Exciting times

I have now started the character development for my new book with Meadowside - (well, my old book that i did for my degree that I was awarded Highly Commended for in the Macmillan Prize in 2010), but we are improving it. So exciting because, as before, my mum is writing the text for it, and i am drawing the pictures (because that's what i do, funnily enough).

You can find my mum HERE, too.

We are aiming to get to the point where we are ready to colour it all up before i go off to have my little babba, so i've got a few things to be getting on with in the next 9 weeks, but will be awesome to come back to work to colouring up this book. I hope it's going to be successful because it means a lot to me!

Anyway, thought i'd share some little character development sketches because it's nice to see that some times :)

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Book Pages

Here is a selection of spreads from my children's book.

Nearly there...

Well, the good news is i've almost finished the Owl and the Pussy-Cat book! Yay! Sadly, I still have a tonne of other stuff to do too in the next 3/4 weeks. A LOT of printing = £!, binding, cutting, mounting, painting, photoshoping, saving, late nights, tweaking, crying, sweating, freaking out... and i have to fit all this in.

I will not miss this.

I want a job now please!

As I am beavering behind the scenes... here is a little treat. A double page spread from the book that I've never posted before, oooooooooooooh...

Advice taken...

Hello Everyone.

So I've been finishing off my spreads for The Adventures book for my degree show. Boy, it takes while for me to feel happy with them... But i've been working on one tonight and the art is pretty finished, but I have a dilemma...

Should the text on the right side be over or under the puffin?

Answers on a postcard please...

YOU ANSWERED - I LISTENED! Over wins the day!
(Also some tweaks have occurred!)

Macmillan Children's Book Prize - LONDON!

Last night, Andy and I got back from our trip to London town for the Macmillan Prize shin-dig. Got me a fancy certificate which will be framed and put on my wall! And some free wine, and nibbles, and a name badge!
But most of all I got to meet some incredibly important people.
I had a wonderful chat with illustrator Emily Gravett, and got to speak with some lovely women from the Children's book team who want to see some more of my work.

So back to London I shall go. It all starts here. Hopefully...

So as promised, here are a couple of photos from the event. My dummy book which was displayed along with another 7 or so, and me with my certificate, exhibited piece and a rather awestruck smile on my face.




Remember, the show is up until Friday I believe so if you're in London, pop over to Foyle's Bookshop Gallery, on Charing Cross Road. It's on the top floor at the back.

Macmillan Children's Book Prize

I am extremely excited and tres proud to say that my book 'The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussy-Cat' has been highly commended for the Macmillan Children's Book Prize!

I really can't believe how lucky I am to have been chosen from hundreds of very talented people - and although I would have LOVED to win one of the top prizes (being very competitive...!) I am over the moon to have this incredible opportunity to get my work seen by the Children's book publishing industry.
One piece of my work will be chosen for the highly commended and winner's exhibition, which will be displayed in Foyle's Gallery in Foyle's Bookshop in Charing Cross for a week (ish) from the 18th May.

Go and have a LOOK!!!!