My Christmas Wish List #2: The Craft and Business of Writing Children's Picture Books

MY CHRISTMAS WISH LIST # 2

I have known Mira Reisberg for many years now. She has a love for teaching and wants those who create children's books and illustrations to succeed! Mira often has free webinars she hosts and these are packed with wonderful information!

I took "The Craft and Business of Illustrating Picture Books" from The Children's Book Academy earlier this year. I don't have time to post a full review of the course, but I'll give you some of the highlights! This is the writing course, but a lot of the main components stay the same.

SCHOLARSHIPS: DECEMBER 15th Deadline. http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/yuyi-morales-picture-book-scholarship.html There are diversity scholarships (and low income scholarships) for this course! There were not enough people applying for the diversity scholarships last class, so be sure to apply. Let's make the children's industry more diverse!

There is also a discount code on the page and that's good until the end of the week! Find the code here, but hurry, because it will be gone soon! Save $100!
https://wj168.infusionsoft.app/app/hostedEmail/1962074/8c7914e6987899c8

* Course Materials There was just so much information packed into this course! There were hours and hours of videos to watch. Techniques, tips and tutorials were discussed.

* Good for All Skill Levels This course contains information from all skill levels. If you are just starting out you can get a strong foundation for art. For more advanced students this class pushes you to do your best.

* Dedicated Staff  Like I said, Mira cares about the people in her course. The people helping out with the course are absolutely wonderful. They all take the time to answer questions.

* Golden Tickets This is the exciting part of the class! You can get your work seen by editors and agents (and art directors in the illustration class). 

* One on One I kicked myself for not getting a one on one for the illustration course. These give you 1 hour with Mira Reisberg (Clear Fork Publishing) or Kelly Delany (Random House/Knopf). Their normal consulting fees are much higher than the $100 you'll pay, so this is very much worth it!

It takes a lot of work to catch the eye of industry professionals. The illustration class is absolutely what I needed to get to the next level in my art career.

The reason this class is #2 on my list is because I'm still processing what I learned from the past class. It's an ongoing experience, really. I have learned so much about my illustration and now I'm working on dummies and my portfolio so I can show what I can really do with my art! Even had said this, Mira's writing class is definitely in my future!

Want to know more about "The Craft and Business of Illustrating Picture Books"? Click here: http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/writing-childrens-picture-books.html

Giraffe Instructor Viviane Elbee -- Plus a PRIZE!

Viviane is one of the members of my fantastic critique group I found thanks to Julie Hedlund's 12x12! I'm very lucky to find two group (writing and illustration) that give me invaluable feedback. When any of my critique members get good news I think it's absolutely wonderful. I was over the moon when I heard "Teach Your Giraffe To Ski was now on Pre-Order!


I love Viviane's writing style. She has such animated characters and she puts so much hard work into all of her stories. I know this is only the first of many of Viviane's stories that I will be sharing with you!


Check at the end of this post for a PRIZE!
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Dani: How did you get started writing?

Viviane:  I've always loved writing, but I started writing seriously for children after my first child was born. I had written a few rough drafts when I saw an ad in the newspaper for a local SCBWI critique group. Joining the critique group and SCBWI was one of the best decisions ever. I later joined 12x12, which is an organization specifically for picture book writers. Joining these organizations helped me learn so much, and I've met so many talented, supportive & encouraging people. (Dani is one of them!) :)


Dani: What is your absolute favorite animal?

Viviane: I love so many animals I don't think I can pick a favorite! Unfortunately, some of the animals I love are endangered. I hope that humankind can figure out a way to save them, because I'd hate to see so many wonderful animals disappear. Giraffes are on the endangered list, and so are some species of elephants, tigers, leopards, dolphins, whales, turtles, birds, honeybees, wombats etc... Some programs to help endangered animals are already making a positive impact - such as sea turtle conservation programs. Everyone can help, even by doing little things, like setting up birdhouses that are just right for endangered birds, or planting flowers that honeybees like.


Dani: Who inspires you the most?

Viviane: Kids inspire me the most. They're so smart and imaginative and fun.


Dani: How did you get the idea for TEACH YOUR GIRAFFE TO SKI?

Viviane: I got the idea during my family's very first ski trip, which coincided with the 2014 Winter Olympics. My kids packed many stuffed animals. During the day they were learning to ski, and in the evening, the stuffed animals tried all sorts of winter sports too. This led to a lot of funny jokes about skiing giraffes.

I wrote a longer blog post about the inspiration behind this story - https://epiceighteen.weebly.com/blog/archives/10-2017


Dani: How many giraffes have you taught to ski?

Viviane: None. But I keep my eyes open for giraffes on the ski slopes, because you never know, maybe one day I'll meet one!


Dani: What are you working on next?

