I love seeing early sketches for a project. You can see how much work goes into a project before the final images are created, and it’s fun to spot glimpses of the final characters showing through in those first designs. I also like to imagine how different a story might have looked if the creators went with different designs to start with. It’s as if you’re seeing the story as it appears in a parallel universe.
Here are some early sketches for My Dead Bunny. Some spoilers below.
Late last year I was asked by the City of Wanneroo to work on a mural project with primary school students.
Our task: to make murals for the Banksia Grove Community Centre, based on the theme of ‘what makes me happy’?
Here’s what we did.
The end of 2015 marks two and a half years since I gave up my day job at the Health Department. It’s also been my busiest year by far.
That doesn’t mean much when there’s only 1.5 other years to compare it to 😉 but I’ve run the numbers and it was pretty huge.
Here’s the vital statistics:
Phew.
I’m doing five talks and workshops in January. They’re all for 8yo and over. The first three sessions are FREE!
January 7thHear how I made my latest book ‘My Dead Bunny’, and learn to design your own zombie animal.
Venue: Mandurah Library
Time: 10:30 – 11:30am
Ages: 8-12yo
Bookings essential; call the library on 9550 3650.
Hear how I made my latest book ‘My Dead Bunny’, and learn to design your own zombie animal.
Venue: Armadale Library
Time: 10 – 11am
Ages: 8-12yo
Bookings essential; book online here
My Dead Bunny includes a scene in a hotel lobby. It seemed like a natural opportunity to reference the classic horror film The Shining. My idea was rejected.
Continue reading “How ‘The Shining’ influenced ‘My Dead Bunny’”
Thanks to Zac from bestfriendsarebooks.com for naming ‘My Dead Bunny’ in his Top 10 Picture Books for 2015.
I’m very chuffed for Bunny Brad to be in such good company.
This year has been another great year for picture books. There has been a good mix of laugh-out-loud picture books to read aloud to groups and picture books with lots of details to share one-on-one. Below is my list of favourite picture books from 2015 (some with links to my reviews). I’ve been doing lots of school visits in my library role this year and most of the books below have been real winners with the kids I’ve read them to. Some of them I didn’t get a chance to review (these I’ve elaborated on) but they have proved to be very popular.
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Catalonians have some unique Christmas traditions. Their nativity sets are often elaborate, and each set must include a peasant figure called the ‘Caganer‘. This figure sits in the corner of the stable doing a poo. Seriously. Last Christmas I made some caganer figures for friends.
El caganer means “the pooper” (that’s the kid-friendly translation, at least). The traditional caganer is shown in the photograph above. From the front he looks innocent enough. From behind it’s a completely different story. Click through to see what he looks like.
Norm and I have some good news: The Last Viking Returns has won the Hoffman Award!
It’s one of the WA Young Readers’ Book Awards and it’s given to the highest-ranked book by a WA creator. The Last Viking won the same award back in 2012.
Huge thanks to all the WA kids who voted for our book; it means a lot.
You can read more about the win on the Fremantle Press website.
What a mental month! My Dead Bunny is finally out in the world after launches in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne.
Back in September I gave a presentation for adults at the Ipswich StoryArts Festival, on the process of writing and illustrating picture books. Thanks to Rachelle Sadler for the write-up on my session.
James Foley 