Mac McCool

Jamming at the Graphic Novel Workshop at the Summer SCBWI

2010-07-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Next month, aspiring graphic novel writers and artists will get together to learn the ins and outs of the craft and the business of graphic novles for kids at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators summer conference in Los Angeles. I'll lead them through exercises in writing a comics script, creating and designing characters, picking angles and shots, and organizing fluid and dramatic page layouts. We're going to work together and have fun! One hour, for each of the four days of the conference, we'll bring our brains and passions together to create graphic novels. The conference schedule lists the full description of the workshop. The assignments for writers and artists, consisting of four exercises and one completed graphic novel page, are also public. I even heard there are a handful of open seats! Interested?

Welcome Home, Abby Sunderland!

2010-06-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

Living Life! That’s what Abby Sunderland's bold attempt to sail around the Earth brings to mind. And for that alone, in my book, she's a role-model.

I caught the news of her departure back in January. Having sailed some years ago, I felt a twist of envy. Just feeling the boat -- that frail shell, alternately protecting you from the whims of the waves and wind or joining the sailor and Nature's elements in a perfect grace and movement – is both exhilarating and tantalizing.

Weeks later, I stumbled onto her blog when she neared the Equator, and it became my first-read every day.

Though she came close to being lost, we're blessed that she's fine and back home today. She and her brother, as well as a handful of mature teenagers who have planned and built their way into achieving their dreams remind us that not living life to the fullest is perhaps the greatest tragedy.

And to my friends, the storytellers out there, these young people's examples remind me of what animation director, Brad Bird, once said: "how can you create the illusion of life if you haven't lived life yourself?"

Thank you, Abby, and welcome home!

Why is This a Comic Book?

2010-05-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

Blogger Douglas Wolk asks eight great questions for comics creators. To some degree, they apply to children's picture books too. They set up a nice "reality check" before you embark on the big journey leading to the creation of your opus.

Here are the first three:

1. Why is this a comic book?
2. What is it going to look like?
3. What is it going to read like?

Read the other five questions and Wolk's insight here.

Wild Encounters in the Hills

2009-09-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

Just days after almost stepping on a scorpio during a hike -- the very first time I ever saw a scorpio in the hills, I encountered for the first time a doe in the wild.

I know they're around. If you look down on the dusty trails, you'll easily spot their hoof prints. Yet, it's such fun to actually catch a glimpse of one.

Luckily, I had my camera with me this time.

Amazingly, it wasn't alone!

However, after a few minutes, these beautiful creatures trotted off. And the last photo makes them seem like a mirage!

Children's Graphic Novels at the 2009 Comic-Con

2009-08-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

This year, more children’s book publishers, such as Cobblestone Books, Hyperion, Simon & Schuster, Penguin, had booths at the Comic-Con, and for once had enough graphic novels to spotlight that part of their catalogue. Notably, Random House showcased five series (the on-going Babymouse, the brand new Lunch Lady, and the upcoming Uglydolls, Stone Rabbit, and Kit Feeny). Other “traditional” comics publishers, such as Oni Press, are targeting younger audiences with titles such as Crogan’s Vengeance by Chris Schweizer (who drew a funny comics of his San Diego experiences at his blog) – a move similar to Top Shelf’s past success with Owly. Hybrid comics, such as The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, continue to do well, as does Eric Wight’s Frankie Pickle, which is hooking readers with addictive adventure lines presented in alternating comics and text pages. Some series have become industry leaders, such as Jeff Smith’s Bone, Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet, and Jimmy Gownley’s Amelia Rules! Two panels on Sunday centered on children’s graphic novels, and by the quantity of librarians attending them, it’s clear they continue to be some of our biggest supporters. Another key development this year: webcomics and mobile comics are a force in the industry. For instance, readers can now get Bone on their iPhones through UClick. So in a nutshell, kids graphic novels continue to expand and to excite, even if they remain lost in the shadows of superheroes, TV shows, and blockbusters at the Comic-Con!

I Skipped Lunch at the Comic-Con, but not the Lunch Lady!

2009-07-26T21:09:00.001-07:00

Just got back from the yearly trip to the Comic-Con where I got to see the terrific Jarrett Krosoczka and get the two first volumes of his brand new kids graphic novel... Lunch Lady: Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute and Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians! I haven't read them yet, but they smell good!