Viviane: I'm working on several other picture book manuscripts. I'm still learning and taking classes to improve my craft too. Currently I'm doing some classes with Arree Chung's Storyteller Academy.



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Follow Viviane:

Poster Prize!

Here is a pre-order link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/teach-your-giraffe-to-ski-viviane-elbee/1128007314

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Giraffe-Viviane-Elbee/dp/0807577677

Here is my website: http://vivianeelbee.com/index.html

For those who want to buy through an Independent Bookseller: 
https://www.parkroadbooks.com/pre-order-teach-your-giraffe-ski-viviane-elbee

PRIZE!

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Viviane is offering an 12x18" poster from "Teach Your Giraffe to Ski"!*

*This prize is limited to those who live in the US.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ksenia "Kind Killer" Anske

Smart Note: Both: Final Illustrations -- Page 19
Reg: Substrate - Page 18

I have wanted to trap Ksenia's words on my blog forever. Now I have that chance! Ksenia is a genius at writing and marketing. The thing about Ksenia is she doesn't really market. She socializes like mad. Over the past few years Ksenia has laid the foundation of her book empire. I am just in awe of the way Ksenia interacts with people on social media. She's even known to give out a book or two thousand. I mean, she is probably planning on murdering us all later, but I'm still in awe!


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Dani: Where did you learn so much about marketing?

Photo Credit: David Peterman
https://www.theyareonlypixels.com/

Ksenia: I have over 15 years of experience in marketing, which I had to do for my startup, to survive. I wasn’t even sure at the time it was called marketing. All I did was, I wrote monthly newsletters to our customers, as I heard somewhere that it’s a business-must to stay in touch. So I did it. And my customers told me that they loved reading them—that my newsletters were like stories. I guess even back then I couldn’t help it but to do storytelling.


Dani: Which fantasy being or animal would you become if you had the choice?

Ksenia: Dragon. I was born in a year of a Dragon, and ever since I learned that (as a little girl), I imagined myself as a Dragon.

https://www.instagram.com/vatnsmelona/

Dani: What is your favorite form of social media?

Ksenia: Patreon is my latest love, and it’s going to be my love for years to come, I have a feeling. It’s the best place to create a community that’s private, loyal, and supportive. I’ve shifted most of my social media presence to Patreon now, and I couldn’t be happier (I only wish I did it sooner!).










Dani: How did interacting with people help you grow your following?

Ksenia: It’s all a conversation. A dialogue. A building of friendships. I don’t view it as a following, I view it as my tribe, my people where I belong, and where they belong. Where we belong together. As one community. I can’t be me and create and thrive without my community, just like any other artist. And so we’re growing together, all of us, by having a conversation.

Dani: What's the one thing that propelled you most in your career?
Ksenia: The stubbornness of not quitting. There were many times when I was tempted. The book didn’t sell well. The idea didn’t develop the way I wanted it to. Someone criticized me harshly. I was blocked, tired, discouraged. Or writing was so painful, I didn’t think I could go on. It was only sheer stubbornness that carried me through these moments. Or propelled. Or pushed me forward. And it was thanks to those moments that I was able to look back and realize, it’s not me who has to make it. It’s not about me. It’s about all of us. I’m one with my readers, and with other writers, and they’re all one with me. After this clicked for me, quitting became a non-option.

Image taken by We Love Reading
https://www.instagram.com/welovereadingza/

Dani: Do you have any advice for writers or artists trying to sell their work on social media?

Ksenia: Selling is serving. It’s very easy to serve your readers if all you do is ask questions and listen. Listen until you find the need they have, then and only then, when they ask you in turn, tell them about your book. Often at that point, if you’ve exercised enough patience and truly listened, truly saw the other person, truly heard them, the sale happens on its own. It’s not always monetary. Quite often it’s the commitment of your reader to give you time, or offer some other help. And you never know to how many people they’ll talk to and tell about you and your work. It’s an exercise in faith in humanity, in people. Give them love, and they’ll want to return it. It might take them days, or maybe even years. Never falter. Never stop. They will. It’s human nature. We all want to give. We’re simply scared of giving because we’ve all been burned. Give your reader enough space to vent, to talk, to be heard, and they’ll move mountains for you. I promise.

https://www.instagram.com/sorceryandswords

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Follow Ksenia

Website/Blog: https://www.kseniaanske.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kseniaanske

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kseniaanske/posts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kseniaanskeauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kseniaanske/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/kseniaanske/

Big Blue Writer - Anita Miettunen -- Plus a PRIZE!

Smart Note: Start Loose Drawings - Page 19

I'm so happy that Anita Miettunen can be on my blog today! It's always exciting when I get to interview a friend that's also in my SCBWI chapter. I was invited by Anita to an event at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum in 2014. Anita told the tale of "Big Blue Forever" during the event and it was fantastic! I admire Anita for all the research and work that she put into this book.

