By: John Nez,
on 9/1/2014
By: John Nez,
on 5/21/2014
By: Jill Casey,
on 4/6/2011
. The main character, Alfred Bulltop Stormalong (Stormy), had to deliver himself as a baby and was born with a full set of teeth. His crib was a whaleboat parked in the bay. "For a time sharks were his only playmates, and he swam and wrestled with them. He was always careful not to hurt them." Gotta love tall tales.
By: Mark G. Mitchell,
on 5/12/2009
Karien Naude taught herself to draw, paint and airbrush.
Her native language is the Afrikaans of the Dutch Protestants who settled in southwestern South Africa in the 17th century.
“The wildlife and nature are breathtaking and I love to go camping and take all this splendor in,” she wrote me in an e-mail back in September.
“It’s good for the soul! There are so many different cultures and the people are fantastic. The only thing is we are behind in everything. South Africa is still viewing art as a hobby. But it is changing. There are a lot of different animation programs now available. I’m part of a South African comics group Comicworx Studios, where we try to get the country involved with comics. It’ s very hard work, but every year we can see some progress.
“We have become friends with a few Marvel (Comics) artists and that has given us a huge boost. But my passion is still illustration.”
Fantasy artist Karen Naude of Johannesburg
She has far too many interests to mention in this small space. But I will say they include the fairies, trolls and wizards of the novels of Terry Pratchett and J.R.R. Tolkien (who also was born in South Africa, but moved to England when he was three.)
She also reads Anne Rice and Stephen King, Dean Koontz and J.K.Rowling.
She likes horror movies, Tim Burton movies and Harry Potter movies.
She’s crazy about music. Her tastes range from Counting Crows to Jimi Hendrix to the operas of Richard Wagner.
To the Screeching Weasels.
She answered an online survey question back in the fall and landed in this online course on how to illustrate a children’s book. Originally spurred by a publisher’s contest, she’s been crafting a picture book based on a Zulu folk tale about a supernatural creature, the Tokoloshe. 
She’s completed the manuscript and has revised her thumbnail storyboard. She’s now at the stage of transferring drawings to her watercolor paper. Dismayed by the retail prices of lightboxes in the art supply stores, she built her own.
I’ll stop here, because Karien does a great job of speaking for herself — in her second language, English.
Karien, what sort of art study have you done?
I’m a self-taught artist with God given talents, and proud of it. Ever since I can remember I have been drawing. Since kindergarten I’ve made the cutest drawings in my school books and always gotten a golden star from the teachers and I think that was when I realized I wanted to become an artist. When I got older I started studying every book I could find about Renaissance artists and bought every art book that showed techniques on how to draw and paint. I started out with pencil drawings and got pretty good in it, later I started experimenting with pastels and paints. I sold a few drawings and got praised by an Art Gallery in Melville but decided that it’s not for me and that I would rather do fantasy drawings and illustration work. I have had no formal training or studies.
Can you describe a little about your life in South Africa? Have you ever lived anywhere else? What is school and work like there?
I have been living in South Africa all my life and have not lived anywhere else. I am planning to visit a friend, hopefully this year, in England, but I will always return to my roots. South Africa is a beautiful country, the land and people. I am currently living in a middle class suburban area and the schools in my area are very respectable and up to standard. I am currently working in the central of Johannesburg town. I work for a big law firm and we mainly work with properties. South Africa has 11 official languages and the most difficult system when selling and buying houses. It is stressful and hard work, and because it’s hard to speak all of the languages, we use English to communicate. So Afrikaans people talk, read and use English, although we are very proud of our language. Afrikaans music is big here and even English people listen to it.
Are there any art museums around?
Yes there are two art museums that I know of in Pretoria and Cape Town but sadly non in Johannesburg where I live. There are however thousand of art galleries that you can visit. The well known Goodman Gallery is also in Rosebank, Johannesburg, and sometimes a real treat to visit as they have a variety of art exhibitions.
What other artistic and/or literary interests do you have? (I know you really keep up with all kinds of music!)
