The books have arrived!

I'm excited to be able to meet with Darren now that the shipment has come in.  We've had so many requests for copies already from friends and family, and we're both eager to share the book with a wider audience.  If you would like to order the book online, we have a listing on Etsy.  I'll also be working on arrangements to sell the book in at least one or two local bookstores, and there will be one or two book signings in the near future.  All the details still have to be worked out, but I feel better now that I actually have the books with me.

 

All about a boy, and a book

Oliver Jeffers is an author to whose works I was introduced when I became a mom.  His stories are whimsical and fun, and the drawings just evoke childhood through their structure and simplicity.  When I first met with Darren, I had one of Oliver Jeffers books in hand as a sample of what I liked best in a picture book.  I also always imagined that the main character in The Littlest Knight would have a big head and a little body - simply because I find that really cute.  Darren managed to use that "big head/little body" description and create a character I absolutely adore.

As for the Oliver Jeffers books, although I love all his books, I will admit to having a personal favourite: How to Catch a Star.  Not long after I had first read this book to my son, he told me confidently, "One day, I'm going to catch a star."  And there was no doubting from the tone in his voice that one day, he just might.

Here is a link to a recent interview with Oliver Jeffers by Today's Parent magazine:
http://www.todaysparent.com/jeffers

We're ready for an audience!

Recently, I thought about the upcoming publication of The Littlest Knight, and what immediately went through my head was: "We're near the end!"  But that didn't sound right.  The publication of the book won't be the end of something, but rather the beginning.  Darren and I are both theatre people, and it occurred to me that putting this book together has been much like the development of a play with a rehearsal period of working on the text and images until the book was just as we wanted it.  The publication of the book will be more like an opening night followed by the actual performance when we finally have an audience.

So, as our rehearsal period comes to an end, I can look back at an amazing collaborative effort that's taken place, and I'm looking forward to sharing the end product with our audience.

Early sketches

Have you ever wondered what children's book illustrators are given to figure out what to draw?  Other than the text, I have no idea, but here's a look at the really rough storyboard that I was able to provide Darren at our very first meeting.  Amazingly enough, he was able to make sense out of the scribbles, and he drew his inpiration for many of his drawings from these rough chicken scratches.