Check the end of this post for a PRIZE!
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For Smart Dummies you can create a non-fiction dummy. This dummy can be illustrated or it can be from photographs!
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Dani: What was it that led you to write "Big Blue Forever?”

Anita: I first met Big Blue’s skeleton in 2013 as a volunteer at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum at the University of BC. I was awestruck! Her size was mesmerizing and I became curious about her story: where did she come from, why did she die, and how did she come to be in the museum? As I learned more, I felt children would love to hear her story and a book would help make that connection. I have a science background and interest in biodiversity along with a passion for writing so it felt natural to write this book, which eventually came out in 2017.

Dani: How much research was put into your book?

Anita: Lots! The more I developed the story, the more research I did. For instance, I realized that to capture the essence of what it was like to dig up the skeleton (it had been buried for over 20 years) and reconstruct it, I needed to interview people directly involved. This provided me with insights I wouldn’t have otherwise had such as what a buried whale smelled like! I also connected with a few international whale researchers, searched for various media accounts of the blue whale project, read scientific literature and reports, and tracked down individuals who had either taken photos of the beached whale or who were in the photos. I was fortunate to be able to review the museum’s photo archives and also took my own photos of the skeleton in the museum. A lot of people supported my research efforts through their interest and kindness.


Dani: What's one thing you'd like to learn (or learn to do)?

Anita: I'm always interested in exploring new illustration and photography techniques. Right now, I’d like to improve my narrative skills in cartooning.


Dani: Where was your favorite vacation?

Anita: In August 2017, I spent an incredible 17 days in Rwanda with three friends. We organized this adventure with a guide and it included some hiking, camping, kayaking and biking. A friend who had visited Rwanda for work inspired me to go when she mentioned how vibrant the country was through its post-genocide rebuilding efforts. She was right. Despite the severe trauma of the past, there was an air of hope, positivity, and amazing entrepreneurial spirit amongst the people we met that touched me deeply. The basic infrastructure was modern, it felt safe, and we were able to truly get off the beaten track to see a part of the world that’s just opening up to eco-tourism. I would love to return.


Dani: Why are picture books important to you? 

Anita: I love both text and visual communication. The magic that results from combining these two elements in picture books is the best of both worlds. Picture books are accessible on different levels to all ages and backgrounds. Depending on the picture book, they can be entertaining, fun, educational, and of course deeply enjoyable for their artwork (or photos). They can also be a powerful way to open up discussions on topics that may be difficult to otherwise access. The options are endless.


Dani: What's next for you on your writing journey?

Anita: I have various picture book manuscripts I need to dust off and find the time (and courage) to keep on submitting until they find a home. I also have lots of ideas for more books but these are mostly on hold; my main goal this year is to complete my draft of a young adult novel I'm writing as part of my Masters thesis in children’s writing at the University of British Columbia. This is an entirely new writing experience for me but I’m excited about my project.

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Follow Anita


Webpage: http://www.anitamiettunen.com/books/


Facebook: anitamiettunenauthor


Twitter: @anitamiettunen

Big Blue Forever: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/big-blue-forever-anita-miettunen/1123336141?ean=9780889955424

PRIZE!

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Dani Duck: A portfolio website critique (or help setting up your online portfolio),

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hedgehog Queen Emily Wayne and a PRIZE!

Smart Note: Adj: Finish Dummy Drawings -- Page 19

Emily Wane is simply amazing. I'm not sure if it's the hedgehogs or her artwork that makes her so amazing (the hedgehogs give her the edge either way). I love all the adorable artwork that Emily does. I have the sneaking suspicion I met Emily first on #kidlitart chat. It's hard to say, but I do know that her and her hedgehog love have left quite the impression.

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What makes a successful illustration? If you asked ten different people, I imagine you’d get ten different answers. And they would certainly all be valid, because everyone places importance on different aspects – but for me those aspects are the two E’s of Expression and Emotion. When you boil an illustration down to its essence, you’re going to strip away the setting, the props, the clothing – and focus in on your character; what are they thinking, and what are they feeling? A beautiful scene, skillfully rendered – while pleasing to look at, will still fall flat without emotion. But a standalone character with a spot-on expression will succeed, even on a stark white background in the absence of any setting at all.

Let’s start with Expression. Your character’s expression says a lot about who they are. What they’re thinking and feeling, and how they’re reacting to what’s happening around them. This doesn’t have to be complicated at all. Sometimes even the simplest things can convey the most. Take Jon Klassen for example; he does so much with so little. Most of his characters don’t even have other facial features, but with just the slightest change in his eyes, he can make a complete shift in the character’s expression A bit wider, a bit narrower, moving the pupils from right to left or top to bottom – it really doesn’t take much, but it’s crucial to get that little bit right.

