Cautionary comic for writers (and illustrators!)

My office featured in Andrea Skyberg's Tuesday Studio Tours today!

Thanks to Andrea Skyberg for featuring my Office Cave in her Tuesday Studio Tours today.

Find out why my office looks NOTHING like the rest of the house, how my hero husband Jeff helped enhance my office, my envy of those who have appealing-sounding creative rituals, music I'm listening to (including Ookla the Mok) and a sampling of my new OfficeCrazyDanceBreak playlist, the most useful tool in my studio, and advice for those who want to make a personal space where they can be creative. Plus LOTS of photos!

Thank you, Andrea!

Thank you, SCBWI! (and why all aspiring children's book writers and illustrators should join SCBWI)

Earlier today, I posted about the book launches of my good friends Arree Chung (NINJA! from Henry Holt) and Brian Won (HOORAY FOR HAT! from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). And as some of you already know, my very  first chapter book illustration project launches in hardcover today, and the books are by JUDY BLUME (!!!). I posted about the Judy Blume project, including how I became a Judy Blume illustrator.

When the three of us discovered we all had books coming out on June 3rd, we decided to do some joint promotion. I met both Arree and Brian through the SCBWI: Arree through one of David Diaz's Lost Weekends (David is one of my SCBWI Illustration Mentors) and Brian through the SCBWI Illustration Mentorship program. We've since become friends and have exchanged mutual encouragement and advice.

Below: photo from the 2013 SCBWI Summer Conference, when Brian, Arree, Christina Forshay, Kimberly Gee and Jen Betton and I were hanging out in the hotel room. I had met Christina, Kimberly and Jen through the SCBWI Mentorship Program as well. They all kindly agreed to pose for one of my I'M BORED In The Wild photos. :-)

I'm grateful to the SCBWI for so many reasons. You can read the thank you letter I sent to the SCBWI a couple of years ago, and their response.

As I was putting together blog posts about Arree and Brian, I was struck the number of similarities in how we found out way to publication. All three of us found our agents because of the SCBWI or SCBWI connections. All three of us got our first "big break" in getting noticed in the kidlit publishing industry largely because of the SCBWI. And of course all three of us met through the SCBWI and SCBWI connections.

So on behalf of Brian, Arree and myself I'd like to send out a big THANK YOU to the SCBWI! 

To aspiring children's book writers and illustrators who have never heard of the SCBWI (Society Of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators): I strongly encourage you to check out all that the SCBWI has to offer. Do go over to the SCBWI website RIGHT NOW.

I went over just now to see what was up, and was delighted to find my friend Jessica Lanan is this month's Featured Illustrator! I met Jessica through the SCBWI Illustration Mentorship Program.

And that's another reason I'm so glad I joined the SCBWI and have been attending their events. It gives me so much joy to watch the blossoming careers of children's book writers and/or illustrators I've met and befriended.

If you're nervous about attending your first SCBWI conference, please do read my SCBWI Conference Newbie comics (which I created when I was a nervous SCBWI Conference newbie). 

And I hope to see some of you at the SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles this year! 

You can read my posts today about Brian's and Arree's book launches:

Inkygirl Profile: Brian Won and HOORAY FOR HAT! (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Inkygirl Profile: Arree Chung and NINJA! (Henry Holt)

Martha Rago (HarperCollins Children's) and Lauren Rille (Simon & Schuster Children's) advice for aspiring children's book illustrators

Martha Rago, Associate Creative Director at HarperCollins Children's Books

I recently posted two mini-interviews with Martha Rago and Lauren Rille over on the KidLitArtists blog.

With the SCBWI Summer Conference coming up, I asked HarperCollins Associate Creative Director Martha Rago about how SCBWI portfolio showcases help publishers HarperCollins Children's find illustrators.

Martha says that the Showcase is a great way for art directors to see a lot of work all at once when they're looking for something in particular. She also points out that the event connects many artists with agents.

Read more of what Martha Rago says about SCBWI portfolio showcases.

Lauren Rille, Associate Art Director at Simon & Schuster Children'sI asked Lauren Rille what the biggest mistake or misconception that aspiring children's book illustrators make.

Lauren said that artists new to the process tend to have the misconception that being asked to revise means that they're doing it "wrong."

You can read more about what Lauren says about the revision process here.

I'm a Sharp-Schu Trifecta guest today!

