Happy Happy Fourth!

Happy Independence Day to you!

When was the last time you read the Declaration of Independence? How'bout today!

Almost Free! (Part 6)

A dry waft of heat alerted me that I had almost reached the exit. I lifted my head to see just how close I was, but that was a mistake. Stumbling debris pelted my eyes, nose, and mouth. I coughed so hard that my left foot slipped. It pedaled madly trying to find a rock, an edge, a crack – anything. In my fists, tiny snaps ticking ever faster told me that the roots in my grasp were cracking under my weight and spasms. And then my cell phone vibrated in the back pocket of my shorts. “Not now!” I raged. In an all-or-nothing gamble, I let go of the roots, pumped my right leg to the fullest, and stretched my arms as far as I could, fingers hyper-extended...

Time to Get Out (Part 5)

Without taking another breath, I dashed to the wall of the sinkhole and propped myself onto a rock the size of a garden gnome. I didn’t dare glance back at the beast behind me. Instead, I looked for any root, any crack in the surface that I could use to pull myself out. Within a few seconds, I had climbed to the halfway point, about the height of a standing adult. “Just a little more,” I thought. Yet, it became harder to breath without gulping in some of the falling dirt. Yuk! I hadn’t eaten dirt since I was three or four, and it still tasted nasty, but at least back then it was all make-believe yummy. Now, the dust flying about forced me to squint to keep my eyes from stinging. Soon, they watered so much, I let my hands and feet do the searching. This root here felt strong under my fingers; the sharp corner on that stone seemed stable under the ball of my foot. Little by little, I kept rising toward the opening.

Back from Orbiting Florida

What a blast, that trip to Florida! And I’m not calling it a blast just because I got to see the take-off of NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter launched aboard an Atlas V rocket (though that was AWESOME, even from 10 miles out, standing on top of my rental car!). The conference was a blast in its own right. The organizers had a ton of energy and good-will! The participants in the Graphic Novel workshop had the perfect combo of perspectives: agent (and former editor) Mark McVeigh provided professional insight and anecdotes from the editorial and business side, Jarrett Krosoczka, who previewed his first kids GN, Lunch Lady (very funny and action-packed!) broke-down his process and journey as an artist, and I demystified the big concepts of the medium. A big thank you goes to Linda Bernfeld, Gaby Triana, Janeen Mason, Christina Gonzalez, Pascale Mackey, and all the other volunteers who worked their hearts out to make this celebration of children’s books so fun and productive!

Graphic Novel Workshop in Sub-Tropical Florida

Want to learn about creating graphic novels for kids? Next week, I’ll pack up to join Jarrett Krosoczka and a long-time publishing pro in a day-long workshop on graphic novels in Orlando, FL, as part of the SCBWI Mid-Year Workshop. I don’t know that I’m at liberty to tell you who the mystery publishing pro is, but let’s just say he’s been editing for years at Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Random House, Scholastic, and that he’s now an agent looking for great material! This fun-packed conference includes a merry group of writers, editors, and agents such as funny-writer, Lin Oliver (who’s got a new website!), Bruce Coville, Bonnie, Bader, and Michael Stearns. My presentation colleague, Jarrett Krosoczka, creator of Punk Farm, will talk about his new graphic novel series, Lunch Lady! So come and join the fun!

In the Wrong Company (Part 4)

Suddenly, the sweat from climbing steep trails froze below the rim of my cap, and my muscles hung to my bones like soggy bags of sand.

I had landed next to something big, furry, and ... alive...

I glimpsed around without moving my head, then slowly looked up. Maybe I could make a mad dash to the top. Clenching on a couple of protruding rocks could start me up. Then tugging on some dangling roots might yank me back to the sunlight.

The mass moved again. I had to escape. Now!

Dislocated (Part 3)

When the stampede of gravel and debris all around me let up, I pulled in a deep breath to shed off some of my stupor. Wow! That led to one massive cough. My lungs wanted no more of all the flying dirt than I to meet such an abrupt halt to my hike.

