The winner of Debbie Ohi’s cartoon caption contest is Catherine Bailey! (Hey, ’tis the season for Baileys, right?! Like George Bailey and Bailey’s Irish Cream…)
But be sure you’re not drinking Bailey’s while reading her winning entry—it’s spittake-worthy!
Catherine wins a signed copy of I’M BORED with an original doodle inside.
And the winner of the random prize—an original Debbie doodle—is Julie Rowan-Zoch! Be on the lookout for an email from Debbie.
Congratulations, ladies!
Now there’s tons more prizes to go, but I had a busy weekend. So stay tuned for more prize announcements coming tomorrow!
I am thrilled to have my critique partner from the MiGs, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, chatting with us here at Chocolate for Inspiration. I've known Debbie for a number of years and I've had the chance to read her middle grade and picture books. She is incredibly talented and I can't wait to see all of other projects come out to the light of day over the next few years.Now for the interview!
Me: There is so much fun and humor in your illustrations. What springboards you to come up with these creative ideas?
Debbie: Thanks, Christy! I draw a lot, just for the fun of it, and I think that helps a great deal. If I only drew for work-related projects, I suspect my illustrations would tighten up and lose much of the energy that people seem to like. So I try to sketch and doodle digitally and on paper as much as I can. I admit it was an adjustment at first. Once I started working on I'M BORED, my doodling went way down at first because I figured I needed to put the time into workstuff instead…but then I found this had a negative influence on my workstuff. Once I started drawing for fun again on the side, things got better again.Now I'm thinking I should starting doing more of the same for my writing as well. I used to keep a private daily journal, just for random thoughts, and I think I'll start it up again.
Me: How do you look at a story from an illustrator's perspective?
Debbie: That's an interesting question, mainly because I've always looked at stories visually when I'm reading. However, working on I'M BORED as well as my new picture book project for Simon & Schuster BFYR has certainly started me thinking a lot more about the picture book reader experience. There are so many aspiring picture book writers and illustrators out there who think that it's just a matter of writing the story and then adding pictures. It's so much more, however. Writing picture books is HARD. Or rather, writing a good picture book that stands out in the marketplace and is appealing to young people (rather than grown-ups who are used to the classic type of picture books from the past) is hard. Those who illustrate as well as write have a definite advantage when it comes to creating picture books because/we can't help but think of how the text and illustrations can function as one unit AS we write the story. I'm always asking myself, "How can I show this in the illustrations instead of in the text? What can I add in the illustrations that will enhance the story?"
It's a challenging but ultimately immensely satisfying process. Me: And the most important question, what's your favorite chocolate?
Debbie: Good quality dark chocolate.A fellow chocolate lover! Yay! Thank you so much Debbie for hanging out with us!
Stalk Debbie at:Twitter: @inkyelbows
Blog: DebbieOhi.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/inkygirlDebbie and Simon and Schuster have also offered to give away a copy of I'M BORED! Just comment in the section below. Get an extra entry for tweeting, blogging or mentioning this interview on Facebook. Just let me know in the comments section!Contest open internationally until Sept. 19th.
If you are a regular devotee of the kidlitosphere, you have no doubt come across Debbie Ridpath Ohi‘s inspiring writing and cartoons, whether on Inkygirl or another of her various and varied blogs, or indeed her website. We are delighted to welcome Debbie to our online Gallery, with a selection of artwork that includes the first page spread from her short story for the Tomo anthology, our current Book of the Month; illustrations from her imminent picture book I’m Bored (written by Michael Ian Black and published by Simon & Schuster on 4 September…); and a selection of personal pieces.
Here’s a taster from our Q&A, in which Debbie’s excitement about illustrating I’m Bored is infectious:
So hard to choose just one part! The most exciting in terms of specific moments:
My meetings with Justin Chanda (editor/publisher) and art director Laurent Linn at the Simon & Schuster offices in NYC. I remember that for the first few minutes, all I could think was OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH I’M AT SIMON & SCHUSTER!!! To talk about a book that *I* was illustrating!! But then I realized that I needed to focus, so forcibly dragged my thoughts out of gush nirvana and back to the meeting.
Seriously, though, I learned so much from Justin and Laurent, and it was incredibly exciting to see I’m Bored progress from early sketches to the final proofs.
Another highlight for me: the first time I read Michael Ian Black’s manuscript. I laughed out loud and was so delighted….and then it hit home. *I* was going to be illustrating this story.
Yeay! And we are excited that Debbie has two more books with Simon & Schuster in the offing. So head on over to Debbie’s PaperTigers Gallery now – and keep an eye out at your local bookstore on 4 September – we’re sure you won’t be bored and you may never be able to look a potato in the eye in quite the same way again!
(Above: I just got my very first NY Public Library card, yay!)
Apologies for the lack of posts recently. I'm in NYC at the moment, and don't have reliable Internet access where I'm staying.
Visited Surtex and the National Stationery Show (I have a weakness for paper and office supplies) and am meeting this afternoon with Justin Chanda and Laurent Linn at Simon & Schuster to go over the first set of layouts for I'M BORED, a new picture book written by actor/comedian/writer Michael Ian Black and illustrated by yours truly.
Debbie Ridpath Ohi writes and draws for young people. She is illustrator of I’M BORED by Michael Ian Black (Simon & Schuster Books For Children, Fall/2012) and has a short story in the upcoming teen fiction anthology TOMO (Stone Bridge Press, 2012). Her blog for kidlit/YA writers & illustrators: 
Congrats to Catherine! Can’t wait to see the other winners.
LOL! Catherine, you crack me up!
Congrads Catherine! Congrads Julie! Yippee.
Yay Catherine! Cute. tis the season for prizes!!!
Congratulatiobs! Truly hilarious!
Love it! So funny!
That’s brilliant! Congrats, Catherine!
Congratulations Catherine and Julie!
Great caption!
Yeah, I’m a lucky dog! Congrats to Catherine – actually had to look up what a cage fighter is!