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By: Viviane Schwarz,
on 1/14/2016
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Letters From Schwarzville
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HOW TO FIND GOLD is only one of Anna and Crocodile's adventures.
I wrote a few of them down as letters to my team at Walker Books.
Here is a blustery one.
There's a whole book about Anna and Crocodile, called HOW TO FIND GOLD.
By: Viviane Schwarz,
on 1/12/2016
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Isn't that awesome! First month of the year and Anna and Crocodile win a surprise honour.
I wrote a making-of feature for the Walker Books blog, you can read it here.
I wondered who these instructions were for. Was this a chapter from a pirate primer? Who was reading it now and why? I started to illustrate it, first imagining myself as a small child, practicing to sleep with my eyes open to make sure no one could steal the gold I hadn’t found yet.
“Get yourself a pet that will surprise you at night,” the story recommended. “A crocodile is ideal. Carry one with you wherever you go to build up your strength. Start with a young crocodile. It will grow.”
This was an idea taken from the Greek myth of Milo who carried a calf on his shoulders every day until it grew into a bull and he grew into a mighty Olympian. More importantly, one summer when I was tiny my mother bought me an inflatable crocodile in the supermarket. It was big enough to ride on and intended for the seaside. I carried it everywhere, dragging it by the tail until its snout wore through on the tarmac and it deflated before the holiday even started.
I drew a girl and her toy crocodile. It wasn’t quite right. They just seemed very quiet and small. - I drew them in on a new page and asked the girl some questions about the crocodile. She said it was called Rupert Maureen, and didn’t move unless she threw it and she wasn’t supposed to throw it. I didn’t expect that.
(both of the article and the comic)
As promised, here is the first of a few MAKING OF posts about How To Find Gold, my new picture book that's just been published (go buy it, thanks)!
I was developing the characters of Anna and Crocodile by letting them act out some of the ideas I had for the book on paper. I had no idea who they were yet. Anna had my haircut (it grew out gradually while I was working on the book) and the crocodile was a toy which Anna had told me was bought from IKEA ("when we got the wardrobes").
This is from the second sketchbook (there were many).
So, yes, that's how I work... I recommend it, it's really rewarding to see what these little made-up people come out with when you just let them run wild.
Next: Painting Like A Child. Watch this Space.
Finally!!
Anna and Crocodile have arrived! HOW TO FIND GOLD is in UK bookshops today, published by Walker Books.
Well, here you go. I wrote and illustrated an new book. It doesn't have flaps or speech bubbles this time. It has a quest, and it's very educational. I put in EVERYTHING I know about finding gold. Finding gold, as Crocodile could tell you, takes a lot of preparation, plus someone like Anna.
I'm really fond of these two - it took a long time to work out their story through many scribbly notebooks, letters, and sketchbooks, and by the end I felt like they'd somehow written it themselves. I hope they'll have many more adventures. Actually I am sure they will, I just hope I get to catch some more of them and put them into picture books.
I'll be posting scenes and drawings that happened on the way to the book here over the month, along with some treats... Watch this space!
On the 26th we'll have an official book launch in London, at Daunt Books (Holland Park Avenue). If you're a friend of my books, you're invited. Here you go:
Let's celebrate!
We often hold up box office numbers as proof of a movie's success or failure, but even for "Frozen," which is the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, its box office gross is a fraction of the merchandising revenue it has generated for the Walt Disney Company.
I am working silly hours to meet my deadlines... this is a sketch of Anna and Crocodile, the heroes of a new book I am working on. I had to cheat a bit and fix the original watercolour digitally to get it in on time, now it'll go away to be presented at a meeting to show people who these characters are. That sort of thing.
My niece is visiting from Germany. I just ordered her a pizza over the internet because I'm still at the studio well after dinner time... I hope she's having fun with the cats at home. I'll pack up and go see if there's a slice of pizza left for me now.
Here are a few of my favorite paintings from the second chapter of
Sprout Street Neighbors (some chapter one paintings
here), featuring a rambunctious squirrel named Emma:
Here are a few of my favorites from the first chapter of Sprout Street Neighbors, the chapter book I've been working on. It's been a lot of fun painting without color, it sort of frees me up to think more about the values, textures, and patterns in a painting. I like spending time in this cozy black and white world.
Here is the final painting for the jacket of Sprout Street Neighbors. I began with
this sketch. I'll post the jacket design soon!
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 1/25/2014
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Blue Rose Girls
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Tightening up the jacket sketch for Sprout Street Neighbors, my first chapter book, due out next year.
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 1/7/2014
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"Of all the questions I have been asked as an author of children's books, the most frequent one, without doubt, has been 'How do you get your ideas?' Most people seem to think that getting an idea is both mysterious and simple. Mysterious, because inspiration must come from a particular state of grace with which only the most gifted souls are blessed. Simple, because ideas are expected to drop into one's mind in words and pictures, ready to be transcribed and copied in the form of a book, complete with endpapers and cover. The word get expresses these expectations well. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.