Like a lot of other artists, I use myself as reference most often. If I need to get an expression right I might make faces in the mirror, or take a picture to study from. But even without looking at a reference, I can get an awful lot of what I need by feeling it. Need to make a character skeptical? Make that expression yourself, and really feel what’s happening in your face as you do. Notice how your eyes narrow down, and your mouth goes flat. Your nostrils might flare, and maybe one eyebrow goes up. That’s a wealth of information right there, and you haven’t even seen any of it, but you know exactly how to convey that expression now, because you know what it feels like to make it, and which parts of the face you need to adjust to get that expression across in a drawing.

Now let’s move on to the real MVP – emotion. Emotion can certainly come across in an expression, but you can’t rely on an expression alone. What if your character doesn’t have facial features? Or what if it’s not even the character you’re working with, but you want to infuse setting or background elements with extra emotion. So much of that emotion is expressed through body language. Perhaps you’ve seen the flour sack example used by Disney animators to show how you can give even an inanimate object emotion simply through body language. I’m going to use a slightly different example here with this adorable ravioli that my friend and teammate Priscilla Alpaugh  created based on Disney’s flour sack because it’s just so cute, and I love any excuse to put in a plug for one of my pals.  Another great example of this same principle that I will grab from Disney is in Aladdin. Who else loves Aladdin? It’s one of my all-time favorites. And Carpet is a fantastic example of the importance of body language to convey an emotion; he has no facial features at all, but you always know exactly how he’s feeling all the same because of the way he moves.

Think about this in the same way as I mentioned with expression earlier. What emotion are you trying to convey? How do you move when you’re feeling that way? Pose yourself as you would your character, and feel into that emotion. What does it look like to be excited, or angry? You’re probably very rigid, with straight bold lines full of energy. What about sad? You’re going to be slumped over, with more curves and softer lines. Exaggerate those action lines to really dial in the emotion. Think about the overall shape of your character, but don’t forget to consider all the small movements that can also carry emotion

Animals are often my subjects of choice, and they’re a prime example of this. How does a dog show emotion when it’s happy to see you? Its ears perk up, its tail is raised high and waving frantically. What about when it’s made a mess and is sure it’s going be scolded? Its ears droop, and its tail hangs low and tucked between its legs. How about a cat, who’s scared of that dog? Its fur bristles up, it arches its back, and its tail stands straight up. Or if it’s angry, it might pull its ears flat and back on its head and twitch just the tip of its tail. Animals show emotion in a million tiny ways, and while we as humans can’t move our ears up and down (well most of us can’t!), and don’t have a tail to twitch, there are still plenty of small ways that we show emotion in our bodies as well.

Start paying attention to yourself as you go about your day, the ways you move your face and body depending on how you’re feeling, and use that knowledge to draw upon the next time you’re looking to add a specific expression or an extra bit of emotion to your illustrations.

Bio: Emily Wayne is an author, illustrator, storyteller and artist, a kitty lover and a hedgehog enthusiast, a curious human, a Wonderland-obsessed princess of positivity, and she may or may not be related to Batman – shh! She has more books than bookshelves, and hoards art supplies like a dragon hoarding gold. She is based in beautiful Western, MA where she lives with her human family and a small zoo comprised of a Chihuahua, two cats, two hedgehogs, a conure, a cockatiel, and two lovebirds.

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My Links:

Website: www.emilywayne.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilywayneillustration/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilywayneillustration/

(or https://www.instagram.com/emmarooooo/ if you want to see a gratuitous amount of hedgie pics)

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emilywayneart

PRIZE

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Emily Wayne is giving out a prize! This 5x7" illustration could be yours. Just leave a comment and enter the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Miraculous Mira Reisberg - - Plus a PRIZE!

Smart Note: Adj. Stepping Back  -- Page 5 Tomorrow: Reg. Emotions and Poses -- Pages 12-13

I love that I've been friends with Mira for a few years now. She has helped out with Smart Dummies since the beginning. Her help with this event has encouraged me to work harder year after year to make Smart Dummies an event that helps other illustrators. I see all the work Mira does in helping other people with their work through her free webinars and everything she does.


I've seen many webinars that Mira and the Children's Book Academy has given over the years. I've learned a lot from every one of her webinars. These are the types of courses to take. Learn from people who honestly want to help people and will give out free information. Unfortunately I hadn't had the opportunity to take her classes until just recently. So far it is absolutely wonderful! I'm having a lot of fun. I promise to do a full write up on the course once it's all done. One thing I will say now is that her illustration course fits in perfectly with Smart Dummies. Sign up for the mailing list so you can catch the next illustration course!

