SCWI | All My Characters

Tags

A Fine Life for a Country Mouse, Blog tour, illustration, Penguin Publishers, SCWI, Susan Detwiler, Tomie dePaola, Writing process

Thanks so much to my friend Susan Detwiler for asking me to participate in this blog tour. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Susan in her lovely studio in Baltimore, and I have to tell you…Susan can draw anything! On top of that, her illustrations have a special flair and warmth.

In September be on the lookout for her first children’s book as author & illustrator, A FINE LIFE FOR A COUNTRY MOUSE, published by Penguin. You can read more about Susan on her website and blog here.

MY WRITING PROCESS

1. What am I working on?

– A PB about a snail in the Middle Ages who doesn’t like living in the castle moat.

– Sketches of Byzantine empresses and princesses

– research on 15th century England, Wales & Mallory’s Le Morte d’Arthur

-submissions to editors and agents, magazines and workshops and participating in Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12

2. How does my work differ from others of this genre?

I’m not completely sure. Maybe some of you will tell me 🙂

3. Why do I write what I do?

When I was a kid, I adored mythology thanks to D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths and English history, especially the Tudors. I did my best to forget all of this as a grown up, but my old loves eventually caught up with me. I truly hope there’s a reason for this and that my interests and experiences can combine to create good books for children.

4. How does my writing process work?

I write 3 pages by hand first thing every day to loosen me up and get over my perfectionism. I learned this technique from Julia Cameron in her wonderful book, The Artist’s Way. After that, it all depends if I have a deadline. If I don’t, I look through my WIP’s and try to settle in to rewrite or edit or sketch or paint.

I take plenty of breaks and read positive affirmations.

….and NOW, I am happy to introduce another good friend, Stephen Ingram.

By day, he’s a mild-mannered librarian. By night, mad illustrator, water colorist, digital artist and creator of picture-book stories. He was also the runner up for the 2013 Tomie dePaola award from SCBWI. Please join him for his writing process on his website.