It is always a huge compliment when people take the time out of their busy schedules to attend a book event with the kids in tow. Many thanks to all that have come out in the cold and told us how much they enjoy our new book,
Bella and Stella Come Home! Thanks to the efforts of my wife,
Anika (author of
Bella and
Pigs Love Potatoes) we have been able to share some of the behind the scenes material that usually never seen. We have printed out a few of the character sheets (seen on this blog) and have begun to display some of the book map and sketch material.
So stop in our next signing, get your book personalized with a drawing of Stella, have your photo taken with "big Stella", and take a quick look behind the scenes! We always try to make the time to answer questions about our books and process. So if your are in New England, come and see us this Saturday at
Where the Sidewalk Ends in
Chatham Mass.
Thanks to everyone at Barrington Books for a great day! If you missed us, we will be signing at Books of Wonder in NYC this Sunday, December 5th.
The early reviews for Bella & Stella Come Home are starting to some out. So far, its all good!
Here's what critics at Kirkus Reviews have to say about our new book:
ISBN:978-0399242434(Philomel) November 24, 2010
When Bella moves to a new home, she finds it greatly comforting to have her best friend Stella always at her side. Everything is so different. There are ten steps to the front door instead of three, the kitchen is yellow instead of blue and the bathtub has feet. Bella and Stella take turns encouraging and reassuring each other as they explore their new home. Even when her room is set up with her familiar things, it takes all the lights on, a new morning and a new neighbor with his own best friend to make her feel as if she’s home. Anika Denise conveys tender understanding as Bella speaks directly to the reader, expressing her apprehension and confusion in appropriately childlike terms. Christopher Denise’s glowing, softly colored pencil-and-digital illustrations add further dimension as readers see that Stella is Bella’s beloved yellow stuffed elephant, who morphs into an imaginary life-sized companion and supporter. Text and illustrations are interdependent and seamless, a splendid marriage of words and pictures. Cozy and comfortable. (Picture book. 3-8)
and a detail from the interior of the book...
Anika Denise, the author of
Bella & Stella Come Home, and my wife, has also posted a more detailed account of Bella's early stages on her blog,
http://anikadenise.blogspot.com/,
Check it out!
This is not one of those posts that accuse the big evil corporate entity of ripping off the little guy. This is a post about amazing coincidences where inspired artists working independently are pulling ideas from the ether.
I had the great pleasure of finally seeing Toy Story 3 last night. I think we were the last to catch it, but if we were not, you really need to see this film. You will not be disappointed!
Last summer I was working around the clock creating the final images for my next book, Bella & Stella Come Home, by Anika Denise.
Publication was delayed for marketing reasons until this November. If you like my work, don't forget, you can always pre-order the book at your favorite independent bookstore or Amazon.
All of the final artwork was completed and sent to the publisher in September and October 0f 2009.
Large pre-orders send a really strong positive message to my publisher!
I will preface the following with a few facts;
1. I have never been to Pixar....yet
2. No full time employee of Pixar has ever been to my studio.
3. I have not worked with or for Pixar.....yet.
4. I have exchanged emails and pleasantries with a few of the amazing artists that have worked on the Pixar films that I ad
mire, including Toy Story 3. No images were ever shared. Pixar runs a tight ship and at the cost of not showing my most recent work, I try to keep unpublished art under wraps.
5. Full disclaimer: I do have the good fortune to
count Carter Goodrich and Buck Lewis amongst my friends. Both are amazing artists who have contributed to Pixar films in the past.
6. I am a fan of Pixar films. The work that has come from that amazing group of artists, writers and filmmakers has been the driving inspiration for me to begin to venture out of the dusty but pleasant cocoon of books and into the world of animation.
As I watched the film last night, I was swept along with the mastery of story telling and film making. I was in that wonderful place of being completely in the film...until the last scene.
The last scene was not a disappointment in anyway shape or form! It was perfect but it was also strangely familiar. I was in awe. What I was watching was a more masterful rendition of a scene that I had created in my book just twelve months ago!
Remember: This is not one of those posts that accuse the big evil corporate entity of ripping off the little guy.
Ohhh.. fantastic! Looks amazing!
I am your biggest fan, Christopher. I'm sure there are many more out there but I can only speak for myself and your work truly moves me.
I can't wait to get this book! :o)
Wow, what an excellent review. I think I must be right up there with Alicia. I love your work and this book looks like it is going to be just beautiful... and how great is it to be able to do a book with your spouse?!