I’m very passionate about air brushing and some have even told me I am very good. I love reading (thanks to my mom) and got my own little library of books that I’ve bought over the years, mostly fiction.
Yes, music plays a big role in my life. I play the piano and I’m always listening to all kind of music on my MP3. You will always find me with my earphones on, on my way to work, and I can never draw or paint without music. It inspires me and I get most of my ideas while listening to it.
What has brought you to the world of children’s stories and books?
When I go out I love to stop at the nearest book shops and flipping through children books or any book about illustrations. A few years back I started reading Terry Pratchet’s books about Discworld and always admired the art work on the book covers. Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell books and illustration work always brings a giggle to me. One day on my way to work I started thinking of how much I enjoyed the books and illustration work and that I can do it as well. I started doing research on Children’s books which brought me to your course, Make Your Splashes; Make your Marks!
Your interest in fairies, trolls and elves — how far back in your life does that go? What do you think pulls you to them?
It started with The Hobbit when I was in school and later the Lord of the Rings because the elves where mystical, the hobbits lovable and wizard’s warriors. I also love Terry Pratchett’s books where you read about trolls, witches, wizards and all kinds of fantasy beings (with a twist). I will always have a soft spot for them.
What are you working on now in your illustration?
I’ve just finished my Green fairy but I want to do a humorous illustration about my children (dogs) and what they do at home when I’m at work.
How is it going, developing the Tokoloshe story? You’ve been developing your thumbnail storyboard. Have you run into any roadblocks?
The Tokoloshe is my first story that I’ve written and I guess that’s my first roadblock! But every step I take and roadblock I get I learn a lot. The thumbnail storyboard helps a lot and after my first one (which I wasn’t happy with) I noticed that I was repeating scenes and so I’ve changed it.
I started a second storyboard but a bit bigger and it works like a dream. I can see how my book’s layout would be and if I repeat scenes or if a scene doesn’t fit. I won’t work without it.
Are you starting to develop any of the full drawings? What difficulties are you finding in this process of working a thumbnail “scribble sketch” up to a complete detailed drawing?
I must say its hard work and long hours. Without the thumbnail and little scribble sketches it would’ve taken me a lifetime to complete but working with the thumbnail it’s much easier and faster. I’ve noticed that my scribble sketches are really working for me and it’s basically just putting it over and improving the sketch into a detailed drawing. But it can also bee frustrating to do the detailed drawing as they sometimes takes to long.
Can you describe how you work? What is your creative process like?
First I must put my earphones on for some music. hehe. I first start with the layout of the drawing in H2 pencil and it involves lot of cappuccino and erasing. When I’m done I always ask my sister to have a look at my drawing and comment on it (she is like my personal editor) and then I start going over it with Faber Castell Ecco Pigment marker and erasing the pencil. I will then start painting and when Im done and happy with it I will go over some lines again with the Faber Castell Ecco Pigment marker for more effect.
How did you pull off that cool cover for The Tokoloshe?
When I was writing the story I wanted to look at a picture of the tokoloshe so that it would not slip from my mind and I created the picture. After doing it I decided to make it into a cover just for the fun of it. I was experimenting with paints and colors and I was happy at the time. Now I see mistakes that I didn’t notice before and the Tokoloshe looks very stiff so I’m planning on giving him a make-over.
What challenges do you find yourself repeatedly facing in your paintings or renderings?
Sometimes my pencil drawings are really good but after starting painting them they don’t turn out as what I was hoping for and they don’t look good to me. When I render a piece I sometime mess it up and after spending so much time on the painting I spoiled everything and I have to through it away and start again which is upsetting.
What questions do you have about the whole endeavor of children’s book illustration?
When my story and illustrations are done how will I know what publisher to choose and how do I submit it? How will I know if my work is even good enough? If my work is submitted what is the time frame? If it is accepted, what must I look out for in the contract (pitfalls)?
What children’s book publishing opportunities have you uncovered in South Africa or the Afrikaans language?