Have a taste for yourself with this video!

Wow!

2009-07-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

A Midsummer Night's Dream in a Canyon

2009-07-20T07:55:00.000-07:00

As a comic artist who draws settings populated with characters acting out emotions , I love seeing a good play. This weekend, a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream stole my heart! It exploded with energy, creativity, fun, and intelligence. The actors were athletic, bold, and versatile. They gave heart to their lines. One minute they made you think, the next they made you laugh. And the setting for this play couldn’t have been better: a theater in a canyon, where the hillside merges with the stage, with trees everywhere, even center-stage. A 10-year old girl sitting nearby told me that it was her first Shakespeare’s play and that she had loved it. If you’re in the Los Angeles region, go see it! It’s at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum (schedule) and tickets start at $10. Totally worth it for great fun and greater inspiration!

Plucked from the Sketchbook

2009-07-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Happy Fourth!

2009-07-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day to you!

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

Back from Orbiting Florida

2009-06-26T06:23:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-14T06:12:00.000-07:00

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!

Good Friends Doing Good Deeds!

2008-11-14T10:32:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-25T05:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-15T06:38:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-23T16:48:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-05T06:18:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-28T15:13:00.001-07:00

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!!

The 2009 Children's Writers and Illustrators Market Is Out

2008-07-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

Interested in publishing children's graphic novels? Hurry and get your copy of the 2009 Children's Writers and Illustrators Market fresh off the press. Edited by Alice Pope, the 2009 edition includes a detailed survey I wrote about children's book publishers interested in graphic novels and the submission formats they prefer. Thanks to my pal and amazing illustrator, Pat Cantor, who first alerted me about the release of the 2009 edition! For up-to-date info and news about the world of children's book publishing, consult Alice Pope's funny and insightful CWIM blog as well.

Off to ONE of the 10,000 Lakes

2008-06-20T18:05:00.000-07:00

In 24 hours, I'll be in the vast expanse known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," the 'hood of Paul Bunyan, and the home of the Mosquito Air Force! MINNESOTA, HERE WE COME!!! It's a semi-grand family reunion (any family reunion is grand, but this year, many cousins can't make it...). I'm hoping to try water-skiing, and other crazy water sports! We might hop to Fargo, North Dakota, the home of Uff-Da, ya-sure, and U.S.-made lefsa! And with a little luck, we may discover a thing or two about Native Minnesotan tribes by learning about their culture on their reservations (I have such wonderful memories of doing this when I was a kid!). And yes, I may even go fishing again (although, except for my very first fishing expedition, I've NEVER had any luck fishing since!).

Yours truly,

Fish's best friend!

Mad about Maddie!

2008-06-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

As I'm working on the breakdowns of the early reader graphic novel project that won first prize for the best "picture book" manuscript at the last Los Angeles SCBWI Writer's Day contest, I'm in search of the look of my characters. Maddie (shown here) will play a BIG role in this graphic novel, so I'm not going to quit sketching until she's the most adorable talkative girl in the world! What do you think? Which one do you like best?!

Loving "Flight Explorer"

2008-06-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

At the BEA, I had the pleasure of running into Kazu Kibuishi, who edited the terrific children's graphic novel collection of short stories, Flight Explorer. I've meant to tell you about it for weeks! Yes, it's that good!!! The art in that anthology sings! The graphic novellettes by Johane Matte, Matthew S. Armstrong, and Bannister have such elegance and fun designs. Stories by Steve Hamaker, Philip Craven and Kazu blend wit, adventure, and poetry. And some characters are a riot! From the fish-in-a-bowl, who controls a sophisticated robot seeking to save the universe, to the Siamese cat with an inflated pride the size of Egyptian pyramids, but constantly stomped by distractions like teeny birds and fellow poofy cats! The anthology contains a great mix of boy and girl stories, making it likely to please any child 6 to 11 years old.

"The Hidden Life of the Burrowing Owl" in Play at Annecy

2008-06-08T08:19:00.000-07:00

My good buddy, Mike Roush, is living his dream as we speak! His passions? 2D animation and animals. He combined them in his first solo short animation, "The Hidden Life of the Borrowing Owl." The result? It's been chosen to compete in the world's most selective animation festival, the Annecy International Film Festival in France. In fact, Mike is there right now! Check out the website for "The Hidden Life of the Borrowing Owl," The trailer doesn't show much, but the images in the gallery are superb! Way to go, Mike!!!