I'm delighted and honoured to be a Sharp-Schu Trifecta guest today. Please do go visit their blogs today to find out more about how I helped create the new look for Judy Blume classics like Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret and Freckle Juice.

On the Mr. Schu Reads blog, K-5 teacher-librarian John Schu congratulates new book releases and then explains the Sharp-Schu Trifecta, with links to my Nerdy Book Club guest post and Colby Sharp's interview with me about the Judy Blue project. He also provides some wonderful Judy Blume videos, quotes and resources. Do read to the end of his blog post, where you'll find a great anecdote about meeting Ms. Blume for the first time.

On the Nerdy Book Club blog, I wrote a guest post with help from my Judy Blume project art director Lauren Rille. Find out why I was terror-stricken as well as ecstatic when I found out I was going to be a Judy Blume illustrator, how the new covers got created, samples of my early sketches, insights from Lauren Rille about the process, a request from Ms. Blume about cultural diversity.

On Sharpread, Colby Sharp does a 5,4,3,2,1 interview with me, which means he gave me five questions which I need to answer with 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 sentence. :-D I had a lot of fun with this.

Thanks so much to Colby Sharp and John Schu for inviting me to be part of their Trifecta today, and to Cindy Minnich for her help with my Nerdy Book Club guest post!

Revision is an essential (and fun) part of the process, says Simon & Schuster art director Lauren Rille

In KidLitArtists.com today, I interviewed Lauren Rille, who was my art director on the Judy Blume project.

I asked her what common misconception aspiring or new children's book illustrators tend to make. Her answer applies as much to writers as well as illustrators, I think: That some people misinterpret a revision request as an indication that they're doing something WRONG.

Do read Lauren's full reply on the KidLitArtists blog for more details.

Looking for holiday gift ideas? Here's a list of children's book illustrators on Etsy

(Last updated: December 10, 2013)

I have an Etsy shop but haven't had anything posted for sale in ages (I might start selling prints and some handmade oddities in 2014, though). While doing some holiday shopping on Etsy recently, I became curious about other children's book illustrators who had shops.

I've posted a list below, but I know I'm missing many names. If YOU know of a children's book illustrator with an Etsy shop, please do post the URL of their Etsy shop in the comments section, thanks!

Sheralyn Barnes: original oil paintings, giclee prints

Kate Barsotti: pencil & sheep needle felting

Sophie Blackall: mainly prints

Calef Brown: drawings, paintings, originals from children's book illustrations.

Susan Taylor Brown: cards, prints, original art.

Matthew Cordell: original art, including studies and outtakes from his children's book projects.

Christopher Denise: original illustrations created for Redwall & other children's books, no prints

Chrissy Fanslau: Don't Touch The Baby & Wash Your Hands signs

Christina Forshay: prints

Beckett Gladney: prints, original art, sketchbook & portfolio covers, journals, earrings, more.

Stephanie Graegin: prints

Heather Hitchman: prints, custom illustrations. Focus: fantasy, ethereal, animal, Victorian-themed art.

Jannie Ho: original illustrations (currently empty)

Renée Kurilla: prints

Sally Mavor: note cards, posters, prints, autographed books.

Hazel Mitchell: prints and original art.

Scott Nash: prints, stickers, books.

Debbie Ridpath Ohi: prints and art oddities (currently empty)

Cindy Pon: YA author who also is an artist (I didn't know this!). Prints, paintings.

Matte Stephens: prints.

Diana Sudyka: prints.

Moira Swiatowski: original ink drawings.

Susan Swan: handcrafted jewelry.

Renee Treml: (temporarily closed until later this month when I checked)

Laura Zarrin: prints, original art.

Special thanks to Kate Barsotti and Emily for the heads-up about many of the shops above.

Goodreads Choice Awards voting now open; list of children's/YA categories

Since Amazon announced its acquisition of Goodreads back in April, those of us who have been using Goodreads have been waiting in semi-dread for the inevitable sweeping changes that would end destroying a once-thriving book community. Except they haven't happened. So far, Amazon appears to be wisely playing it cautious when it comes to messing with what is already a Good Thing (knock wood).

Anyway, voting is now open in the 5th annual Goodreads Choice Awards! You have three chances to vote, and the Opening Round lasts until November 9th. Semifinals take place Nov.11-16 and Finals are Nov.18-25.