"It is true that, from time to time, from the endless flow of our mental imagery, there emerges unexpectedly something that, vague though it may be, seems to carry the promise of a form, a meaning, and, more important, an irresistible poetic charge. The sense of instant recognition with which we pull this image into the full light of our consciousness is the initial impulse of all creative acts. But, though it is important, it produces no more than the germ of an idea. Each book, at the birth of its creative history, has such a moment. Some are fortunate enough to have, from the outset, a strongly identified hero, one with an inescapable destiny. Others are blessed with a promising beginning, or perhaps with the vision of an ending (which means working backwards to a surprise opening). Others stem from a clearly articulated conflict situation. Sometimes, I must admit, the motivations of a book may be found in a sudden, unreasonable urge to draw a certain kind of crocodile. And it may even happen that in the dark of our minds there appears, out of nowhere, a constellation of words that has the bright, arrogant solidity of a title. Only last night I was jolted out of a near-slumber by the words the mouse that didn't exist. I am sure that, temporarily tucked away in my memory, they will eventually become the title of a story for which as yet I have no idea.
"To shape and sharpen the logic of a story, to tighten the flow of events, ultimately to define the idea in its totality, is much like a game of chess. In the light of overall strategy, each move is the result of doubts, proposals, and rejections, which inevitably bring to mind the successes or failures of previous experiences.
"Inspirational raptures may happen, but most books are shaped through hard, disciplined work. Creative work, to be sure, because its ingredients come from the sphere of the imaginary. But the manipulation of these ingredients requires much more than mere inclination or talent. It is an intricate process in which the idea slowly takes form, by trial and error, through detours and side roads, which, were it not for the guidance of professional rigor, would lead the author into an inextricable labyrinth of alternatives.
"And so, to the question 'How do you get your ideas?' I am tempted to answer, unromantic though it may sound, 'Hard work.' "
-Leo Lionni
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 10/19/2013
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Tomorrow is the
We Art Boston event at the Rose Kennedy Greenway from 11-3:00! There will be watercolor, collage, and bookmaking activities for kids, illustrators on hand for book-signing, stuffed animal portraits, kid's music and more. You will be able to view all the original artwork for sale. More details
here. This is going to be a REALLY FUN event! And it's all totally free.
I will be helping out at the book making station from 11:00-12:30 and drawing stuffed animal portraits from 1:30-3:00. Come get an original drawing of your favorite stuffed animal to take home! I'll be drawing alongside some incredible talents: Barbara McClintock, Kelly Murphy, Scott Magoon, David Biedrzycki, and Julia Denos.
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 10/19/2013
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The Fall RISD Sale was bustling and fun. It was a full day that started early and flew by.
But there was one sweet moment that caught my attention. In the early afternoon, a small girl sidled up to my table and looked through a bin of prints. She picked out an image of a bird in a nest and asked how much it was. Then she plunked a little pouch onto the table, and with her mother's help began to count out dollars and coins to pay for it.
"Is that your allowance money?" I asked. "Yes," she said, and kept counting. I was tempted just to give her the print, but then I remembered the pride and feeling of independence that goes with buying something yourself. I remembered saving up my money and carefully deciding what to buy, contemplating the many different ways it could be spent. Though I don't remember wanting to buy things like artwork at that age, I think I would have gone for a toy or game. I was really touched that she wanted to buy my print, and impressed that she was bringing home something that couldn't be played with or worn or quickly thrown away.
Thanks for the lovely moment, and to everyone who came out on Saturday!
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 10/7/2013
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Grace and I will be selling books and prints of our work this Saturday, October 12th, at the RISD Fall Alumni Sale. It's always a lot of fun to do the sale (and a major temptation to blow my earnings on all the beautiful hand crafted goodies)- come by and say hello if you're in the area, we'd love to see you.
ps. I'm on the card, woot! Check out
this guy below...
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 9/24/2013
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I am so proud to be part of We Art Boston, a fundraiser for the Emergency and Trauma Fund at Boston Children’s Hospital. Original illustratons from over 40 children's book artists (including Grace!) will be auctioned off beginning October 10th. On the 20th there will be a fabulous celebration for kids on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston, with art activities for kids, a stuffed animal portrait station, book signings, and book making station, among other things. Come by and say hello! I will either be signing books, manning the book making station, or sneaking my daughter's stuffed lamb over to get her portrait drawn...Here is the piece I donated, from Abigail Spells:
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 8/12/2013
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1. What is the working title of your next book(s)?I am currently revising a draft of my first chapter book, tentatively titled The House on Oak Street. This title will change, it's more of a place holder right now until the right title sparks.2. Where did the book idea come from for the book?I've always loved animal stories and stories about friendship; this book is both. Once the characters formed in my head, the story sort of flowed out of their relationships with each other as I wrote about them. I am not usually the writer that says "the story wrote itself!" (I can't imagine that happening *and* my work being any good) but this might have been similar in that the ideas came when I needed them.