I’ve read a lot of Afrikaans and English books and I’ve jotted down a few South African publishing companies. There are some famous ones like Random House and Penguin Books, which have branches in South Africa which I’m looking at as well.
Who are your artist muses? Any favorite children’s authors?
People who inspire me are John Howe, Alan Lee, Paul Kidby, Josh Kirby, Paul Stewart, Chris Riddell, Terry Pratchet, J.K .Rowling, Tolkien and Don Seegmiller.
Karien’s art blog, which is on our blogroll , is: http://kariennaude.blogspot.com
We’ll check in with her from time to time to see how she’s progressing on her dummy for “The Tokoloshe.”
Mark Mitchell, who interviewed Karien, hosts the “How Be a Children’s Book Illustrator” blog.
Karien likes to listens to music while she draws.
By: Annie,
on 2/18/2008
Chris Smith and Aurélia Fronty, author and illustrator respectively, tell the story of the city that is the spiritual home to the world's three largest religions. The Jews call the city Yerushalaym, the Arabs call it Al-Quds, and the English - Jerusalem. It is a story of love and generosity handed down through the centuries as a folk tale as a reminder to all that a city and its inhabitants can live in peace with one another.
By: Justine Larbalestier,
on 1/30/2008
Thanks to everyone for all the photos. You are all the bestest and most wondrous people EVER! As Jeff Fenech would say, “I love youse all!”
It was kind of weird to see how many photos there are of me and Scott I never knew existed. Eerie even . . .
I would like to take this opportunity to publicly apologise to my sister, Niki Bern, as well as my good friend, Cat Sparks. I’m sorry I’m always so recalcitrant about having my photo taken. You were both right that some day I would be happy you both insist on documenting everything.
That said, I now no longer need to have my photo taken ever again. Hallelujah! I shall keep intact what tiny bit of my soul is left.
Because some of you have expressed curiosity here is one photo for every year Scott and me have been together. Enjoy! We certainly have.
2001: Our wedding day. Upstate New York. (Photo by Phyllis Bobb.)
2002: On the Woomera Prohibited zone in South Australia to see a total eclipse. (Photo by Sean Williams.)
2003: Goofing around with Adrian Hobbs in Newtown back home in Sydney. (Photo by Olivia Rousset.)
2004: At the SFWA drinks night. (Thanks Liza Trombi and Locus for sending the photo.)
2005: With Andrew Woffinden and Lauren McLaughlin in London. (Photo by Niki Bern.)
2006: At the Lake Hills Library in Bellevue, Washington. (Photo by Shelly Clift. Thanks!)
2007: On our way to the National Book Awards.
By: Justine Larbalestier,
on 1/11/2008
Next weekend Scott Westerfeld and yours truly will be guests of honour at the 2008 High Voltage ConFusion science fiction convention. It’s our very first time being guests of honour and we are stoked. TOTALLY stoked. In fact I’m so very stoked I’m thinking of celebrating with the purchase of a new dress. Surely, being guest of honour requires new clothes, right? I gotta look pretty, don’t I? If you have an opinion on this Very Important Matter please to express it in the poll to your right.
I’m thinking this one, though with black gloves not white:
Vivienne Westwood’s Watteau ball gown
Here’s Scott and mine’s schedule. Because we are joint guests of honour we are doing everything together:
FRIDAY 18 JANUARY:
1900 Den 1 Interview: Author GoHs by John Scalzi
Tee hee! Mr Scalzi will ask us questions and we will plead the fifth and get away with it because we know where he buried the bodies. I suspect zombies will be mentioned.
2000 Salon FGH Opening Ceremonies
We will say a few words but there won’t be an actual speech speech. Some of my words will be “quokka”, “zombie”, and “oscillate”, or maybe not. Depends.
2100 Salon FGH Dessert Reception
Where we eat dessert and natter with folks what want to natter.
