</a> and see if anything looks interesting. You can also <a href="https://scbwi-icr-blog.weebly.com/blog/website-how-tos-follow-regions" target="_blank">follow other regions</a>, even if you have no connection to them. </span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #dca10d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For other events, look in the <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/regions" target="_blank">Regions section</a>.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Scholarships</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you know that SCBWI offers scholarships (bursaries) to the conferences for both authors and illustrators? Not only that, but if you are a SCBWI volunteer you may be eligible for a discount on the conference price.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.scbwi.org/awards-and-grants" target="_blank">Look here</a> for more details and see which awards or scholarships you may be eligible for.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Conferences are one of the highlights of our year for many of us who have attended. Make room for one in your future.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Header image by <b>Ell Rose;</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">New York City's Bryant Park, photo by Julie Sullivan</span></span></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Los Angeles, free photo from <a href="http://Pxhere.com">Pxhere.com</a></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Zoom conference cartoon, free photo from <a href="http://3dbay.io">3dbay.io</a></span></p><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*</span></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Julie Sullivan</b> is a SCBWI volunteer.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html">Ell Rose</a><span face="-webkit-standard"> is the Illustration Features Editor of </span><i>Words & Pictures </i>magazine<span face="-webkit-standard">. You can contact them at: </span></span></span><b style="font-family: inherit;">illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>Julie Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15438088475096480848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-16169758916633917092024-02-18T06:30:00.473+00:002024-02-19T14:16:22.578+00:00HIGHLIGHTS: SCBWI Winter Conference <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9THloJ9maCGAzMl5nvivZaS1ms6BGBCFyiZnwc2zPCuL_XGWVvJb_y3d4SH-7S8MprIVORLErloHL11CuXSmtUjkzum8HcoooFHttRPtIjJWVRvfkI7hKsllOzPT_HTCxHFBPK2klyQE36Ybx0_MIE6ct9jjdR7zRjo8-SpGzzI4Ph8m3T-p3TxTRDk/s450/IMG_6470.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9THloJ9maCGAzMl5nvivZaS1ms6BGBCFyiZnwc2zPCuL_XGWVvJb_y3d4SH-7S8MprIVORLErloHL11CuXSmtUjkzum8HcoooFHttRPtIjJWVRvfkI7hKsllOzPT_HTCxHFBPK2klyQE36Ybx0_MIE6ct9jjdR7zRjo8-SpGzzI4Ph8m3T-p3TxTRDk/s16000/IMG_6470.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">RAs <b>Natascha Biebow</b> and <b>Alison Gardiner</b> went together with Illustrator Coordinator <b style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Tita Berredo</b></i><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"> to the SCBWI Winter Conference in</span></i><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"> New York to represent the British Isles</i><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">. Watch the video with all the highlights of this great event!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H1Zz1hNPXAg" width="480" youtube-src-id="H1Zz1hNPXAg"></iframe></div><br /><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal;">Click twice to watch full screen</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></div><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">*Credit Tita Berredo</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></p><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">*</div><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyC3haHVt3wExR9LeZx4rkPlp_7Nx0Wdt31Ub0IDrgjE_vCrQKbJK840Af4MofZznCmJ2VAFmwNFhNcnjyR5WvPxtUE2DflRvGOSqGr7kb1HEcxQXXw12TN8gARNNw-bIMjd_9H5VwJ1yNDz4fY4QdZpPGk3F3B2dcMEvrUUu5Tk36Q0ZMzECMUiWR=s800" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: left; color: #f2132d; float: left; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyC3haHVt3wExR9LeZx4rkPlp_7Nx0Wdt31Ub0IDrgjE_vCrQKbJK840Af4MofZznCmJ2VAFmwNFhNcnjyR5WvPxtUE2DflRvGOSqGr7kb1HEcxQXXw12TN8gARNNw-bIMjd_9H5VwJ1yNDz4fY4QdZpPGk3F3B2dcMEvrUUu5Tk36Q0ZMzECMUiWR=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" width="200" /></a></b></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"></i></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; display: inline; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Tita