3. What genre does your book fall into? It is a young chapter book. 4. What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
Five friends live in an apartment building together teach eachother about friendship.
5. Who is publishing your book?
Alfred A. Knopf Books
6. How long did it take you to write the first draft?
Before I conceived of the idea for the book, I wrote one of the chapters as a picture book, maybe 3 or 4 years ago. When I came back to it in 2011, shortly after my daughter was born, I realized it was part of a larger story, and began writing other chapters around it. In total that first draft took about a year to complete, but I was also part-time at home with my daughter.
7. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I would love if it were compared to The Wind in the Willows or Winnie-the-Pooh, thought it is a very different book from both. Still, I took inspiration from the cozy worlds of both books, and the way the characters learn deeper truths about themselves through everyday events.
9. What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 7/22/2013
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Blue Rose Girls
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An interesting article from CNN last week on the subject of getting published:
A better story than J.K. Rowling's
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 5/9/2013
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By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 4/25/2013
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Yesterday I was feeling down, having just received the news that one of my books (one that I love) is going out of print. It is somewhat inevitable these days; if you publish long enough it will happen to you at some point.
But no matter how much you expect it or how many times you've been through it, it never ceases to feel like a punch in the stomach. Then I came across this chart by
Demetri Martin:
And it made me feel a bit better. You never know what great things lay around the corner or how they will lead to the next place you go. Onward we march.
(Some inspiring stories
here, via
A CUP OF JO)
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 4/22/2013
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Are you looking for a simple way to celebrate Earth Day with your kids? There are a number of activities for the wee ones on the
web site for my book
What Can You Do with an Old Red Shoe?. Download free coloring sheets or activity pages, a curriculum guide for your classroom, or check out the resources section.
Wishing you a happy, crafty Earth Day!
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 4/8/2013
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Come join me tomorrow, April 9th, for the Winchester Authorfest!
I'll be signing books along with a long list of wonderful authors and illustrators: Kathleen Duble, Karen Day, Jackie Dembar Green, Amy MacDonald, David Biedrzycki, David Elliott, Matt Tavares, Marty Kelley, Susan Lubner, Susan Goodman, Jerry Pallotta, Ralph Masiello, Brian Lies, Scott Magoon, and Nancy Poydar.
Come to get a signed book or just say hello!
3:00-5:00 pm
Winchester Town Hall
71 Mt Vernon St, Winchester, MA
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 2/26/2013
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Today I'm having good fun developing developing some new picture book ideas. One involves drawing people, something I haven't done in a long, long time! Here is a sneak peek:
Inspired by
A Photo for Greta, this adorable, young reader put on a special outfit, struck a pose, then asked her dad to take her picture. I love it!
I think the resemblance is striking.
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 1/22/2013
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Like some of the other BRG, I've set my resolutions for the year. I'm feeling encouraged that this year the list is both practical and achievable.
My first goal is to create a more inspiring work space. Since we moved into our cozy cabin in the woods, space has been a challenge, there is just not quite enough room for everything. I've had my work things spread throughout the house in a disorganized way for some time, and I feel like it has really affected my productivity.
So at last I've centralized it all. I turned our makeshift
office/storage spot/place to put things we don't know what to do with into a little studio. I am already feeling much more inspired to work in this space. Cheers to checking off resolution #1!
Before:
After:
By: Linda S. Wingerter,
on 12/4/2012
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Grace and I will be selling books and prints (and possibly ornaments if I can finish them in time!) at the RISD Holiday Art Sale this Saturday at the Rhode Island Convention Center from 10:00-5:00 pm. Come say hello and do a little shopping if you're in the area!
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By: Jerry Beck,
on 11/20/2014
The Fall RISD Sale was bustling and fun. It was a full day that started early and flew by. 
3. What genre does your book fall into? 
Well said! Thanks for posting that, Anna. I think most people want to over-simplify the process and think of it as ALL work or all inspiration, when in fact it's both. As he says:
"...there emerges unexpectedly something that, vague though it may be, seems to carry the promise of a form, a meaning, and, more important, an irresistible poetic charge. The sense of instant recognition with which we pull this image into the full light of our consciousness is the initial impulse of all creative acts. But, though it is important, it produces no more than the germ of an idea. Each book, at the birth of its creative history, has such a moment."
WITHOUT THAT, all the hard work in the world won't produce anything interesting..the book will feel dead.
The strength or force or energy or whatever you like to call it of that first impulse (and others that will come along the way), coupled with hard work and discipline and talent, create art and determine its worth....but without that initial inspiration, there's nothing to work on.
It's like trying to steer a sailboat when there's no wind.
That's why for me anyhow first drafts are the hardest--