2200 Den 1 Originality is Overrated
There’s this idea that writers work entirely alone and create their work out of whole cloth. That’s rubbish. If a work were wholly original no one would be able to read it. All writers are influenced by those who came before them. Most writers talk to other writers. Many are in writers’ groups and even those that aren’t frequently read and comment on each other’s work. Let’s talk about the influence and community that writers share. Even when they don’t know each other. Justine Larbalestier, Scott Westerfeld (M), Patrick Nielsen Hayden, John Scalzi, Patrick Rothfuss and Doselle Young.
I confess that I wrote this description on account of it’s something that drives me crazy and I’m looking forward to talking about it with such esteemed and smart companions. Especially Doselle. Everything is better if Doselle is involved.
SATURDAY 19 JANUARY:
1100 Den 1 Fantastic Sports
Organized sports are a vital part almost every culture on the globe. But sf and fantasy novels tend to overlook this key aspect of world-building. We examine what sports are and what they tell us about a culture, and dig up some good examples in sf and fantasy. Justine Larbalestier (M), Scott Westerfeld, Steve Ainsworth, Dave Klecha and Catherine Shaffer.
Mmmm . . . sport. If I weren’t moderator I would just spend the session teaching USians cricket.
1300 Salon G Juvenilia
Writers dust off the storage trunks, turn off the shame meter, and read from their 5th- through 12th-grade works of unalloyed proto-genius. A great way for young writers in the audience to feel much better about their own efforts. Justine Larbalestier (M), Scott Westerfeld, Merrie Haskell, K. Tempest Bradford and Marcy Italiano.
I can’t tell you how disappointed I am that Scalzi is not on this panel. Laughing at his early writing efforts was the whole reason I agreed to go to ConFusion!
1400 Den 1 SF Is Not Dead
More sf is written and consumed these days than every before, in the form of manga, video games, rpgs, and YA lit. Yet our beloved field constantly bemoans its own demise, while ignoring those 100,000 crazy kids down the road at Comicon. How do we connect these two worlds of sf? Justine Larbalestier, Scott Westerfeld (M), Anne Harris, Jim Frenkel and Peter Halasz.
Because me and Scott are sick to death of hearing the folks in the old sf people’s home whingeing about the death of sf. It ain’t dead! It’s doing just fine, thanks.
1500 Den 1 Golden Age of Young Adult Lit
Some argue that the YA books being published now are some of the best the field has ever seen. There are more of them, the quality is better, and the authors are being paid more. Is now the Golden Age of Young Adult Literature? And if so what does that mean for the next generation of readers? Justine Larbalestier (M), Scott Westerfeld, Steve Climer, Suzanne Church and Peter Halasz.
I think it is. I also think it’s just going to get better and better and better.
1700 All-Author Autographing Session
If you have books you want strange author types to scribble on here’s your chance.
2100 Concierge Literary Beer
The only thing we’re doing that you have to sign up for. It’ll be me and Scott sitting around with a smallish group of interested folks and answering their questions while we all drink beer (or water or whatever you wish to drink. I wish to drink Krug—I hope the ConCom is on top of that!).
SUNDAY 20 JANUARY:
1100 Salon H Gluten-Free Fantasy
Most medieval cultures didn’t have chainmail, swords, horses, or wheat. Yet the overwhelming majority of medieval cultures in fantasy do. What do we stand to gain by breaking the bonds of Europe on our collective imagination? And what’s so scary about bolas, sled-dogs, and rice? Justine Larbalestier, Scott Westerfeld, John Scalzi, Karl Schroeder, Jim Frenkel.
This panel is also something me and Scott came up with. It has a backstory. Way back in the dark ages we were on a panel together about fantasy where we panelists suggested that there were other settings for high fantasy other than mediaeval Europe. Scott went as far as to say that wheat is not essential to high fantasy.
The audience turned on him. “We LOVE wheat!” they proclaimed. “We hate fantasy that isn’t set in mediaevel Europe. We hate wanky literary fantasy. In fact, we hate you writers on the panel who are trying to take away our wheat!”
Scalzi was in the audience along with the wonderful Karen Meisner and they both say it was one of the most extraordinary things they have ever seen. Karen even sent Scott a Canadian license plate wth a beautiful picture of wheat on it. Scott still contends that we were caught in the wave of an Atkin’s diet backlash.
