The Next Big Thing: A Global Blog Tour

I'm it! I've been tagged by the super funny and talented Frank Dormer in one of those blog tour thingamabobs (one illustrator tags another to answer a series of questions about her/his next book and then they tag someone else and so on).  Frank was tagged by Matthew Cordell who was tagged by Renee Kurilla . . . take a look at those posts and follow back because there is some amazing stuff going on.

But first on to my next big thing and the questions!

What is the title of your next book?

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Both my wife and my sister never seem to get the table setting right. Actually, a lot of adults I know don't. One night I was thinking about this and wondering if there might be a story there and soon enough these characters (Dish, Fork, Knife, Spoon, Cup, and Napkin) were setting about telling my their story.

What genre does your book fall under?

A toss-up between 'epic adventure' and 'BEST cutlery books of ALL TIME'.

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

Izzy - Isabelle Allen (or if I could go back in time I'd go with the girl who played Matilda)
Dish - I don't know of any great actors that are Dishes (the ones in Beauty and the Beast don't count because that was quite some time ago . . . no longer in their prime) so maybe Tom Hanks?
Fork - Vin Diesel (hands down)
Spoon - Gwyneth Paltrow
Cup - an as of yet undiscovered talent . . . Ben Clanton?
Knife - Daniel Craig (always lookin' sharp)
Napkin - Jack Black

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A change in place gives Dish and Spoon a taste for adventure . . .

Who is publishing your book?

Walker Books for Young Readers // Bloomsbury

Editor: Mary Kate Castellani

Designer: Nicole Gastonguay

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

I generally write my first drafts quickly. Ten minutes? Usually if the idea is any good I have a pretty clear idea of what is going on with it from the start, but then comes all the subsequent drafts, character designs, and artwork.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I suppose the first books that come to mind are contemporary cutlery classics like SPOON by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Scott Magoon and SPORK by Kyo Maclear and Isabelle Arsenault. I think it also has a bit of an Oliver Jeffers feel to it at times just as my first picture book VOTE FOR ME! was a somewhat influenced by the work of Mo Willems.

What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?

Hmmm . . . not sure what else I can say of interest so here are some things that others have to say about the book:

"I'm over the moon for this story. It is udderly brilliant!" - Cow

"This book is such fun! It makes me laugh!" - Little Dog, rap artist and comedian

"This story is sure to be a runaway success!" - Dish and Spoon, world travelers


Thanks to Frank for tagging me! Next up is the extraordinary Paul Schmid! But be careful because if Paul isn't having a ball in his post he might just bring an alligator.

sketchbook saturday

Why yes, I do have a new moleskine watercolor sketchbook!

monster monday

sketchbook saturday

These guys have been taking over my sketchbooks lately. I've got a story in mind for them but am struggling with the telling of it. That always seems to be the way it is for me. Either the story is great and I'm struggling with the characters, or the characters are great but I'm struggling with the story.

feature friday: KEN WONG

When I first started to have an interest in illustration I came across Ken Wong's art on deviantART. I was blown away! I still am. Recently I got his new app Hackycat and have become somewhat addicted (I'm now at the Vengeance Narwhal level). The game is funny, well designed, and challenging. As the name of the game suggests the game is all about kicking cats and keeping them in the air. There are a bunch of aspects to the game that are complete nonsense (such as little rainbows on the ground and cheeseburgers that appear in the middle of the air for the cats to get). I think it is great! Definitely worth checking out as are Ken Wong's other creations. The guy has some serious skills.

http://www.kenart.net/

Jasper John Dooley LEFT BEHIND gets a STAR!

The second Jasper John Dooley book LEFT BEHIND by Caroline Adderson and illustrated by me is now out and about with a STARRED REVIEW from Kirkus:

After Jasper John Dooley's beloved Nan goes on vacation without him, he goes pththth.

It feels just like when the air leaked out of his beach ball. At school the next day, he writes a story about a snake that gets stepped on a lot. The story is so long that it needs staples, but he accidentally staples it to his stomach. That eventually somehow necessitates a full 28 Band-Aids, since it just keeps feeling like the air is escaping from his sad body, possibly through the staple holes. Jasper and best friend Ori, who is given to prefacing his statements with, “The thing is...” (a phrase that neatly captures his amiable take on the world), try to build a cruise ship out of leftover lumber, not altogether a success. Ori gets a bit bossy. A final trial comes when Jasper gets to bring home the class hamster for the weekend but accidentally loses it in his house. As in Jasper's first outing (Star of the Week, 2012), nothing truly compelling happens, but the concerns of this early grade schooler are so aptly, charmingly and amusingly depicted that it's impossible not to be both captivated and compelled. Clanton's simple black-and-white illustrations feature skinny bodies, oversized heads—and lots of smiles.

Early chapter book or read-aloud, this effort will leave its audience with lots of smiles, too. (Fiction. 5-8)

I find it funny that the second book got a starred review when the first was called STAR OF THE WEEK and did not. Either way both are very well written stories and a good choice for boys who are just starting to read chapter books (girls too!). I'm now in the midst of working on the third book, which just happens to be my favorite of the lot so far.

sketchbook saturday