from the BRG archives: There's stuff outside the studio? Seriously?

Thursdays are my day to write in the Blue Rose Blog. I have my own blog that keeps me very blog-occupied, but it is as scattered and variable as my life, which is very scattered and variable, and there's been no mention of children's books there in a long time.

I've been having a lot of adventures lately that seem distinctly non-illustration-oriented, but in fact, the thing about illustration, is nothing is non-illustration oriented. To be an illustrator you have to be someone who is interested in everything in the world, because at any moment you could be assigned a story about a bunny, or a Russian folk tale, or a true account of modern day mountain climbers in Tibet. There is always a lot of research to be done, but the best sources are always your own memories and experiences.

Right now I happen to be working on the true account of modern day mountain climbers in Tibet. There's a challenge there in that I've never been to Tibet, or climbed a mountain. I've immersed myself in a small fortune of pictorial reference books to get a feel for the landscape, and studied the men and the equipment used on the actual journey. But the spirit of the book will come from my own monumental journeys, such as a 3 week ride on horseback from Massachusetts to Canada when I was young, and times I came upon awesome landscapes that took my breath away-- the Utah Salt Lake, Mount Katahdin, the Grand Canyon, Italy.

This blog, being specifically about children's books, and not mine alone, will make me find the links between my eccentric out-of-the-studio activities and what's on my desk. But I'm especially looking forward to reading the thoughts of my fellow Blue Rose Girls, who are all personal heroes of mine. I'll blog about how incredible they are next Thursday. :)

Todays studio music: The Fiery Furnaces.

First published August 3, 2006

from the BRG archives: quiet births

Many months ago I painted the last painting of a picture book, got on the train and dropped it on a white desk in the lobby of a New York publishing company.

Suddenly, two days ago, a heavy cardboard box shows up on my front porch in West Haven, CT. What the heck is it? Was I up at 3am bidding on eBay in my half sleep again last week? Oh no, it's 20 copies of my 6th book that I worked on for a year and a half.

Books are born without a lot of fanfare. Even my own family has gotten a little jaded about them. I never expected that when I dreamed of being an illustrator. It turns out if you want fanfare you have to make it yourself. The problem is I'm always about as tired as any new mother who's just given birth. Finding jobs, managing a business and painting is already more then a full time job, how can anyone fit PR person and party planner in there on top of it all?

But they do. I marvel at what the other Blue Roses are able to accomplish. I also think being the only non-writing Blue Rose gives me a slightly different relationship to my books. I get a lot of emails from new illustrators wanting to know how to get into the business or what my technique is, but the only 2 pieces of fanmail I've ever gotten were from children who confused me with the author. Doing a booksigning often requires repeated lengthy explanations about the difference between a writer and illustrator and how that arrangement works out. Which I love doing, but sometimes I worry I'm a consolation prize.

I swore the last time I had a book out I wouldn't let it go without throwing it a party, but here it is, and I'm caught unprepared again. Maybe even just a potluck in my backyard would do. Anyone want to come?

Originally published August 25th, 2006

How I Know Linda

I want to address Meghan's post from last week on "Getting the Credit," but haven't really had a chance to think the issue through and am a bit exhausted from my trip to DC this weekend, so instead I'll continue my "How I Know" series.

Linda was the next Blue Rose Girl that I met. Well, I think I may have met her and Anna at the same party at the apartment I shared with Grace in Somerville, but my first memory of really talking to her was when she came into the office with her agent, Judy Sue, for lunch. Linda was signed up to illustrate a book with my boss: One Grain of Sand by Pete Seeger. I remember before our lunch either Megan or Judy Sue warning me that Linda was very shy, and was also feeling sick that day, so I was a little apprehensive about the lunch, especially since I was still very new to publishing and not yet comfortable with those types of business lunches. But lunch was fun—Linda’s boyfriend Karl came, as well as Judy Sue, Megan, me, and I believe our art director Sheila. I remember discovering that Karl was cousins with Saturday Night Live star Ana Gasteyer, a tidbit I found incredibly interesting.

I slowly got to know Linda better by working with her on One Grain of Sand (which is a gorgeous, breathtaking book, by the way), mainly communicating comments on her sketches and art from Pete Seeger, checking in with her on how the art was coming along, etc. And I got to know her socially through visits with Grace, too, especially after Grace and Robert started dating. But it wasn't until after I made the move to NY that I felt like I really started getting to know her.

One of my strongest memories of Linda was during an art show that the original Blue Rose Girls (Grace, Linda, and Anna) had at a cafe in CT near where Linda lived. I took the train up from NY and it was lovely hanging out with everyone, drinking coffee and tea, eating cafe snacks, and admiring all of their books and art on the walls. Afterwards, Linda walked me to the train station and waited for me on the platform for the train to come. I remember we talked about various different topics, including Bookcrossing, and then she showed me these wonderful painted scarab beetles. Linda would leave them places for people and children to discover and be delighted by. She gave me one to bring to NY and leave somewhere. She doesn't know this, but I kept it all this time--I couldn't let something so beautiful go. But I know its purpose is to be let free for someone else to discover, so I promise that I will! Truly. The one I have says "YOU ARE MY MUSE" on the back. Isn't it amazing?

I then got to know her even more through her blog, and I was, and am, constantly amazed at all of the magical, imaginative, creative, and adventurous things she does. I'm so glad that I've gotten to know her even better through our BRG get-togethers, as she's been such an amazing influence on my life. I hope to get to know this soulful woman even more.