I sighed.

A bit unnerved, a bit disappointed, and too dislocated from reality.

One look around at the jutting rocks, and I realized that any one of them could have snapped my spine in half. Instead, against my back and elbows I felt a large, soft, and warm mass. Lucky fall, in a way, I guessed. But my relief died fast: the mass behind me had just inched out some... And then in some...

Up and Down... (Part 2)

The afternoon sun shone flat and white. Perfect for a stroll in the hills. The rattlesnake season was over, so I ventured up onto steeper and narrower trails, away from the much-trodden fire roads. The summer heat still napped on the ground, coiling up to my calves. Rings of dust hovered over the dirt where my hiking boots last pounded the ground.

I would have gotten home in time had it not been for that sinkhole forming below the path. But I didn’t notice anything, not even a wrinkle in the dust. And frankly, I wasn’t paying as much attention to the way ahead as to the way above. A story plot busied my mind.

That’s what caused...

The fall.

Don’t Tell Them I Escaped! (Part 1)

Six months later, and this place still looks the same. Except for the light. I forgot how bright it was out here! Months in captivity will do that to you...

Good Friends Doing Good Deeds!

Some of my great art school buddies, who are now with Dreamworks, MTV, LucasFilms, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network, have organized this awesome auction to benefit art programs in schools. You can place your bids now on some beautiful art or during the showing of The Goonies this Saturday at the Rialto Theater at 7pm in Pasadena! I'm planning on being there and bidding on some waaaay cool art for a great cause!

SCBWI So Cal Illustrator's Day 2008

Along with ultra snazzy illustrators Erin Eitter Kono, Wilson Swain, and Brenda Sexton, I'll be part of the panel "The Real Life of a Working Illustrator" at the Saturday Nov. 8 Illustrator's Day! This year's Illustrator's Day will provide great insight into the business venues for illustrators. Lorena Siminovich will address the opportunities to license your art, while Steve Myhre will talk about the need for illustrations in the educational publishing market. Joann Hill, Creative Director at Clarion Books, will detail the work of art directors and do some live portfolio reviews. The adorable Mary Peterson will show how to put your art online in 20 minutes! So this is an Illustrator's Day that will pay off big time for attendees! We'll see you there!

East Coast Mugs and Memories

Caught in a whirlwind of activities between New York City, Georgia, and L.A., I hardly had a chance to pause! Yet, what a thrill to attend Jo Kittinger's session on voice at the Chattahoochee Valley Writers' Conference (Jo has an awesome collection of quotes about "voice" from editors, writers, and other fine folks). What fun it was to hang out with fellow illustrators at the New York Society of Illustrators' Educators Symposium, where I got to meet "neighbor" Michael Savas (Laguna College of Art & Design), Ed Murr (who's at F.I.T. in NYC, and who's had lots of experience with comics companies), George Pratt (who made an excellent presentation on teaching sequential art), and many more. Unfortunately, my stay in NYC was too short, so I'll have to return! Meanwhile, here are some of the NYC subway faces from my sketchbook.

The Ledger-Enquirer Interview on Writing Graphic Novels

In advance of the Chattahoochee Writers' Conference this weekend, the Ledger-Enquirer from Columbus, GA, has interviewed me about writing graphic novels. The article, "Learn how to create graphic novels at writers' conference," now appears online. Journalist Sonya Sorich asked a thorough set of questions about the history of comics in the U.S.A. and about prospects in graphic novels for writers who come from a different background. A big thanks to Sorich and her newspaper for giving the art of graphic novels more visibility. And I'm particularly happy about the article's conclusion (it's such important advice for aspiring graphic novel writers):

McCool's advice for anyone considering that route?

"They need to read a lot of graphic novels to educate themselves," he said.

