tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post7679806422161256542..comments2024-03-10T14:07:40.468-04:00Comments on Blue Rose Girls: just drink it...Blue Rose Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05224076615462128422noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-35912252318185509412010-02-16T19:14:14.494-05:002010-02-16T19:14:14.494-05:00Grace,
This a fabulous post. Thanks so much for wr...Grace,<br />This a fabulous post. Thanks so much for writing it. Your wonderful picture books are well loved at our local library and in high demand. And I think that people seem to forget the lasting impression children's books have on all of our lives. Every single person I know can name a favorite children's book that they loved - and that is true even for the non-readers! So this is a wonderful profession that impacts the most important audience.Ello - Ellen Ohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18311917335471167591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-20584226266344615972010-02-12T09:09:11.941-05:002010-02-12T09:09:11.941-05:00Illustrating is not my passion, it's my career...Illustrating is not my passion, it's my career. My passion is my family and my career is what satisfies my need to be accomplished and to make a living. If someone says to me that they do not care if they ever make any money from their work as a children's book illustrator, then I will say they will never be a children's book illustrator. When you are into the 5th round of changes on an illustration for the editor/art director you will know this is a JOB, it's a lot of hard work and you will often be doing it (depending on the type of project) for only the money!<br />I agree there is a living to be made in children's illustration but it most likely will not be from that glamourous Trade book series you dreamed of when you first began. It will most often be from much ed work, private and company clients, chapter book b/w's, paid school and library readings, it will be a diverse income. Then, once in a while, that great Trade book that you ARE passionate about.Christine Tripphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05058419743726981987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-39400780058734228192010-02-11T18:38:37.033-05:002010-02-11T18:38:37.033-05:00Not trying to be smart, but about the glass analog...Not trying to be smart, but about the glass analogy: huh? <br /><br />I still like Grace's books.<br /><br />EulaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-61739032932540248402010-02-11T07:52:28.691-05:002010-02-11T07:52:28.691-05:00What a great post! Life would be so much nicer if...What a great post! Life would be so much nicer if we could just have the joy of creating without the need to make money but I can't imagine doing anything else.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18191367329555391317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-76444019475672201482010-02-10T23:59:50.234-05:002010-02-10T23:59:50.234-05:00Very well said Grace. I just spoke at an SCBWI WWA...Very well said Grace. I just spoke at an SCBWI WWA monthly meeting about my own "10 year" trajectory and couldn't agree more. Thankfully I really do like doing those school visits :)Erik Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354811186888912444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-60327092477715708732010-02-10T14:15:56.160-05:002010-02-10T14:15:56.160-05:00Thank you so much for this, I really needed it!Thank you so much for this, I really needed it!Mrs. Pilkingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443662716537601907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-20114092991338366262010-02-10T14:00:04.792-05:002010-02-10T14:00:04.792-05:00The print run of JK Rowling's first book was l...The print run of JK Rowling's first book was less than 5,000 copies and her advance was equally modest. Few of us will match JKR's achievements. But it's good to remember that even a writer who achieved record-breaking success also persisted in writing that first book, for years, with little or no recognition or financial reward. - Sarah Aiglen, http://www.sarahaiglen.comSarah Aiglenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06382369084022218874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-57015875215797564642010-02-10T13:19:45.746-05:002010-02-10T13:19:45.746-05:00How awesome that those of us who work in children&...How awesome that those of us who work in children's literature have the opportunity to do something creative that makes a difference in the world; we are part of an incredible community of writers, illustrators, librarians and teachers; we interact with young readers and observe the importance of books in their lives. As the MasterCard ad says: "Priceless!"Anne Broyleshttp://www.annebroyles.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-77104725419343611052010-02-10T13:09:19.552-05:002010-02-10T13:09:19.552-05:00Beautifully stated! "..it doesn't matter ...Beautifully stated! "..it doesn't matter much if the glass is half full or half empty. It matters more that you are thirsty enough to drink it." That made me a little teary-eyed. No wonder you are a Newbery Honor-winning author! :)Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08545459610401140475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-81316995915261007152010-02-10T12:58:30.442-05:002010-02-10T12:58:30.442-05:00Sounds like everybody involved understands that su...Sounds like everybody involved understands that success requires<br />A) hard work,<br />B) a confident attitude, and<br />C) a preference for the frustrations of success over the comforts of compromise.<br /><br />I'd suggest that effective guidance plays an often-invisible role too. ("Outliers" offers many useful thoughts about that.)<br /><br />Just like a plant needs water AND soil AND sunlight, all of the above criteria are vital for success - and whichever is least abundant will be considered "the secret". Better to find the place where all are plentiful and set up shop there.Handsome Colonel Breakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16122921764962923069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-51925681978626593252010-02-10T12:39:28.126-05:002010-02-10T12:39:28.126-05:00Great post, thank you. Very ispiring. The money...Great post, thank you. Very ispiring. The money's nice, but the real thirst is wanting to write AND have kids read and enjoy our stories.Linda Covellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09554221527859919706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-9324720974426015412010-02-10T11:48:20.744-05:002010-02-10T11:48:20.744-05:00As the editor who acquired your first book, The Ug...As the editor who acquired your first book, The Ugly Vegetables, I'd be the first to admit that the advance on it was, umm, modest. But I'm glad that the book became a stepping-stone for you, and a steady source of income as well. <br /><br />You did that book, and you kept moving forward. And that's what brought you where you are now.Harold Underdownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07356976329798056051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-55380061496345696542010-02-10T11:43:29.674-05:002010-02-10T11:43:29.674-05:00I couldn't agree more that this is what it'...I couldn't agree more that this is what it's really like. I think you can be proud of your work and excited about someone wanting to read it even if you aren't making a lot of money. This is a perfect description of the profession:<br /><br />"You can make a living--it's not easy and maybe you won't make the money the way you thought (school visits support many an author) and it's definitely not for everyone, but it is possible and it can be pretty gratifying too."<br /><br />Thanks, Grace.Matt Phelanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08832391661429686859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-20652667649768153942010-02-10T11:31:04.873-05:002010-02-10T11:31:04.873-05:00Thank you so much for this post. "You have to...Thank you so much for this post. "You have to keep working at it, continuously with love and passion..." YES!!!<br /><br />I'm reading WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON right now, Grace. What a lovely book. Congratulations on your award - so well deserved!Lisa Schroederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10677227681455190084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31911817.post-14200528539010675552010-02-10T10:45:34.189-05:002010-02-10T10:45:34.189-05:00Yay - something positive but not Pollyanna. Thank ...Yay - something positive but not Pollyanna. Thank you. I feel *extremely* grateful that I don't have to work a job besides writing anymore, but that definitely does not mean I'm rich. There is so much middle ground where most of us writers live. Hard work, decent second-income pay (if not a living), and you really grow to appreciate non-monetary rewards, like a reader who totally gets your book or a nice review or a night out with fellow authors while conferencing, seeing friends succeed after years of rejection, etc.Sara Z.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11759783678042291757noreply@blogger.com