Check the bottom of this post for a PRIZE!
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Dani: What are some of the things Illustrators and writers should look for in an online course?

Mira: First of all, thank you Dani for inviting me to be a part of your wonderful challenge. As you know, there are now many online courses available, which can make it a bit of a challenge in terms of which course to choose. The first thing you want to look at is how qualified the person is running the course or school in terms of both education and how many books they’ve published as well as the quality of testimonials speaking to both the instructors teaching style and the content of the materials that they share. You want to find out how substantive the course is - is it described as 10 weeks but it’s only one lesson a week spread out over time or how many lessons will you actually be receiving? Are you someone who needs the support of an interactive environment where you are given guidance and lots of interaction or do you prefer a go it alone approach? If it’s the former, choose a highly interactive course but if you prefer to go it alone, go for an instant access course. Besides the lessons and the teaching, what other resources will the course be providing to help illustrators and writers meet their goals and dreams? Finally, does the teacher have any kind of track-record of helping people do great work and get published? I think these are helpful questions to consider when looking for an online writing or illustrating course.

Dani: How should one prepare when taking a class on the computer? 

Mira: There’s not a lot of things you really need to do to prepare for an online course other than make sure you have decent internet or can have access to somewhere with good internet like a library or café. With an interactive illustration course that has a beginning and end date for interaction, you need to have a scanner or access to one, or be pretty good at taking digital photographs of your work so that you can share it for feedback. Apart from carving out time to take advantage of the course and have working tech – a reliable computer, Internet, scanner etc. you don't really need that much.


Dani: When working online what's something that people tend to forget?

Mira: People often forget about the importance and vibrancy of community in online courses. You can form or take part in really robust groups where you make friends with people all over the world, join critique groups that go on indefinitely, and support each other in realizing dreams in a myriad of ways including getting marketing support from your peers after you get published. Having taught both in universities and online, I was very surprised to find this. The other thing I realized was that I could bring infinitely more resources online than I ever could teaching in person. That was a big surprise. Being a bit of a resource queen, I love this.


Dani: How does the Children's Book Academy help writers and illustrators hone their craft?

Mira: Pretty much all of the above plus, because of my intensive educational background, and my PhD work in developing a pedagogy of pleasure through children’s literature and art, I like to think that we are pretty expert in teaching in a fun and in-depth way. I love co-teaching with other experts, often from within the publishing world and am proud to say our former students have won just about every North American award and published around 230 books. We also provide lots of bonuses and exceptional resources helping you directly connect with editors, agents, and art directors through critiquing webinars and skip the line submission opportunities. For me, this is not just a business, it’s my life’s work - helping others create wonderful meaningful or fun-filled kid’s books, and getting them published.


Dani: If you could only give one book to a new author/illustrator what would it be?

Mira: Voices In The Park by Anthony Browne is one of the most brilliant children’s books ever published in terms of learning voice and how to layer in social justice themes like class and gender without being heavy-handed. It has equally extraordinary multi-layered illustrations that reference art history. Here’s a review of it if you want to find out more. And while the review doesn’t talk about the super smart way that the book subverts gender roles and addresses class it does give a glimpse of why it’s so brilliant. I also think younger readers will appreciate it too because of the language and art, even if they don't get all the layers. https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7894-2522-5

Another favorite is I See The Rhythm by Toyomi Igus and Michelle Woods. This is another perfect mix of art and words with a multi-layered approach to African American history and music that is relevant for all kids. Here’s a review for that, which I wish mentioned the relevance of African-American music on the history of North American music in general, but still gives a glimpse of why it’s such a great book https://blogs.iwu.edu/edu320spring14clrb/2014/04/03/i-see-the-rhythm/

Finally, I have to give a shout out to Mac Barnett who is such a clever wordsmith and whose books always make me laugh.

I hope this interview has something helpful for someone. Thank you Dani and thank you everyone here for reading this.

Mira’s bio

Over the past 30 years, Dr. Mira Reisberg has worn just about every hat in the children’s book industry including award-winning illustrator, author, and children’s literary agent. Mira holds a PhD in Education and Cultural Studies with a focus on Children’s Literature. She taught university level children’s book courses before starting her own international online school – the Children’s Book Academy http://bit.ly/CreateKidsBooks Mira’s students have published or contracted over 230 books and won just about every North American children’s book award. Her first edited and art-directed acquisitions at Clear Fork/Spork will be available at the end of 2018 and early 2019. She feels very grateful to help make the world a better and more joyful place through children's books. If you join her newsletter tribe, she will send you wonderful goodies bit.ly/CBA-Gift

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Follow Mira:

Course Website: http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChildrensBookAc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/childrensbookacademy/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childrensbookacademy/