Here are the nominees in categories for children's and YA:

Picture Books - Middle Grade & Children's - Young Adult Fantasy - Young Adult Fiction

Have to admit I'm baffled by the "& Children's" in the second category. So picture books don't count as children's books? Hm.

Hovering your mouse over any of the covers will pop up the "Want To Read" option, so browsing the nominee lists are a great way to help you decide what to read next.

Second Life, Inkygirl Haven and DOLL BONES: when virtual/real-life worlds collide

I've always been a fan of online communities, and used to be all over the virtual world of Second Life. I rented a virtual cottage, bought virtual land, built a virtual community for writers where I had an educational center that included resources for aspiring children's book writers:

With the SCBWI's blessing, I even created a virtual book with some of their basic info for newbies, and users could actually page through the book and read the contents. Keep in mind that this was BEFORE digital readers became popular.

I also created and sold virtual writing supplies and tools for people's virtual offices. This was way fun because it was sort of like programming (I used to be a programmer/analyst way back) mixed with sculpture and a lots of creativity. You basically took geometric objects and then combined and manipulated them, adding your own textures and scripts. 

I made writer-themed jewelry, a portable writing desk and easel, writergeek clothing, a customizable book, laptop whose screen would display a different partly-typed manuscript each time you touched it, and so on. Some I gave away for free, some I sold through the Second Life Marketplace.

Above: One of the rooms in my Inkygirl Haven For Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, where I hosted chats, helped promote other people's children's books (touching any of the book covers above in-world would take the user to the book's website as well as give out a notecard with info). Here's a shot of Inkygirl Haven from the outside:

I later built a river that ran beneath the building, with several small waterfalls and a secret underground cavern. I also set up sounds as well so that, depending on where your avatar was standing, you could hear the water, birds in the trees, etc.

The challenge, I found, was convincing children's book types outside of Second Life to learn how to use the interface well enough to be able to participate in-world. There's a steep learning curve that was a real barrier. I also found that as fun and full of creative potential as Second Life was, I very rarely ran into other kidlit/YA types in-world unless there were scheduled events.

And although there were (early on, anyway) many libraries and educational institutions who had set up buildings and sometimes entire campuses in Second Life, I never seemed to run into anyone when I visited. I always felt like I was wandering through a ghost town. Cool to look at and check out some of the exhibits, but after a while I got tired of never running into anyone.

Plus the lag was getting really, really bad. Sometimes I'd arrive in-world but not be able to do ANYTHING (I couldn't fully rez) because of the lag.

Milkwood Writers' Colony (the group now has a website called Virtual Writers, Inc.) still hosts regular events, and I drop by from time to time; SL lag varies but seems to be improving. It's a lot of fun -- sort of like dropping by your favorite coffee shop for a short writing session with friends. Check out the Virtual Writers list of interactive social events for the upcoming schedule.

I used to write during these sessions but these days I'm more likely to be illustrating in real-life while the others write. Check out the easel I created above, complete with paint stains, brushes and a rag. I didn't write the script but bought it from the SL Marketplace -- when I "wear" the easel, my avatar immediately starts going through the motions of painting. I update my virtual painting on whim.

I've also since created an artists' toolbelt and used it for some shameless promo for I'M BORED. Here's a close-up of a virtual book I had clipped to my belt along with a sketchbook and brushes:

Heh.

But that brings to me to this afternoon, when I dropped by a Book Island booth I'm renting short-term to help promote my book projects. Just for fun, I browsed the list of upcoming Arts & Culture events on Second Life, and was delighted to find that the Senchai Library on Imagination Island was going to be doing a live voice reading from DOLL BONES by Holly Black, illustrated by my friend Eliza Wheeler!

How cool and bizarre. Here I was, in a virtual world reading about an actual voice reading in a virtual library from a real-life book that was illustrated by someone I knew (!!).

I won't be able to attend the reading (the librarians at Seanchai are very kind and let my avatar paint quietly on my easel in the corner while they do their readings) because I'll be going to a Simon & Schuster event in Toronto, but I love the idea! If you're planning to attend, by the way, note that all times listed on SL are always PST.

Anyway, you can find out more about Eliza's illustrations in DOLL BONES and her own picture book book, MISS MAPLE'S SEEDS, in the interview she did on my blog a while back. 

Loved Eliza's creepy illustrations in DOLL BONES, by the way, and Holly Black's story is fantastic. Highly recommended.