Berredo</b> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of <i style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Words & Pictures</i>. She has a Master's degree in Children's Literature and Illustration from Goldsmiths UOL, and a background in social communications, marketing and publicity. </span><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://www.titaberredo.com/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">www.titaberredo.com</a></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background: 0px 0px repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/titaberredo/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">@titaberredo</a> on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/titaberredo/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/titaberredo" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; color: #f2132d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Twitter</a><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" /><br style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" />Email: </span><i style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;">lluscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</a></i></p></i></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></i></div><p></p>Tita Berredohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04032392847821209681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-24891109392562639012024-02-18T06:30:00.296+00:002024-02-18T06:30:00.132+00:00COMIC Miles the Cat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8RWBI1sJJ625yUj-SoB3sm8Agq8G6grsqrjsyhnF2GUBsv178tn4xDQrTJnJmFf1gT_maeoVS4QTJZblhJ6bP0TNCZgWaaW5F4Nj7VmObdO2hLCC7xakaMg779ul0hJWKbSDaSQ6_Grtzsapbqg3BWt6Tz5A913u7ows9YFcfm_kTom9YS9xta5BpK8/s350/comics%20fran.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8RWBI1sJJ625yUj-SoB3sm8Agq8G6grsqrjsyhnF2GUBsv178tn4xDQrTJnJmFf1gT_maeoVS4QTJZblhJ6bP0TNCZgWaaW5F4Nj7VmObdO2hLCC7xakaMg779ul0hJWKbSDaSQ6_Grtzsapbqg3BWt6Tz5A913u7ows9YFcfm_kTom9YS9xta5BpK8/s16000/comics%20fran.png" /></a></div><p> <span style="text-align: center;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFB6w8UWc5n6nj6mCDwDw6UMWzacBMEwdG1jM9Mz_59H8Mew6l9T8rbR_fs8Gl1tItfyxYT00SK9UMNCmjFk_H7voJ52gS0ka01ke6mldkZdW-ypNsdLnT3soC4OuUX5StJieFal0QXTlLZcgNqmnNOv_IIBV2LES8xzN0aUqCqKw6H8C8NXUeoCJD2w/s4096/IMG_0982.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1714" data-original-width="4096" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFB6w8UWc5n6nj6mCDwDw6UMWzacBMEwdG1jM9Mz_59H8Mew6l9T8rbR_fs8Gl1tItfyxYT00SK9UMNCmjFk_H7voJ52gS0ka01ke6mldkZdW-ypNsdLnT3soC4OuUX5StJieFal0QXTlLZcgNqmnNOv_IIBV2LES8xzN0aUqCqKw6H8C8NXUeoCJD2w/w640-h268/IMG_0982.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div> <i style="text-align: left;">'Creative Block'</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: right;"><span> *<span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Comic:<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span>Words and illustrations</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="text-align: left;">©</span><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <b>Ell Rose</b></span></span></div></span><span><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><b style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>If you would like to submit an idea or get briefed on our Comics feature, please do let us know! </b><span style="text-align: left;">Contact Ell Rose, </span><b style="text-align: left;">illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b></div></b></div><p><br /></p><div><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">*</span></b></div></span></div><p><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: small; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;">*Header image: In-house collaboration between<b> Ell Rose </b>and <b>Tita Berredo</b></span></span></span></div></div></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>*</b></p><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; 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background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">Tita Berredo</b> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of </span><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">Words & Pictures. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">Contact her at</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">:</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><b>illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>*</b></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></b></span></span></div></div><span style="font-size: small;">Ell Rose</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"> is the Illustration Features Editor of <i>Words & Pictures</i>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;">Find their work at <a href="http://www.fourfooteleven.com/">fourfooteleven.com</a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;">Follow them on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fourfooteleven.illustration/">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/4foot11illo">Twitter</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;">Contact them at <b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: small; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>*</b></div><div class="separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></span></span></span></div></div>Ell Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073314993135215866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-6895540286114883462024-02-18T06:30:00.280+00:002024-02-18T06:30:00.131+00:00IN THE SHOES OF… Kathryn Evans<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmTPoZ2nmImpfXukHt09aTLdrFXfTJKba9qp4qHEXr05IC_O7HYQ5diZbE-qBWp_LKF9lx_AeH2RJU-p_-pSdCStaheGBYwQI_m3soC3IunZxy2tG3fDgnf-IgewtNC2K06iB52RN4OR8pe3Tf_4oNAsXbY4hSiXm2SvkVf-UXfpMS-5zfDKB_HVzVxU/s350/IMG_0387.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmTPoZ2nmImpfXukHt09aTLdrFXfTJKba9qp4qHEXr05IC_O7HYQ5diZbE-qBWp_LKF9lx_AeH2RJU-p_-pSdCStaheGBYwQI_m3soC3IunZxy2tG3fDgnf-IgewtNC2K06iB52RN4OR8pe3Tf_4oNAsXbY4hSiXm2SvkVf-UXfpMS-5zfDKB_HVzVxU/s16000/IMG_0387.jpeg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">What's life like in someone else's shoes? This month Deputy Editor <b style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">Françoise Price</b> invites author <b style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;">Kathryn Evans</b> to tell us about her day.</i></div><p><br /><i style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4Way_2mSzopje238baaxV0OJvY5ZXk7F1zLVGADVBidbg1mjvAijRdhbGxsd6dyV9D2IuAxtvz70QkfcZ4KcQYcOCVm4qryZdxdU8IHSZu6APwFhMw0bVaxDzeBFEKqKLFvtxzTutHrZOJpQtnZsFVYqSaZk_Y6giB_B-NEWSgnMk5qUYUk_NqpqSSc/s1024/ke%20aim%20high.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4Way_2mSzopje238baaxV0OJvY5ZXk7F1zLVGADVBidbg1mjvAijRdhbGxsd6dyV9D2IuAxtvz70QkfcZ4KcQYcOCVm4qryZdxdU8IHSZu6APwFhMw0bVaxDzeBFEKqKLFvtxzTutHrZOJpQtnZsFVYqSaZk_Y6giB_B-NEWSgnMk5qUYUk_NqpqSSc/w359-h400/ke%20aim%20high.jpg" width="359" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kathryn Evans</span></div><p><br /></p>
In my case this should probably be, In The Wellies Of… welcome to my world.<p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">
7.08am </h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div>I wake up confused after having a very vivid stage fright dream. I’m late to the stage, no makeup done, my comfort script not backstage as it should be, and I can’t even remember what play we’re doing. I haven’t had a professional acting job for over 10 years so why do I still get these dreams? I shake it off. It’s a day for comfort dressing — fluffy jumper, bloomers and long flannel skirt. It’s not supposed to rain today and I feel the need to swan about like Tess of The D’Urbevilles. There’s a reason my older dog is called Hardy.<p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">
7.15am</h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div>I head downstairs, open the stair gate that stops the spaniels bothering the cat, cuddle said spaniels and make tea and a marmite crumpet. I post the daily farm shop video on Instagram, check my woefully neglected author Instagram and TikTok as I feed the cat, empty the dishwasher and prepare to take Hardy and Nims out, stuffing my pockets with poo bags, balls and bribery sausage. It’s raining. The met office lied. Even in my wellies and enormous purple raincoat, Tess is going to get a wet skirt.<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOhBZUqLXG_JR0hKbD4k5KbSEVH3HD5eSL7htEG9RIptg2hjiPO_6Mpj4GBCBs-Oe-Cu4QuVCTZMCJ5AyhwF8A_qm1AJdTGbm9gzPKBvlm37UlGv2YgZAPZ20BUy4T9k3gZ-33gcwsV3OvtNJwmaXf8URq6MJWzqBffZRATvI0Uot3WVAhXINmGo4cDk/s1105/DOG%20CUDDLES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOhBZUqLXG_JR0hKbD4k5KbSEVH3HD5eSL7htEG9RIptg2hjiPO_6Mpj4GBCBs-Oe-Cu4QuVCTZMCJ5AyhwF8A_qm1AJdTGbm9gzPKBvlm37UlGv2YgZAPZ20BUy4T9k3gZ-33gcwsV3OvtNJwmaXf8URq6MJWzqBffZRATvI0Uot3WVAhXINmGo4cDk/w386-h400/DOG%20CUDDLES.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Morning dog cuddles </span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">