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PRIZE

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Mira is offering a 5 Ways to Make a Dummy Course!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Picturebooking Magic with Nick Patton

I don't know about you but I love to listen to podcasts when I draw. It's something that's not too distracting and helps improve my mood while working. I started listening to The Picturebooking Podcast when it first came out. At the time there were a few podcasts created by writers, but only Nick's (that I knew) podcast was from the perspective of an illustrator. This makes Picturebooking near and dear to my heart, because it's great when you are getting started as an illustrator to hear from other people who are in the same boat as you. Nick's podcast is insightful, creative and a ton of fun to hear! Nick isn't just awesome to listen to. His artwork is great as well. Check out his Instagram and Twitter pages to see his practice drawings and original artwork!

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Dani: What is your favorite thing about running a podcast?
Nick: My favorite thing about the podcast (by far) is getting to have in depth con
versations with picture book creators who love the craft as much as I do.

I don’t know about you, but the majority of people in my life don’t let me talk for hours about Melissa Sweet’s art or how darn funny an Aaron Reynolds story is. Not only do I get to geek out about this art form, but I get to do it with the people who created it. The whole thing just blows my mind. I’m so lucky.


Dani: How has having a podcast affected your own illustration work?

Nick: Studying and talking to professional illustrators made me want to step up my game. It made me want to toss everything I’d ever done out the window and start over. I have personally done a lot of thrashing and flailing.

For the first couple years of the podcast I’d find myself studying someone’s work and then twisting my own art to their style.

But recently I’ve been listening to some past interviews and I’m finding clarity in what Dani Jones, Ovi Nedelcu and others have told me.

Dani is all about keeping it simple. Just make stuff and show it to people.

And Ovi created his “look” out of necessity. He made sure his art fit into his whole life. This is something I’m trying to do more of. If a piece of art takes me weeks to create, it isn’t a viable way of telling stories.

I still love putting on someone else’s style, but now I just copy the art as a learning exercise … something Amy June Bates mentioned in our talk.


Dani: What is your favorite food?
Nick: Well I did the illustrations for a newly released picture book title SAM AND THE SEVEN POUND PERCH. It’s a funny story about a boy and his dream of catching a record perch. I don’t want to give to much away, but if I was Sam, the story would end with a Friday Fish Fry!

The first Friday of the month a church does a fish fry in our town. They get the perch from the local fish market and they use a recipe that was gifted to them by an old restaurant owner. It is amazing perch! And it’s where we will be this Friday night!


Dani: Do you have a favorite podcast (or podcasts)? Could you share what you learned?

Nick: My first conversation with Dan Santat, days before he won the Caldecott for BEEKLE was special. Vanessa Brantley-Newton singing on the show brings goosebumps. The playful sarcasm of Mike Lowery, the energy of Rafael López and the thoughtfulness of Antoinette Portis come to mind. Asking Peter Brown about peeing was pretty memorable, and just sitting back and listening to Will Terry talk was fun.

So many good moments that it’s hard to bring one to the top.

But if you want a show about actionable tips to break into the children’s book industry … I did an entire episode on the topic with 19 past guests!

Here is Kelly Murphy’s advice in that episode:

Determination. You have to keep telling yourself that this is important and why it’s important. Self evaluation. What are you doing and how does it work with what the publishing world is doing. Thick skin. Rejection is part of this deal. It’s part of this profession. So a thick skin is important.


Dani: Why did you start a Patreon Page?

Nick: My Patreon page is all about sustainability. Patreon allows listeners of the show to contribute a monthly amount for the content I produce.

I want to continue having these conversations and promoting this medium. The goal of the podcast is to showcase the authors and illustrators behind my favorite books. But I need the show to be sustainable.

I’ve read some marketing books and blogs. I’ve googled “how to monetize a podcast.” And I don’t feel like being a true internet marketer. It’s just not fun or interesting.

So maybe my Patreon page is just me being to lazy to truly monetize the show with ads and such. But I’d prefer to think it’s an opportunity for my listeners to support my art. It’s a simple way to give me the ability and freedom to make Picturebooking my way.


Dani: What's next for the Picturebooking Podcast?

Nick: I’m inching closer to the 100th show! And I’ve been asking a bunch of people why picture books are important. It’s going to be an inspiring podcast and it reminds me why I get up every day and work on this craft.

If you or your readers would like to answer the question and potentially be included in the 100th episode just record your answer and email it to me at nickpattonstudio@gmail.com. Please state your name in your answer … “Hi I’m Nick Patton and picture books are important to me because …”


Dani: What are your goals beyond the Picturebooking Podcast?

Nick: Four years ago, when I started the show I had this self-publishing vision. I really thought I was going to tell and share stories in some untraditional ways. But like monetizing a podcast, this self-publishing path runs headlong into internet marketing.