It's FREE Comic Book Day Today!

2008-05-03T06:33:00.000-07:00

Which comic book store will you enjoy today?

Learning from Masterful Character Silhouette Designs

2008-04-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

Just like a good logo, signature designs facilitate immediate recognition of characters and gives them an unmistakably unique look. Think Superman's cape, Tintin's upright tuft of hair, the zigzag pattern on Charlie Brown's shirt, Lisa Simpson's star-shaped head. The literary equivalent comes in the personal slogan, such as "What's up, Doc?" or "Elementary, my dear Watson." In Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud presents one of my favorite and most iconic signature designs by reproducing Mickey Mouse's ears and head with just two dimes and a quarter. So if we're trying to improve on our character designs, we should all be grateful to Bob Flynn's latest blog post "Cartoon Silhouettes." Bob Flynn, a contributor to the group blog Creative Juices, shows us a layout of 37 silhouettes of famous cartoon characters, and proves the effectiveness and power of masterful signature designs. It's too good to miss -- go there and see if you can recognize them all!

Familiar Faces and Surprises Lurk at the L.A. SCBWI Writer's Day!

2008-04-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

What a blast catching up with so many great SCBWI pals, like Jay Asher (the fine writer of the hugely praised Thirteen Reasons Why), Sarah Laurenson (who won a so-much-deserved service award for her tireless work on the SCBWI-SoCal website), or Greg Pincus with his wit, love of poetry, and fun t-shirts! I finally got the joy to chat with Cecil Castellucci (The PLAIN Janes) -- which we had never got to do at the last Los Angeles Summer Conference -- and to listen to inspirational stories, such as Caroline Hatton's behind the scene chronicles of the scientists who test the world's best athletes during the Olympics, and Philomel's Editorial Director, Patricia Gauch on writing one's passion ("You cannot FLINCH!"). Erica Silverman's tips on writing early readers came at a perfect time for my present graphic novel manuscript... which, by the great Maui, took 1st place in the "picture book" contest of this year's SCWBI-SoCal Writer's Day! What a thrill! And huge kudos to my friends, Kathryn Fitzmaurice and Christina Forshay, who received honorary mentions! Yeah! To all the organizers (Edie & Claudia, & your crew) and judges, heart-felt thank yous!!!

SPLAT! Blog Round-Up

2008-03-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

The computer is fixed! Time to catch up on many things! Thanks, friends, for the kind notes while my workhorse was having a bad case of the stripes!

Splat!, a NYC event, brought together some top movers-and-shakes in the graphic novel business, and I'm rounding up some blog posts. Publishers Weekly, Stephanie Ruble, and Fleen had nice summaries of the various panels. Only Publishers Weekly covered the panel with editors and agents on submitting graphic novels. The Written Nerd gives a more bookstore-centric perspective, with sprinklings of Scott McCould sightings and quotables. Focusing on Brian Wood, The New York Post lists his advice for breaking into the business (and Dallas at Del Rey Manga comments on each suggestion). The role of webcomics continues to mystify and Fleen gives another post on the webcomics panel alone, complemented by a brief commentary by Man-Size on how the web offers new freedoms for artists. Based on Armrace, the autobiography panel seemed less valuable than other panels. Finally, the most impressive coverage goes to Karen at Pen in Hand for her ink and watercolor live sketches of the panelists!

A Bad Case of Kernel Panic

2008-03-12T06:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I drove my iBook urgently to the ER of the Apple store (they call it "Genius Bar," but believe me it felt more like an ER moment!). I thought my workhorse would hold up for another year, but it kept giving me a "multi-lingual" command to shut it down every time I started it up. Thank God for backing up (20 days ago! a-hum...) and for the helpful iBook doctor at the Genius Bar who helped me get the more recent files, including my latest graphic novel manuscript! Sigh...! Now my iBook is in flight somewhere to a Mayo clinic for clunky iBooks (and I should be able to get it back some time next week!). It's gonna be a lonely week...

Illustrator Christina Forshay Updates Her Website and Blog

2008-02-23T05:21:00.000-08:00

I love the cute poetry of the images of my friend illustrator, Christina Forshay. She's just updated her website and given her blog a new coat of pixel-paint!