Here’s the con’s full schedule.
Hope to see some of you there! I mean if this wussy Aussie girl can brave the dead of winter in Detroit. Surely some of you can?
By: Alice Pope,
on 10/30/2007
The New Publishing Math: Trilogy = Four...
After finishing the third book in Scott Westerfeld's Uglies trilogy, I was really excited to find that Extras was coming out, a fourth book in the once-was-a-trilogy- now-is-a-series. Now it's being reported that Christopher Paolini's best-selling Inheritance trilogy will have a fourth book, officially changing it from a trilogy to a "cycle." At 5 p.m. EST today a video will be available on Paolini's website offering an Exclusive Message about this development, which I'm sure will be very exciting to fans of the fantasy trilogy series cycle.
I probably shouldn't admit this in cyberspace, but I gotta say that Christopher Paolini is not exactly a favorite of fine. Every time I hear him interviewed I sort of get this powerful urge to kick him in the shins. Does he have to use 15-syllable words I must look up? Did he really say that if they're looking for a family to live alone in a biosphere for five years he and his parents and sister are so there? Does he really think having his work edited feels like splinters of hot bamboo being driven into his tender eyeballs?
Maybe I'm being too grumpy. I've never met him, and he may be a perfectly nice young man with whom I'd enjoying having a beer (or forging a sword). But for now I can only suppose he's some sort of eccentric young genius who I could never possibly understand.
I'll be sure to check out his video.
By: Alice Pope,
on 10/19/2007
A Manuscript in the Morning...
My best friend/former roommate/co-worker Megan called me first thing this morning. "I have something for you," she said. Intrigued, I ran up the stairs to her office. When I got there she pointed to a big stack of paper held together by a big binder clip. "I finished my book."
Fueled by a steady diet of Scott Westerfeld and Stephanie Meyer, Megan started writing her YA novel on June 16 with a goal of writing 500 words a day--which she exceeded, producing her 65,000 word first draft in four months, during which time she took a research trip as well.
I'm very excited to be the first one to read it. And I can't wait until we're ready to start submitting it. It will be fun to put CWIM to the test.
By: Yours Truly,
on 10/18/2007
The fourth book in the Uglies 'trilogy', Extras, takes place in post-'mind-rain' Japan a couple of years after Tally Youngblood destroyed the Pretties system. Japan, along with the rest of the world, is adapting to the freedom of thought that people had so long been deprived of. New cultural norms have emerged, and Japan's 'reputation economy' is one of these. It ties wealth and fame together at a whole new level, making most everybody want fame more than anything else.
Enter fifteen-year-old Aya Fuse, who's just as desirous of fame as the next person. She's a kicker, and always has Moggle (her hovercam) by her side. She is constantly searching for a great story to kick, one that might take her out of panic-making obscurity. One that might make her famous. But with a face rank of 451,369 (out of a million), there is little chance of that happening. That is, until she stumbles upon the story of a lifetime. But she gets more than she bargained for when she kicks it, and fame ends up being difficult. And, in her case, dangerous.
For an Uglies/Pretties/Specials fan such as myself, it was awesome to return to Westerfeld's creepy future earth. I couldn't help but notice that the reputation economy makes a lot sense. Which is creepy. We're already fame obsessed enough as it is.
Extras is really quite a wonderful book. It was well tied-in with the three preceding books, but has enough new developments so as not to be repetitive. Aya is a great character. She's endearing but imperfect. And sometimes you get really mad at her.
Which means, of course, that Westerfeld has done his job very well.
Five daggers out of five.
Wanting to mag-lev surf*...
*What is mag-lev surfing, you ask? I don't think I'll tell you. Read the book.
_________________________________________________________
Dude, Extras is awesome.
And, as many of you probably know (on account of the link from his blog), we saw Scott Westerfeld talk/sign books... it was pretty darn cool, yo. Justine Larbalestier was also there (author of the Magic or Madness trilogy), which was also pretty darn cool, yo.