I’m not interested in doing everything myself. I get tired just thinking about posting on Facebook, let alone setting up an internet marketing campaign.

So my goal this year is to rebuild my portfolio, complete some “smart” dummy books and go fishing for an agent. When I catch one, we’ll have a fish fry … you’re invited!
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Follow Nick:

Podcast: http://picturebooking.libsyn.com/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/picturebooking/posts
Twitter: @nickpattonillo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picturebooking/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickpattonillustrations

Interview with Puppy Approved, Ashley Howland

I had technical difficulties with this post today! I had it all set up and ready to go, but when I went to look at the pre-scheduled post today there was no post! 😰 I do not know what happened, so I'm posting this and hoping it sticks.

When I was talking to Ashley about doing an interview I was convinced that she had done an interview with me before. I was looking through my blog to find the old interview and I found nothing. Well I found an old blog hop we did, and talked about her more than once on my blog, but there was never any interview! Well time to fix that oversight. Here is the wonderful Puppy Approved Ashley Howland!

Dani: Why did you decide to write for children?

Ashley: I’m not sure it was a decision. My brain is just wired that way. I have children, I work with children. It’s more than that though, I love to read and my favourite books have always been children’s books. They are the things memories are made from. Reading to my children has always been one to the best parts of the day. We still love to read stories together and share these adventures. I write because I love to share stories with my girls and with other children. Naturally I write for children, it’s the best way to share adventures.

Dani: I know you are a dog person, but how do you feel about cats?

Ashley: Ahh the wonderful cats. I love big cats, as in tigers, lions and cheetahs. Now the pet cat, I guess I can see why some people like cats. I just prefer dogs. Partly because my husband is allergic to cats. Mainly it’s a personality thing. The thing with dogs is they need you. They want to be with you, do things with you and be a part of your life. Most cats want you only when they need something from you. I also have issues when people let their cats roam the country without any thought for the environment. No bells, no curfew. That of course is the minority of cat owners. There are of course cats that are great pets, but unless it’s a part of the big cat family I would rather have my dogs.

Dani: What do you do when you aren't writing?

Ashley: I am a teacher, mainly Physical Education now. I teach in a primary school and have taught Science, Japanese and classroom. I have interests in digital technology and love to integrate subjects all together. I often teach through stories, it’s one of the reasons I started to write. When I’m not at work I am with my girls, often on a soccer pitch. That’s all part of being mum. I am currently coaching, but generally I just try and help as much as I can. I love to spend that time with them and their friends. Between work, the kids, the dogs (who also love soccer), and occasionally getting to the gym life is quite busy. Writing is my time out, my release and while I don’t get much time, I try to make the best of the time I have.

Dani: Who influences your work the most?

Ashley: I would have to say my daughters. They are part of all my writing. At times we have worked on ideas together. Each of them has helped develop characters, ideas and even the plots. The places we go, the things we do, our daily adventures, the books we read and the holidays we go on all form part of my writing journey. My girls also help with my editing. Before I sent any of my stories off for editing I read them to the girls. They are fantastic at finding any plot holes and helping to fix any issues. The best critics come in small bodies. They are honest and straight to the point. If they hate it they tell me, if the find it funny they laugh and if they love it they ask for more!

Dani: What's the best job you've ever had?

Ashley: That’s a hard question. There are bits of all the jobs I have had that have been amazing. As a teacher I love to work with students. It’s so incredible to see them achieve their dreams. To be a part of the growth of any person is incredible. There are aspects of teaching that are not so enjoyable, the paperwork, the data, test scores, things like that. If you can put all that aside and just focus on the development of the students then teaching is incredible.
I was also lucky enough to work with at risk youth to train Labrador retrievers as companion dogs. This job was really rewarding. The dogs were always a laugh and the students grew so much from the program. It was an incredible experience. One that has shaped me as a teacher.
I guess I have been lucky and had opportunities to work with some great people. In my spare time I have coached volleyball and now am coaching soccer. The best part about this has been the people in the clubs. That community is what makes it all worthwhile.
As for the best job – it’s all about the experiences and what you make out of all opportunities. There is no perfect job, just what you make of it.

Dani: What are you working on now?

Ashley: I have a few projects going now. I really want to get the second book in my Super Hero series published. I just need to organize the cover and the chapter illustrations. That’s job number one. Then I have books three and four in this series to edit.
As I like to keep busy I have a pirate story I need to edit and I really want to get the second book in my Not So Boring Series drafted. The first one Write Your Own Story was are fun book to put together. In this book anyone can develop their writing craft. What’s even better is in each chapter they get to focus on one story and will have something worth publishing at the end. I love hearing the stories people come up with. The second one is a travel / writing journal with a difference. I just need to get moving with it.
I have lots to work on and not much time, but that’s all part of writing. It’s my release, so I will make time when I can.

