Friday, January 28, 2011

a polymath at 13

My 13 year old daughter has been tirelessly working on a project writing, illustrating, animating, directing and film editing a fantasy story about mystical wolves. The main character is an unusually powerful but misfit girl wolf who must discover her true self.

Here is the trailer for the future animated movie:


Her abilities amaze me, but it is her determination and passion that makes me the proud father I am.

To see more of her work, here is her YouTube channel:
Silvermoonwolfkaala

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

on sale now

A Pet for Petunia is finally published and available for purchase!

Do your neighborhood a favor and buy local.

If that isn't possible, buy here.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

par-tay!

Those wonderful people down at The Secret Garden Bookshop in Ballard are hosting a gathering to celebrate the publication of A Pet for Petunia, my first work as an author/illustrator.


Everyone is welcome, there will be foodstuffs and libations, I will sign books and be shy and nervous all evening.


Here's the nitty-gritty:

Thursday, January 27 at 7 pm

2214 Northwest Market Street
Seattle, WA 98107-4024
(206) 789-5006


Stop in and say hello!

Friday, January 7, 2011

secret's out

Having pretty much finished the art for my second Petunia book, 'Petunia Goes Wild', I spent a bit of today cleaning up my studio.
I amassed quite a stack of 3x5 cards with notes to myself on book making, and for some laughs or insights I decided to share some of them with you here.

Creativity is subversive.

Stand out. Or get lost.

Indecisiveness means you are not listening carefully to your emotions.

Color is a tool, not a crutch.

Manipulate the viewer.

The character is king.

Do more drawing than thinking. Then think.

The page needing something does NOT mean adding crap to it.

Stay simple.

Put no strength where it does not belong. Does it support the story?

Is it remarkable?

OK is not acceptable. OK sucks.

--I'm not going to claim my work reflects these fine principles, but only that I strive to attain them. Anyone else willing to share their insights into making books?

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

a review!

A Pet for Petunia, available at the end of this month, garnered some favorable words from Publishers Weekly.


The review finished up with this:


"Petunia makes delightful company; kids will recognize themselves and clamor for rereads. "


Aint that nice?