So... five out of five. Yep.
I give this wonderful book, the full 5 daggers.
By: Becky Laney,
on 8/16/2007
As I mentioned on Reading with Becky a few days ago, I have been reading (make that have read) Extras by Scott Westerfeld. I finished the book late on Tuesday. How to describe it here? Hmmm. Well, I've resolved to post NO SPOILERS. Since Westerfeld's blog posted the text of Chapter One, I consider that to be something I can freely discuss here.
Westerfeld's latest book, Extras, is due out this October. It begins three years after the mind-rain. What is the mind-rain? That is the phrase used to describe the global effects of millions of people's minds becoming unpretty. Specials concluded with Tally and David reuniting to become the new Specials who would watch societies and keep a look out for trouble and danger.
Extras opens with a girl, Aya Fuse, lying in bed and talking to her AI hovercam, Moggle. I like the similarities between the openings of Uglies and Extras. Both feature young fifteen year old girls, Uglies to be exact, who are planning on crashing a 'New Pretty' party. Of course their motivations are completely different, but their ability to pull off tricks makes Tally and Aya somewhat similar. But a lot has changed in three years. For one, this Uglyville and New Pretty Town are on the other side of the world--Japan. Second, this is all after the mind-rain so very few if any are left bubbleheaded. (The ones that are bubbleheaded, are bubbleheaded by choice.) This age group still parties. Parties a lot. But they don't all look alike anymore. They don't all think alike anymore. There are now dozens of dozens of different cliques. (Manga, tech, pixel-heads, kicker, surge-monkey, etc.) Third, this is a society based on fame and popularity. And what Aya wants more than anything in the world is to be famous. She'd have to be invisible to sneak into the party but that was no problem..."Aya Fuse was an expert at being invisible. Her face rank was proof of that. It sat unmoving in the corner of her vision: 451,396. She let out a slow sigh. In a city of a million, that was total extra-land." (4) Tally's driving motivation in Uglies was to be pretty. Aya's is to be famous. Both girls are strong, independent, and stubborn. Aya's story can't be separated from her friends. Hiro, her brother, Ren, her brother's best friend, Frizz, her 'radically honest' love interest, and Moggle, her AI hovercam.
As far as the plot goes, Aya's adventures are exciting, intense, suspenseful, and surprising. And that's all you'll get from me!
I think Westerfeld has yet again captured what it feels like to be fifteen and invisible and waiting for 'real life' to begin. That moody in-between time of wanting more. Of wanting all that life has to offer right then and there.
I have loved all of Westerfeld's YA novels: So Yesterday, the Uglies trilogy, Peeps and Last Days, the Midnighter trilogy. But I think this might just be my new favorite. It was very, very good.
Read my review of Uglies, Pretties, and Specials. I reread them all just before reading Extras.
By: girlreading,
on 5/1/2007
Okay, so here we go….
May: Uglies - Meeting this Saturday, usual place and time.
June: Prom Dates from Hell
July: Twelve Kingdoms vol. 1: Sea of Shadow by Fuyumi Ono
August: tba
September: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
October - December: tba
I’ve been listening to music out of SXSW 2007. KEXP, KCRW and NPR had excellent coverage with lots of live music and interviews. All available in podcasts or mp3 downloads. My favs so far:
By: Gail Gauthier,
on 4/16/2007
Scott Westerfeld has finished the first draft of Extras, the next book in the Uglies series. Get a load of the cover. And, while you're at it, look at the number of responses he got to that blog post.
I have that many readers, by the way. More than that many. You guys just aren't very vocal. I'm cool with the introvert thing.
just joking!!!!!!!!!! i want proof of you in it.
Great article! Would love to hear more about Karien’s Tokoloshe story.
Thank you, Marsha! Yes, I think her Tokoloshe story is going to make a good picture book. Karien wrote a really nice text! We’ll keep you posted
as she develops the art for her dummy and gets it ready to show and send around.
Thanks Marsha and Mark! Ill keep you posted