Workshopping at the Chattahoochee Valley Writers' Conference

I'm thrilled to fly out this morning to Georgia (my first time there -- yeah!) for the Chattahoochee Valley Writer's Conference. Folks in my workshop will get to learn how to adjust and grow their existing writing skills in order to compose solid graphic novel manuscripts. Many more great workshops will go on during the entire weekend, covering mystery writing, playwriting, children's book literature, industry marketing, and more!

Varian Fry: American Journalist, Frontline Hero

At the last two SCBWI summer conferences, my friend, writer Carla Killough McClafferty, has shared with me her passion for the subject of her latest manuscript: Varian Fry. Fry, an American journalist in France, answered the call of human nobility during World War II. He formed his own version of an Underground Railroad that helped thousands escape misery or death at Hitler's hands. In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry is now out, and I'll tell you more about this inspiring story of adventure and bravery when I finish my copy!

Terrific Children's Book Illustration Exhibit at L.A. Public Library

A group of L.A. illustrators got together today at the Los Angeles Public Library to see the exhibit, "Children Should Be Seen: The Image of the Child in American Picture-Book Art." It contains an amazing group of original paintings and drawings from such classics as The Cat in the Hat, Flotsam, and The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. Altogether, art from more than 80 illustrators appears on the walls of this impressive exhibit. Check it out before it closes (Sept. 14).

Rita's Awesome SCBWI Photos and Nick's Best Kids GN Award

Two bits: my buddy Rita Crayon, a YA writer, has uploaded and captioned her huge stack of great photos from the last SCBWI conference. Check them out if you want to see how introverted artists lose it when they get together! And my favorite source of comics news, The Beat, announces that Nick Magazine has created awards for best children's graphic novels! Congrats to Chris Duffy and Dave Roman for this worthwhile initiative!

A Pulsar on the Wall of Comics

It starts as a thing. Lifeless. Meaningless. But when the "thing" reaches a person in a state of high emotion, the "thing" engulfs the essence of the moment and the intimate experience that surrounds it. The pulsars in our homes, pockets, or purses -- all these trinkets, souvenirs, keepsakes -- crystalize and cycle the energy of the highlights of our lives.

My latest "pulsar"? The cute sign designed by Aaron Hertzler and Brian Gerrity from the last SCBWI conference. When I look up at my shelves (my wall of comics) and see it, the friendship, laughter, and fun of those wonderful days twinkle again.

Another Incredible SCBWI Summer Conference Ends

I certainly wasn't going to disobey Lin's orders.

Each year, when the faculty marches across the stage and stops at the microphone to say their names, they must also offer one word to the audience. Last year, I had picked an obvious one for me: "comics." This year, I wanted "graphic novels," but it exceeded the one-word limit. With rumors that Lin Oliver has her finger on a giant glowing red "Eject" button that fires off disobeying faculty off the stage and into the hotel pool, I played it safe! So what was my word? "Tickle." It captured the spirit of this SCBWI Summer Conference, as awakening, stimulating, and plain ol'fun! And it didn't land me in the pool!

This year again, I got to meet some super people and catch up with some wonderful friends, from my reviewees (thanks for giving me a chance to tip-toe into your creative process and offer some feedback -- best luck again) to my favorite bunch of merry poets and artists! So many laughs! Too little sleep! To all the devoted organizers: HUGE THANKS!!! What an incredible four days! It will take as many to recover.

Just Received my CWIM'09

No, it's not a chemical compound, a texting abbreviation, or a constellation! It's the latest edition of the Children's Writers and Illustrators Market, edited by the adorable Alice Pope! I just began reading it and already found that it's so exciting to see how editor Allyn Johnston cares about "perfect words in perfect places" (Mem Fox' words), how Kirby Larson "anchors" her dialogues to carry the storytelling in every line, how Cecil Castellucci wants us to fall in love head over heels with our characters, and how some picture books seduce you with terribly flirtatious first lines! And those are just the articles I read so far!!