Erin Eitter Kono Illustrates Grandma in a PUNK WIG!

2008-02-22T06:34:00.000-08:00

The talented illustrator (and super sweet friend who swears she can dance the Hula!), Erin Eitter Kono, has a new illustrated book out, Punk Wig!, about a grandma unlike most! It's wild and funny, and it's written by Lori Ries. Erin has a knack for amazing spreads and graceful illustrations (her storyboard thumbnails are just amazing!).

SPLAT 08: An Impressive GN Symposium

2008-02-19T06:03:00.000-08:00

A new graphic novels symposium, SPLAT 08, will take place next March 15 in NYC. The list of presenters is simply amazing! It includes Dave Saylor (Graphix), Mark Siegel (First Second), Scott McCloud, Calvin Reid (PW), Terry Nantier (NBM/Papercutz), Dave Roman (Nickelodeon), Raina Telgemeier (Baby Sitters Club), Kate Farrell (Henry Holt), Janna Morishima (Diamond), and many more creators, publishers, agents, and librarians. Anyone serious about breaking into this business and who can hop to NYC for a day shouldn't miss it!

Leezy's Amazing 2008 NYC SCBWI Conference Reports

2008-02-13T05:11:00.000-08:00

My sprightly illustrator friend, Leeza Hernandez, is sharing an amazingly list of posts on the 2008 Winter Conference of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators that just wrapped up in New York! Excellent info! Thanks, Leeza!!!

Tuesday Tip: Enroll Your Reader's Imagination or The Abominable Yeti is a Duck with Funny Feet

2008-02-12T05:56:00.000-08:00

Recently, the rains turned dusty hill trails into a doughy mud that recorded the invisible: the furtive goings and comings of wild animals. Among the many footprints, hoof prints, and paw prints, I was startled by a set of paw prints, the size of large fists. I shuddered, “What kind of wilder beast hikes on these trails?!” Like all good storytellers, Nature had given my imagination just enough to let it finish painting a vivid and powerful vision. Maybe those prints only belonged to a baby squirrel who wears size 15 paws, but the illusion in my mind of a beast stomping about kept me on edge.

What a great lesson! Just like the Yeti! Its only signs? Foot prints, blurry silhouettes through blizzards, distant groans, but never an honest-to-God, real sighting. Yet, these hints have fueled our imagination into believing in a gigantic, abominable creature. In reality, the Yeti may just be a duck with funny feet! That's enough for a small meal. Not a legend!

Pushing Pencils While Friends Party in NYC

2008-02-11T08:49:00.000-08:00

The SCBWI Winter Conference in New York just wrapped up, and I'm now ready for the post-conference blog-posts harvest time! I'm eager to catch up on everyone's impressions, anecdotes, and what all of us who didn't go missed. Meanwhile, I've been writing the early drafts of a graphic novel series for young readers (with the helpful feedback of my writer's critique group--hi ya!), and developing another super-secret graphic novel proposal! So that's what's been happening, and a lot more, called "life!"

Tuesday Tip: Margins on Originals Provide Finger-Space and More

2008-01-22T19:34:00.000-08:00

Nothing earth-shattering for this tip, however I'm always surprised when students and aspiring comic artists show me their originals with only a quarter of an inch or less between the edge of the paper and their beautiful panels! Ample margins have multiple purposes: plenty enough room for holding without risking putting your fingers on the ink lines, a protective band (if you drop your fancy sheet of paper and bend a corner, or knock over a coffee up or ink bottle), a playful space for tiny graphic experiments and notes-to-self, and finally a "framing" look that gives the original page a greater aesthetic appeal. How much is enough? No rule, but I'm happy to see a 1-inch minimum. How about you?

White Mountain Tops, Green Hill Tops, and Ocean View

2008-01-20T17:59:00.000-08:00

What little rain has fallen so far during our "rainy" season has repainted the landscape green. Plants I've never seen before are popping on every trail side. Far away, snow on mountain tops almost glows in the noon hour. On my hike today, with the winter sun low enough in the sky, it was possible to see the Pacific Ocean (a rare event) and the hills of Catalina Island. The ocean shone like a silver sheet and the tankers heading in and out of the port of Long Beach looked like little dashes.

Thanks to all of you who have expressed concerns about my "delayed" suitcases. A few days ago, I made a special trip to LAX to snatch them off the luggage belt the minute they slid down! Now, I've got some serious reading to do!!