7.45am </h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div>Walkies. After a mile and a half we reach the RSPB nature reserve and I let the dogs off in a very soggy field. There’s no one about so I can turn over a writing problem. I thought I was at the end of my new book but something isn’t working. I like the plot twist but the pace is off and I need to figure out how to put it right — in between throwing a tennis ball for Nims and picking burrs out of Hardy’s ears. By the time we’ve finished fetching and losing balls, we’re all wet, muddy and ready to head home and I still haven’t solved my ending problem. I listen to an audio book on the way back: Ian Mortimer’s Time Travel Guide to Medieval England. Background research is good for mood setting.<p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">
9.15am </h3></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><div>Home — I dry & feed the dogs, get the washing on, empty the bins, fill the wood basket, chores chores chores then finally, cup of tea and get the farm office work out of the way. Invoices, orders, electricity contracts, blackberry yield profiles, wages for the week… but by...<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8s9WHjuab-Ork72tPXVA_asMgsdHt4ZHEZp2kFXPUiwauLz2Cv9LTHu0UhuO5i5KrrO7RLjJ2ffl7Ld0kiiFNFMiQZ2ib1j8tnYS9tJcJk4xxonbhmbuSwHTUTAkeKCp_2RQhzrECEnAAgSiGG1CJxKDjONsnW-5knq5ioTnuYv4TOYLidk-68M3lddY/s2048/BOOK%20STACK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8s9WHjuab-Ork72tPXVA_asMgsdHt4ZHEZp2kFXPUiwauLz2Cv9LTHu0UhuO5i5KrrO7RLjJ2ffl7Ld0kiiFNFMiQZ2ib1j8tnYS9tJcJk4xxonbhmbuSwHTUTAkeKCp_2RQhzrECEnAAgSiGG1CJxKDjONsnW-5knq5ioTnuYv4TOYLidk-68M3lddY/w380-h400/BOOK%20STACK.jpg" width="380" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kathryn's novels</span></div> <p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">
11.30am</h3></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><div>I’ve cleared the decks enough to write. I think, not for the first time, how right Virgina Woolf was – what could I achieve with a room of my own and £500 a year (or whatever the modern day equivalent is). I’m so close to finishing the extensive agent edits on my new middle grade time travel novel. I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever written but I learned long ago to trust the instinct that if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Until I’ve figured out a better ending, I can’t send it off. I WhatsApp one of my oldest pals, also a writer and also my Notes from The Slushpile gang. All the slushies met through SCBWI and we lean on each other pretty much daily. If they’ve time I know all these wonderful people with give me clear, kind, honest feedback.<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9X4RFTn9jhyphenhyphenYRW3WDRu6l9G1FDNILJ9ndLyzusaLZOlnGzBNaj-dCk6wViOYSCBwpO8W4xezVlt82tlCDdBq5rVBMwqXLq_JZG3XkuuM7vpVi66Qmk_LyrFX8j1vfeUB1SHVhHS0j2426MeTHkLsEUfLPeqQL2yG_6f3rN6G0L6TRgWhDqnmZBGE6zts/s1024/Notes%20fromthe%20slushpile%20team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9X4RFTn9jhyphenhyphenYRW3WDRu6l9G1FDNILJ9ndLyzusaLZOlnGzBNaj-dCk6wViOYSCBwpO8W4xezVlt82tlCDdBq5rVBMwqXLq_JZG3XkuuM7vpVi66Qmk_LyrFX8j1vfeUB1SHVhHS0j2426MeTHkLsEUfLPeqQL2yG_6f3rN6G0L6TRgWhDqnmZBGE6zts/w400-h300/Notes%20fromthe%20slushpile%20team.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kathy and the Notes from The Slushpile team</span></div><p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">
12.30pm</h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div>More tea plus cheese on toast and more writing. Hang up washing, put another load on. Read message from neighbour about her goats needing greenery — we’re grubbing strawberry plants on the farm so I ask son to drop a builder’s bag of ex plants round to theirs. Check in on social media — answer some customer questions, check in on the farm shop sales. Unload shopping delivery. Son comes home, discuss plans for the next farming year, which are getting very complicated.<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eTnMb2GggvSNzRIlqpdDdOcPKxRA4_W50M1QGnMAShI8aqYpCT5I5Nal9Ol0uH4gZLEy1KAKzlP3f6-fGClWqPXECXFXBmfYJ2N_Ky4PEqhFHAr0AH9XcE_ao773owWfPPySnRn2mp9bizqSxT7qG1YUC4ta_-wpBK6kCfUxKskVvxuNKNUf5yIPd8Y/s829/Kath%20farm%20machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eTnMb2GggvSNzRIlqpdDdOcPKxRA4_W50M1QGnMAShI8aqYpCT5I5Nal9Ol0uH4gZLEy1KAKzlP3f6-fGClWqPXECXFXBmfYJ2N_Ky4PEqhFHAr0AH9XcE_ao773owWfPPySnRn2mp9bizqSxT7qG1YUC4ta_-wpBK6kCfUxKskVvxuNKNUf5yIPd8Y/w293-h400/Kath%20farm%20machine.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kathy at the farm shop machine</span></div> <p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">
1pm</h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div>More tea, fend off dogs wanting to go and play ball two and a half hours before their allotted time, shut the patio door that Hardy insists on opening every two minutes. Get my head down and write. Finally, I’m in the flow.<p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">
