Updated: Oct 24, 2023
It's not possible to stay calm when our New Backyard Beasts & Curious Capers Children's book hits the market as of this week with pre-orders overwhelming us even before we launch the book this Saturday! To say we all so very excited is an understatement.
Illustrating this book was an absolute pleasure especially placing our characters together in an active scene on the front cover. What better way to jump off the page than to get a glimpse of some very curious antics and goings on within the pages of this beautifully written children's book.
Backyard Beasts & Curious Capers is my first, as a published author. Contributing three magical and mystical stories along with all the illustrations, I am thrilled to be sharing all this with you our little readers.
My illustrating process begins quite simply. I'm given the manuscripts from each author and while reading each story my mind very easily captures the vision of the characters. The most difficult part is deciding where to stop creating. There would be an entire book full of illustrations if it was left to me.
Deciding on one or two of the main characters actions has to be enough, and once they are decided upon it's time to start sketching!
I sketch on paper then transfer my work onto iPad using the procreate program. Although I have embraced the digital age I must confess I do miss the hands on feeling and smell of paint.
Each character develops not right away but through a process of research, examples and manipulation of sketches, more sketches and tons of imagination, which I absolutely love. During this development stage there is always the anticipation and fingers crossed, that the author of the stories loves my visions and creations of their beloved characters.
The happy approval from the authors and seeing the characters printed not just on paper but in a book is as exhilarating as it comes.
I am extremally thrilled along with my co-authors' to be presenting this new 'Backyard Beasts & Curious Capers' Book complete with interactive questions, and search for the illustrators initials, (Yes mine!) to the young and young at heart for a fun reading time together. This Children's Adventure Anthology is full of fun, adventure, mystery and magic, all entwined from the imaginations of The Ten Penners, a wonderful collaborative effort from 6 amazing writers and myself. We have had a lot of fun preparing this little gem for you all to enjoy and spread the word. Who knows we may just make it big yet!
This Saturday 21st October, join us The Ten Penners, as we introduce you to our book at our first Book Launch. Books Etc. Paradise Centre, Surfers Paradise from 11.00am to 2.00pm. Meet the authors, buy a book, have it personally signed, join in the activities and enter the colouring competition. We are looking forward to see you all there. With Christmas only three months away fill up your stockings now with this wonderful Fresh and exciting book. Your 8 to 10 year olds will love it! Don't forget to check out the last few pages of the book for the Fun Stuff, Questions, a Riddle to find my initials, and biographies to learn a little about us! See you in the pages! 😀🎅🎄🤶
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