The most rewarding clients have full and complete faith in an illustrators abilities, are able to give constructive feedback and provide enough work to give you something resembling a full time employee's paycheck. These come by once in a blue moon. I'm very fortunate to be working with one right now. The project, which is still confidential at this point, is by far the biggest project I've ever worked on and as I have a great deal of creative control I'm elated as well as nervous. The project is currently in early stages: character and culture design (and the style I'm working on is nothing like you've seen me do before).
Designing a culture is a fascinating process. How do the people dress? What do they eat? What is their climate like, why do they wear their hair the way they do? Do they wear jewelry (if so what does it look like, how does it react to light, what is it shaped like?). I'm imagining the excitement I'm feeling is akin to the likes of George Lucas when he started planning out Star Wars. And not to leave you hanging, but the deadline on the project has now been extended to October so I may not be able to show you a single pencil stroke until next year when it's "unveiled"...
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By: Yours Truly,
on 12/26/2007
Blog: 3 Evil Cousins (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Libba Bray, Hot Guys, Fabulous Book Titles, Corsets, The Sweet Far Thing, Sad Things, Fabulous Book Covers, Gemma Doyle, Curse of the Headless Torso, Gemma Doyle, Fabulous Book Titles, Corsets, The Sweet Far Thing, Sad Things, Fabulous Book Covers, Magic, Add a tag


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crystal driedger,
on 6/5/2008
Blog: Scribbled Business (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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3 Comments on Illustrators Designing a World, last added: 6/19/2008
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Blog: 3 Evil Cousins (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Libba Bray, Hot Guys, Fabulous Book Titles, Corsets, The Sweet Far Thing, Sad Things, Fabulous Book Covers, Gemma Doyle, Curse of the Headless Torso, Gemma Doyle, Fabulous Book Titles, Corsets, The Sweet Far Thing, Sad Things, Fabulous Book Covers, Magic, Add a tag

The Sweet Far Thing is the third in Libba Bray's trilogy, which, as the back cover informs me, is called the Gemma Doyle Trilogy.*
And it's really, really good. It gave me shivers. And it made me cry. No, really. Libba Bray, you made me cry. I shall never forgive you.**
Now, if you haven't read the first two books (A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels) I suggest that instead of reading the rest of this post, which will likely contain spoilers for both of those books, you instead go and read the books themselves. You will like them, I promise.***
Gemma Doyle, at the end of Rebel Angels, bound the magic of the realms to herself, promising to share it with the tribes. Now, she must contend with the creatures of the Winterlands, the plotting of the Order and the Rakshana, the discontent of those who live in the Realms, and her feelings for a certain extremely hot Indian guy.****
Gemma must figure out who to trust and what to do, all while keeping up the pretense of a nomal, stifled, Victorian-schoolgirl life.
She does, of course, have friends to help her along-- sort of. Felicity is as scathing and power-hungry as always, and Ann wilts, if possible, even more than before-- though she does have breif moments of confidence and even triumph. Pippa is... not really Pippa anymore, though you'll have to read the book to find out what happens on that front. Kartik, is a friend, perhaps more than a friend, but again, you'll have to read the book. Libba Bray has said that there is Kartik/Gemma action, and there most definitley is.*****
The Sweet Far Thing is beautifully written, and, though it is over 800 pages long, manages not to drag on in the least. The ending, is, I thing, fitting-- but don't worry, I won't tell you what it is.
I award The Sweet Far Thing with four and one-half daggers.
*A name which, in my opinion, is entirly unfitting for the trilogy. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy? Yawn. Unfortunately, no one consulted me when they made this decision, so what can I do?
**The chances that she will ever read this are, of course, exceedingly slim. Ah, well. Such is life.
***And if you don't, YOU SHALL FEEL THE WRATH OF MY SPORK OF DOOM!!!
****Need I say it? MINE.
*****Insert evil cackle here.
Cackling, shivering, wishing Kartik were real, and yours,
PS This is the best YA cover of 2007, in my opinion. Possibly the best title. What do you think?
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that sounds so interesting, Crystal. Congratulations! Nothing beats a great client who has complete faith in you....I always give 110% and more when that happens.
Can't wait to see it..must be fun right now!
That sounds like so so so so much fun. I'm so happy for you. Good luck! I cannot wait to see the end results.
oooo, how intriguing, a confidential project!!! Looking forward to see what you do with it, have fun!