Hullo
How are you? You’re looking well. I haven’t done a proper blog post in a while, so I thought I’d better write one and tell you about what’s been going on.
Good Little Wolf almost wins an award (but doesn't)
I’m delighted that GLW was nominated for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2012. I was in awesome company – you can see the picture book list here – and I think it’s brilliant that picture books are in such rude health at the moment. (Of course, maybe they’ve always been in rude health and I hadn’t noticed before. But it certainly feels like there are loads of great books around, which can only be a good thing.)
The ceremony was held on the top floor of the big Waterstones in Piccadilly, and it was lots of fun. Generally, authors and illustrators tend to be quite isolated, so any opportunity to get out of our drawing/writing cages and mingle with real humans is enjoyable. Here are fellow-nominees Chris Haughton and Marta Altes:
Marta graduated the year after me from the Cambridge School of Art, and we spent the first half hour of the event giggling at the weirdness of the whole situation. Her book No! is really funny and look out for her new book My Grandpa in July. I saw a version of it at her graduation show and it was absolutely lovely.
You probably know Chris Haughton’s books – they’re brilliant and he’s a lovely guy to boot. I recently collaborated with him on his Node Rugs project, which was fun. More info on that when I get it.
In other awards news, I've been nominated for the Cambridgeshire Read It Again Award, Oxfordshire Book Award and have won the Coventry Inspiration Award. This last one has been voted for by book-reading kids, so I'm especially chuffed. Thanks, Coventrarians.
The Bologna Book Fair
GLW was also recognized by the Bologna Childen’s Book Fair Ragazzi Awards this year, which was a huge honour. The Bologna Book Fair is a huge trade fair that happens every year. Publishers and agents from all over the world attend and talk children’s books. It’s quite an overwhelming place to be.
I visited once as an illustration student back in 2008 – when I wasn’t even sure I was going to ever try and get into children’s books – and it was really weird going back for the Ragazzis. I had to pinch myself as I walked through the entrance and spotted GLW on huge poster.
The lovely folk at Random House kept me well fed and watered, and even made a special sign that sat at the front of the RHCB stand.
All in all, I came back with a full belly and a big head. Thanks, Bologna.
The Baby That Roared
There’s a new book out this month called The Baby That Roared by Simon Puttock. I did the illustrations for this last year, so it’s nice to finally see it in the shops. I’m afraid it involves teeth and people being eaten again, but that’s Simon’s fault really so DON’T BLAME ME. I just did the pictures.
Raccoon Rampage
I’ve been having lots of fun drawing raccoons for a book by Andrew Cope called Raccoon Rampage, published this month by HarperCollins. It’s been great to work quickly with pen, ink and paper and I’m quite pleased with the results. There’s a second book in the works which I’ll be working on later this year. Here's a sneak peek...
It’s all very exciting…