You can connect with me here:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAshleyHowland
Obi Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Obi-the-Super-Puppy/575191985848747
Blog: http://ahowland.org/wordpress/

Dreamer, Katherine Locke

I love Katherine's Twitter feed. Kathrine is funny, interesting and just plain fun! I love how she shares her journey with her followers. She also shares some of her favorite books on her feed, so be sure to follow Kathrine! My words are failing me today, because I feel like I'm not communicating all of Kathrine's awesomeness, but believe me when I say she is awesome. 
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Dani: Why YA? 

Katherine: I love the precipice of change, liminal spaces. And adolescence is one of the best liminal spaces: you're not a child, not quite an adult. You're forming your own independent opinions about the world, but you're usually reliant on your family for basic needs. It's a really neat time in which you're growing and expanding really rapidly, but everything can feel like you're just holding your breath, waiting for real life to begin. I remember feeling that way and I love writing characters who feel that way too. The other reason is that teen readers (and really all kids) are the most open-minded about what they read. Whereas adults sometimes struggle with the types of books I write because they don't fit neatly into one category or another, teen readers just care if you're telling them a good story. I love that. 


Dani:  What are the most important aspects of your job as a writer?

Katherine: To me, the most important aspects of my job as a writer are to tell a good story, and to always be growing. First, I don't have an audience if I don't tell a good story. I'd be failing at the most basic part of being a writer! But I also want to be growing as a writer. I never want to tell the same story twice. I never want to dip my toes into the same pond. I want to learn as I go, and I want my writing to improve as I go. 

Dani:  How did you know your agent was right for you?

Katherine: I'm represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency. She challenges me to always be improving and leveling up with each book that I send her, which is great and definitely what I need. But I knew she was the right agent for me because I'm a flighty, anxious, dreamy sort of person/writer, and she's very grounded, no-nonsense and business-focused. She makes sure that I don't get too carried away with my emotions and that my dreams are always grounded in reality. Publishing can be a rough industry on one's emotional and mental well-being, so I appreciate that she's there to support me. 

Dani:  Do you prefer coffee or tea, and what are your thoughts on the other?

Katherine: I drink a lot of chai tea lattes. Like, a lot. It's a problem. (Says my bank account AND my kidneys.) Coffee's too acidic for me, so I end up putting tons of milk and sugar in it, and that defeats the purpose. And I do drink regular tea, especially if I'm just looking for a hot drink and not necessarily a ton of caffeine. 


Dani: What's one book you can read over and over?

Katherine: Emery Lord's Open Road Summer. I bet that comes as a surprise to people because it's a straight, contemporary YA romance but everything about that book is my catnip. I love the enemies to lovers, I love the fierce female friendship at the heart of it, and I love prickly girls in YA books. Reagan is prickly. 

Dani:  How much research do you have to put into "Girl with the Red Balloon" and "The Spy with the Red Balloon"?

Katherine: A lot of research. For GIRL, it was a lot of internet research--listening and watching interviews, movies, TV shows, using all sorts of different resources on the web to research East Berlin and the Holocaust (which I had a great deal of background knowledge in.) For SPY, I read a lot of books about Nazi science programs, the Manhattan Project, spies in WWII, parachute troops in WWII, etc. People often ask me if I research before or after, and the answer is I'm pretty much always researching. I do a surface level dive, then begin to map out and sketch out the book's main plot/conflict and characters, and that as I'm writing, I'm also reading and tweaking and researching and checking. I really like the research though. I'm a Ravenclaw through and through. 


Dani:  What's one thing that readers should know about your books? 

Katherine: Hmm, this is a hard one! I guess readers should know that I trust my readers, completely, to think and carry and question, and to be comfortable with being uncomfortable sometimes, to be open-minded and hopeful. Though my books deal with fairly dark times and topics, I like to think that they're ultimately optimistic and hopeful books. 

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Katherine Locke lives and writes in a small town outside Philadelphia, PA, with her feline overlords. She writes about that which she cannot do: ballet, time travel and magic (though not yet all in the same book.) She secretly believes most stories are fairytales in disguise. When not writing, she can be found horseback riding, tweeting, or browsing the aisles of a bookstore, buying more books than one person can reasonably read in a lifetime. The Girl with the Red Balloon was her Young Adult debut and a 2018 Sydney Taylor Honor Book. The Spy with the Red Balloon releases October 2, 2018 and is available for pre-order now. Katherine can be found online at KatherineLockeBooks.com 

Follow Kathrine:

Website: https://katherinelockebooks.com/

Twitter: @Bibliogato

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Bibliogato/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katherinelockebooks/