3pm </h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div>Dogs try and convince me it’s 3.30 and time to play. I ignore their determined stares and respond to a school visit enquiry (yes please) and a farming neighbour question about strawberry troughs (happy to help) and I email my agent to say I haven’t died and I AM working and any news on the reprint of <i>Beauty Sleep</i> (currently only available on Kindle.) I sterilise some jars for pickling green strawberries — an experiment for the farm shop. I make up a basic pickle brine.<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWGYQD_gXbaTs8jmn22N8vM4T0QVP8fM91eQUmHJgYePj5XW6NdySxZ83e4ICnKSIfki8ygSkekF1q44r6VcOkK-1O6E85asTIMAOzxkFp0giVGBlqP4X9dHP0tZH0Dz9aYfRZR4Wo_lApbXJkBZZXK0HYuqrTq-KCJ9rth58WXZN5FC0h2espY-Ua0U/s1024/Kath%20School%20visit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWGYQD_gXbaTs8jmn22N8vM4T0QVP8fM91eQUmHJgYePj5XW6NdySxZ83e4ICnKSIfki8ygSkekF1q44r6VcOkK-1O6E85asTIMAOzxkFp0giVGBlqP4X9dHP0tZH0Dz9aYfRZR4Wo_lApbXJkBZZXK0HYuqrTq-KCJ9rth58WXZN5FC0h2espY-Ua0U/w400-h300/Kath%20School%20visit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">'I respond to a school visit enquiry (yes please)'</div></span> <p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">
3.30pm </h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div>DOGS, ALRIGHT It’s time. I listen to a (another) history podcast (I heart Greg Jenner) while getting soaking wet and covered in mud (again) playing ball with the dogs.<p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">
4.15pm </h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div>Feed the dogs and the cat, lay the fire ready for the family getting home, squeeze in a bit more writing — the book is so close to being done and I don’t want to not be writing but I also have to make dinner. Ahhh — Virginia Woolf…<p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">
5.30pm </h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div>Daughter calls, we chat while I throw together a cheesy risotto that can cook itself while I work.<p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">
7.30pm </h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimoAKotYy6BwH2MGL_YKi7l6kWBYjMKB46G6gmnlIbdAlPhyhplCgHpl5QqVjnbpzfkuIxIakAx3NIvNsOqVi4yorqi4TMpILThvnoe9itwegkrexG46zF0HZ60veTpFq5Cwm1s-KSZlA9ItCtkGuW2ZO8b_a9t8r9RnqGMUWmjG451Jt8F_2exN7AKc/s1024/kath%20&%20dogs%20evening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimoAKotYy6BwH2MGL_YKi7l6kWBYjMKB46G6gmnlIbdAlPhyhplCgHpl5QqVjnbpzfkuIxIakAx3NIvNsOqVi4yorqi4TMpILThvnoe9itwegkrexG46zF0HZ60veTpFq5Cwm1s-KSZlA9ItCtkGuW2ZO8b_a9t8r9RnqGMUWmjG451Jt8F_2exN7AKc/w300-h400/kath%20&%20dogs%20evening.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">'I sit in front of the woodburner and write, my favourite time of the day'</span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><div>Dinner is done and cleared away, I’ve lit the fire and put Outback Opal Hunters quietly on the telly. Husband and son are both doing office work, so I sit in front of the woodburner and write, a dog either side of me, a cup of tea close by. This is my favourite time of the day. No more ‘other jobs.’ I can write until I go to bed and then, I can read!!<p> </p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: right;">*Header image by Ell Rose & Tita Berredo; </div><div style="text-align: right;">All other images courtesy of Kathryn Evans</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></span><p style="text-align: center;">*</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><b>
Kathryn Evans </b>is an award winning writer of young adult novels and a popular public speaker. Kathryn served SCBWI BI as a volunteer for many years, including almost a decade in charge of finances. She runs: great workshops; a fruit farm with her family; a moderately interesting TikTok account; herself, ragged.</div><div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">*</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html">Françoise Price</a> is Deputy Editor of <i>Words & Pictures</i> magazine. Contact <b>deputyeditor@britishscbwi.org</b><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.3s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ell Rose</a> is Illustration Features Editor of <i>Words & Pictures </i>magazine. Contact them at <b>illustrators@britishscbwi.org</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/p/the-team.html">Tita Berredo</a> is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and Art Director of <i>Words & Pictures </i>magazine. Contact her at <b>illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org</b></div><div><br /><br />
</div>Fran Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00959449698914091121noreply@blogger.com0