But I digress...

I ended up leaving Second Life in favor of Twitter and Facebook because that's where the children's/YA writer community were hanging out, including my agent. I still love the creative potential of Second Life but now that I actually have book contracts (*gasp*), I'm having to pare down my social media time. I've also been shutting down most of my many blogs, including my Second Life blog:

I've started to gradually get vacation-type photos of my avatar reading I'M BORED in various places in Second Life. Like in Paris!

Is it worth it for writers and illustrators to check out Second Life? At this point, I'd say only if you can't help yourself, and if you have time to spare. It's not yet clear if Second Life has a longterm future, though the CEO claims they're still working on improvements.

If you're on Second Life, feel free to add me ("Inkygirl Omizu") as a friend...but be warned that I'm rarely in-world and when I am, I'm usually only online very briefly. Though who knows? Maybe we'll run into each other at a Milkwood Writer Dash or at one of the Book Island chats someday.

New comic up on Writer Unboxed

I post a comic for writers on Writer Unboxed the first Saturday of every month. Just posted a new one this morning: "Finding Focus."

Assembling A Children's Illustrator Portfolio: Choosing The Portfolio, Images, Assembly and More

Juana Martinez-Neal, who won last year's SCBWI Summer Illustrator Portfolio Showcase, has a fantastic step-by-step post about how to put together a children's illustrator portfolio. Lots of specific tips and resource links plus visual examples from other illustrators (hey, like ME :-).

Happy International Book Giving Day!

It's International Book Giving Day! The goal: to get as many new, used and borrowed books into the hands of as many children as possible. You can celebrate this EVERY day, of course: find out how.

I created a special bookplate in honor of the occasion. You can download it from the International Book Giving Day website.

And...

Thanks to Nancy Tandon for giving International Book Giving Day and my bookplate some blog love today!

NAKED! Process: Overall Narrative, Thinking vs Drawing & more on Pixel Shavings

I posted about working on NAKED! over on Pixel Shavings today:

Overall Narrative, Thinking Vs Drawing and NAKED! Sketching: What I'm Learning About The Picture Book Creative Process - by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Work goals for 2013: MiG Writers

I mentioned earlier that the members of my MiG Writers critique group have all posted their work goals for the coming year: here's the post. Thanks to Christy Farley (whose YA novel GILDED debuts this November) for putting this post together!

One of the reasons I'm so looking forward to the SCBWI Winter Conference in NYC later this month is because it'll be the first time that all the members of MiG Writers will be meeting in person!

You can find out more about us on our blog: http://migwriters.blogspot.com.

I'M BORED Process: How a picture book is translated into other languages

 I was thrilled to find out that the French version of I'M BORED was available for ordering online, and then got curious about the process.

How does a picture book get translated? Are there any issues that children's book writers and illustrators need to be aware of, when working a project?

I interviewed Tracy Philips from the S&S UK Translation Rights team about the process, over the I'M BORED Scrapbook Blog.

Comic Caption Contest & A PiBoIdMo Guest Post

I have a comic caption contest over on Tara Lazar's blog today, as part of PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month) as well as a guest post about how I come up with picture book ideas.

The winner gets a signed copy of I’M BORED with a hand-drawn doodle inside. If you already have a copy of the book (yay, thank you!), I will inscribe the book to anyone you’d like and send it to them. Even if you DON’T win, all commenters will be entered in a random drawing for a hand-drawn doodle.

KidLit Cares: KidLit Community Raises Funds For Post-Sandy Relief Efforts

 If you're a teacher, librarian, aspiring kidlit/YA author or illustrator, I strongly urge you to check out the services currently up for auction on Kate Messner's site as part of KidLit Cares, generously donated by members of the children's/YA community to help raise funds for Red Cross disaster relief efforts.

NOTE: If you lack the money, expertise or time to bid or donate services, you can still help by spreading the word about KidLitCares. If you're on Facebook, do "Like" the KidLitCares Facebook Page. You can follow KidLitCares updates on Twitter with the #kidlitcares hashtag.

