Here’s an update:
I have a new book coming this summer. I’ve just had one published this spring. Its been a busy year.
Both are quite significant for me. The Flute, and The Drum before it, are the first books where I sought a collaborator for something I could have done myself. When that person is Catell Ronca , learning to let go of a vision and then seeing how someone else can bring it to life and exceed your expectations is a wonderful experience! Collaborations are always rewarding, adventurous and exciting. True teamwork personified, complete with group high fives at the end that mean so much 🙂
The book still to come in a few months is Astro Girl. It had been swirling around my head for many years, and then it took about four years to bring her to life on top of that. It is about equality and determination, really, but its also a set of very real situations that make up the story. You can decide of its good or not, but I’m very excited!
Sometimes you have an idea and you have to choose between doing it now and doing it right. It’s not an easy choice. While the book was being born, life was rolling along in its usual unpredictable fashion, but in the end it seemed to come together quite quickly. I painted with renewed excitement, perhaps that’s why it felt quick.
For both projects, the underlying confidence in their success was created by carefully planning, not missing a beat with attention to certain details, and doing all the technical things right; sketching and storyboarding; writing freely at first, then slowly crafting a text; asking loved ones and professional associates for their honest opinions and then learning from them; making time to step away from the screen and the drawing board to enjoy the whole experience; being honest but not cruel to yourself about the progress.
Even though many people come together to make a book, everyone of them has to apply themselves to their task like nothing else matters. The end result is always going to be something special.
The Flute and The Drum are out now. Astro Girl is coming in Spring from all good bookshops. If you can’t find them on Amazon, try Hive (UK), or Indiebound (US).
The Illustrationist 