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January 25th, 2012
Well, I made it here alive, despite a very bumpy ride.
I want to give out some cheers and jeers.
Yeah for Frontier Airline. They have the BEST ooey-gooey fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookies. Jeers-they only give you one…
Jeers for the Supershuttle who kept me waiting an hour at the airport after my plane landed. Cheers for the driver who took over the one that was supposed to pick me up and showed me all around the city on the way to the Hotel.
I do have to say that New York has the narrowest roads of any city I have seen, and not only are general driving rules not followed, but the very lines in the road seem only suggestive.
But from the plane, New York is one of the brightest, most glittery cities, even more so than Hollywood or LA. I just hope it stays that way tomorrow or I’ll be terribly disappointed.
Cheers for Park 79 Hotel. It looks like an old apartment complex on the inside, but it’s very quaint. The room is tiny, but it is at least clean. The only thing I don’t like are the door locks. Just one lock, no chain or anything. I have the bench in the room in front of the door to at least give me some advance notice of intruders. Bathroom is clean, shower is nice. Bathroom is only about twice the size of an airplane bathroom though, but clean is always appreciated. Also the internet access is free, which won’t be the case with the other hotels. Jeers because it is cold in the room, and there doesn’t seem to be a heater around.
Im excited about site-seeing tomorrow, but I am in a quandary with either taking a taxi to the conference hotel tomorrow or trying to figure out the subway system. Taking the subway would mean going up around central park and back down the other side. Which would mean changing subways at some point. Not sure the expense of a taxi versus a subway. I’ll ask the hotel people tomorrow to see if they have any tips. Should be fun with luggage.
More later!
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January 23rd, 2012
This cover actually contains the character from a novel that I’m writing with a similar theme.
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January 23rd, 2012
This was during a Gothic moment in my life. I saw a model’s face in a catalog and she had such an interesting expression that I had to draw her into a setting. This is what came out. The original picture is in my portfolio page, but this is what I thought about for the book cover.
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January 23rd, 2012
Here’s a fantasy novel I was doing for a friend. This is NOT the one we are going with, but I liked it anyway.
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January 23rd, 2012
Here’s another idea I had for a cover. I used a picture I had drawn of my niece for the character.
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January 23rd, 2012
I’ve been really working hard on covers as of late. I like being able to make just one picture illustrate your entire book. So I’ve turned a few of my drawings into covers. I hope you like them.
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January 22nd, 2012
I’m starting to get nervous. I was never able to set up any appointments with art directors or publishers, but that’s okay. I’ll see plenty while I’m there at the conference. I’m still working at getting my portfolio ready. Redesigning the covers, working on a few additional illustrations here and there. I’ve had to put the X book on hold for this week so I can do that. Right now I’m at the halfway mark. I’ve got 15 illustrations done, 15 to go. Although I’m going to try to combine a few to make spreads. The trouble with that is it will increase my file size and my computer is already slowed down because of the publishers request for 600 dpi, so I’m not sure if it would crash on me every time I tried to save. We’ll see.
When I come back I’ll have to work extra hard on the X book to catch up. I’m still hoping to finish by March. I might have another book deal after that from another publishing company. I have to send them samples yet.
I still have so many of my own I’d like to work on that keep getting pushed back. Some I need to write, some I just need to illustrate.
Things to prepare for the trip:
1. Need to get my portfolio pictures printed.
2. Need to get my dummybook reprinted. Maybe both of them.
3. Need to get all my postcards ready as well as business cards.
4. Need a cocktail dress for the illustrators party. (priorities right?)
5. Need to find my suitcase…might need to borrow one.
6. Get the laundry done so I actually have clothes to wear while there.
7. Find my gloves and coat. Texas might be a balmy 60 degrees in mid January, but I doubt New York will be.
Am I missing anything? Oh, make sure my camera is charged so I can take plenty of pictures without looking like an utter tourist.
I’ll keep you updated while I’m there. May even keep a running blog for each class. Won’t that be fun!
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December 15th, 2011
Well, I did it! I bought my ticket to the SCBWI Winter Conference! I’ve gone to the LA conference, now I get to see what the NY is like. That way I can decide which to go to in the future. I’m rooming with an illustrator/writer from my local SCBWI chapter. She’s pretty cool, I was part of her critique group for a few weeks until I found a closer one. I can’t wait though. I’m going to try to see some publishers while I’m there. If I can, I know they are busy around that time.
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November 17th, 2011
Well, the work is coming along for the book by Marvin Mayer. I know it’s just not possible to get it done by Christmas, but I hope by the start of the new year to have it nearing completion.
It’s the contract that concerns me the most. I haven’t received it yet. The publisher told me that I might not even get it by the time I finish the book, so I guess when I do finish, they will send it. That way I can negotiate for royalties. Which I definitely want considering the effort I am putting into this book. It’s taking me, so far, a week to do each illustration. That’s a lot of my personal time spent on something I won’t really get paid much for. I’ve suspended every other project just for this one. It’d be nice to get compensation.
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October 9th, 2011
Well, it was a big success! I know I had a blast…with the exception of losing my voice for the entire weekend, but you know, it was still fun, croaky voice and all. I met so many nice people, who would have thought all those agents and editors were so gosh darn personable. I really enjoyed speaking with Laurent Linn, Art Director from Simon & Schuster, the epitome of a nice guy. But then again, he is a Texan still at heart, even though he moved to New York City….NEW YORK CITY! Sorry, couldn’t help myself. He was an absolutely fabulous speaker and gave us a lot of useful advice.
I also enjoyed talking with Tammi Sauer at the dinner afterwards. She is the author of Chicken Dance, Bawk & Roll, Cowboy Camp, Mostly Monsterly…I could go on. She is a hilarious woman and so animated when she talks. We were nearly peeing ourselves with some of her stories.
What did I learn at the conference? I learned that perseverance pays off as well as having a good portfolio. I also really need to redo my website and add more images. It’s been a few years since I added anything. I also need to start sending again. You can’t be discovered if you don’t send the work in.
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