Okay, so Christmas is months away, but it feels like Christmas to me. My newest book has hit the internet, although its release date isn't until September first. It's a children's picture book, about as opposite in genre and style and overall reading experience from the Lessons Learned nonfiction market as two books could possibly be. Yet both came from me, from my heart as much as from my head.
Doesn't this cover
make you want to peek inside?
The illustrator, Carolina Farias, is from Argentina. No, I've not met her, didn't even know about her until a few previews came my way. That's how picture books are done, like arranged marriages, "It's me with a story. It's her and her art," according to Eric Ode in a poem about matching manuscripts and artists that I found in a recent SCBWI (children's writer's professional organization) bulletin.
The publisher, Albert Whitman & Company, played matchmaker, my Hello Dolly!
And Oh, My, what a match!
The illustrations are beyond what I envisioned as I wrote about a little boy adjusting to living in a foreign land. I'm in love with my book.
I can't wait for you to open it and read it to your lap child.
Catch of the day,
Gretchen
THis looks wonderful, Gretchen. I'm so happy for you. Let me know when you want to do a guest blog for me--I want to hear the story behind this story! Hugs and congratulations, Carol
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. There is back story and I'd love to share it with your readers. Let's wait until closer to launch.
DeleteGretchen, smiling and dancing
This is so exciting! I'm over-the-moon for you! It's been great watching it all evolve. I've pre-ordered three copies and can't wait to hold them in my hands.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad this book is coming out before your little ones grow too old! Then again, they're never too old for a book cuddle.
DeleteWish I had a short one to read it to. May just have to buy it, have it autographed and hold on to it. LOL, I'll tell the girls that the first one gets a special gift. You think the competition will make this grandparent thing work any faster? Yeah, yeah, I seriously doubt it too!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, my dear friend, kudos, atta girl and WooHoo!
No guarantees!
DeleteHow difficult was it to work with an illustrator that you've never met with? Did you and she plan the writing/illustration marriage together or did each of you handle your respective areas completely separately.
ReplyDeleteThe book cover is fantastic! I can't wait to get a look inside.
I didn't really work with the illustrator except to "aaah" and "oooh" over the pictures. I did make a few suggestions to my editor about details after seeing the pages, but those were minor and wouldn't change the concept at all. I'm already mentally composing my thank you note I'll send to the illustrator when I finally hold the book in my hands.
Delete