Just a few of the listings:

Penguin Art Director Giuseppe Castellano is offering a written portfolio critique, with a follow-up phone call to discuss your work. Just added yesterday: "If we reach $300, I’ll add a one-on-one lunch with me, my treat. We can talk about art and publishing, linseed oil and Wacom tablets! We’ll hammer out details after the auction. If we reach $500, in addition to the above, I will bring a book idea of yours to our Editorial Meeting." Details here. (Auction closes Tue. Nov. 13, 2012)

Chronicle Books editor Melissa Manlove is offering a picture book critique, a "free pass" to an editorial meeting (will take your revised mss to an acquisitions meeting for consideration & feedback), $300 of Chronicle books, advance copies of four of her books.

And just added yesterday: "If the bids reach $3,000 I will include a one-on-one lunch with me whenever we’re next in the same area (my treat, of course)–at which you will feel free to pepper me with publishing questions." Details here. (Auction closes Mon. Nov. 12, 2012)

Egmont USA publisher Elizabeth Law, who specializes in children's and YA fiction, will critique 30 pages and a synopsis of your manuscript. Elizabeth will provide written notes and line edits and have a 40 minute phone call with you to discuss your project and your writing, and any questions at all you have about the industry, agents, publishers, e-books etc.

AND (just added yesterday), she'll read, critique & discuss the first 40 pages and synopsis of the next round of your manuscript, if you get it to her within 6 months of her initial call. Details here. (Auction closes Fri. Nov 9, 2012)

These are only a few of many amazing services being offered for auction by editors, art directors, agents, publishers, authors and illustrators as part of KidLit Cares, so do check out all the listings on Kate Messner's site. Writers wanting to connect with editors and agents should note that listings include a mss critique & phonecall with Bloomsbury Children's Books editor Caroline Abbey, phonecall with Erin Murphy of Erin Murphy Literary Agency, query crit & phonecall with Jennifer Laughran of Andrea Brown Literary Agency, phonecall and crit of your mss & synopsis & query letter with literary agent Pam van Hylckama of Larsen Pomada Literary Agents, picture book crit & submission pkg from author/agent tag-team Anne Marie Pace & Linda Pratt (Wernick and Pratt Agency), phonecall and crit of mss + query + synopsis by Michelle Witte of Mansion Street Literary Management, mss crit and book from Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine executive editor Cheryl Klein.

Plus Skype visits from authors like Linda Sue Park, Mo Willems, Laurel Snyder, Laurie Halse Anderson, Veronica Roth, Linda Urban, Sara Lewis Holmes, Barbara O'Connor, Ellen Hopkins and others -- or in-person visit with Sarah Albee or Cynthia Lord. Get a character named after you or a friend in one of Robin Wasserman's upcoming books. Get your mss critiqued by a pro author like Laurie Halse Anderson, Julie Berry, Jo KNowles, Jean Reidy, Kody Keplinger, Deborah Underwood, Michelle Knudsen, April Henry, Sarah Darer Littman, Kelly Fineman, Tessa Gratton, Gwenda Bond. Get pitch/publicity/launch tips from experienced pros. Soooo much more! Do browse the full list.

****Note: Make sure you read over the full rules/details on Kate Messner's KidLit Cares page before bidding, plus verify listing details.

If you're a member of the children's book community and would like to donate your services to the next round of KidLitCares, fill out the form at the bottom of Joanne Levy's Kidlit Cares page; Joanne will be organizing Round 2.

I'M BORED in Seven Impossible Things today

I've been a fan of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast: A Blog About Books for ages, and was THRILLED to discover from Hazel Mitchell (my Pixel Shavings author/illus friend) that Jules has posted about I'M BORED today. You can read the post here:

What I’m Up to at Kirkus This Week, Plus What I Did Last Week, Featuring Debbie Ridpath Ohi

I've started keeping a physical scrapbook of I'M BORED clippings like this, by the way. Yes, I know I also have them collected online. But I find there's something more satisfying about being able to flip through physical pages and look at something in print, especially in days ahead when excitement dies down and I get back into regular work....and regular rejections. :-)

Oh, don't get me wrong. I know that at least my foot's in the door now when it comes to getting more books published. But I'm also realistic and know that rejections are as much of a reality AFTER getting published for the first time as before.

I figure this scrapbook will be a much-needed spirit booster in those days.

All Hallows Read: Give A Book This Halloween

What a wonderful idea. :-)

You can find more info about Hallows Read on their official website.

Nominations Open For The 2012 Cybils

Nominations are open for 2012 Cybils, the seventh annual Children's And YA Bloggers' Literary Awards:

Here's info about how you can nominate.