Where in the World Are My French Graphic Novels?!

2008-01-08T12:54:00.000-08:00

I always love coming home, even after a fun trip abroad. Sadly, my bags didn't make the connecting flight in Frankfurt. So that's where all my GRAPHIC NOVELS are right now! NAAAAAAhrglargarhghh! [teeth-gnashing sobs]

All those great new graphic novels I'm dying to read, and lots of old ones a French friend has been storing for me for years (including some rare out-of-print ones). Those poor graphic novels, all alone in Germany...

... with my socks and razor!

Kids Comics Convention in 2008

2008-01-05T00:37:00.000-08:00

Quick news to share: a kids comics convention is taking place in NYC this year again, and it now hosts awards!

What's in French Comics Stores These Days?

2008-01-04T01:53:00.000-08:00

After visiting four comics bookstores (yeah!) since my arrival in France, I noticed few changes from last year's selection. Mangas have decidedly conquered their shelf-space (about a tenth of the store space). Their printing quality often surpasses the U.S. pulp trade form. For decades French and Belgium readers have been used to beautiful color printing and hardbound comic books (they call them "albums"), so buyers probably expect higher quality production in their mangas than we do in the U.S.

Children's graphic novels remain a mix of top-selling series (Marsupilami, Smurfs, Titeuf, Petit Spirou), look-alikes of top-selling series, and more creative, often illustrative and poetic, stories (Octave, Echecs et Automates).

The alternative and experimental press has a space of its own (about half the size of mangas), but a sectarian following. I didn't see nearly as many people go to those shelves as to the other areas of the bookstores. We seem to witness a maturing, if not a slight oversupply of that type of comics now that the rise of the "Nouvelle Bande Dessinée" (the New Comics) dates back to more than 10 years. One store even had a section for the more artistic and established trend-changing authors like Sfar (Sardine, The Rabbi's Cat), David B. (Epileptic), Christophe Blain (Isaac The Pirate), Manu Larcenet, Lewis Trondheim, and a few new promising artists like Daphné Collignon whose art seduced me.

Last, organizing graphic novels by genre rather than by author or publisher appears well-entrenched. The stores I visited had sections for thrillers, fantasy, western, history, classics, humor, children's, mangas, super-heroes, alternative and small press, and studies and monographs on comics. We may look forward to such a development in the U.S. in the years to come.

Happy New Year!!!

2007-12-31T15:09:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all of you! It's chilly here in France, but the bookstores are stocked with great graphic novels! Wishing great health for you and all your loved ones, success in your endeavors, lots of happy moments, and grand adventures worth sharing for generations!

Tuesday Tip: The Right Width of Gutters

2007-12-18T05:34:00.000-08:00

In comic art, the "gutter" defines the space between panels. How wide should gutters be? Generally, not so far apart that the panels seem disconnected and no longer belonging to a meaningful visual group and reading sequence (fig. 1). When the gutter width is small enough, the page looks like a pictorial unit (figs. 2 & 3). However, most artists do not reduce the gutter to a single line (fig. 3), and we'll see the pros and cons of this approach in another post. Still, if you have the heart of an experimenter, one device with which very few comic artists have tinkered is gutter widths, especially varying gutter widths.

Amulet is Out!

2007-12-08T16:04:00.000-08:00

At the Children's Graphic Novel Day last November, Kazu Kibuishi showed us the first copy of his first graphic novel with Scholastic, Amulet. It's now out!

Tuesday Tip: Thick Balloon Pointers

2007-12-05T05:55:00.000-08:00

A funny phenomenon happens if you draw your balloon pointers too thick: your balloons become cardboard cutouts floating in the world of your comics (and your characters could bump their heads against them!). To preserve the illusion that speech balloons only exist in the mind's ear of the reader, keep those pointers slim!

Louisville Courier-Journal Introduces Tintin and European Comics to U.S. Readers

2007-12-03T11:08:00.000-08:00

Journalist Tamara Ikenberg introduces the character of Tintin (a superstar in French-speaking Europe) and other top series of "bande dessinée" (comics in French) in two well-researched articles in the Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky. With the rise of children's graphic novels in America, we can learn much about the success of children's comics in France and Belgium, where top-sellers often sell in the millions.

Night Predator

2007-12-01T12:37:00.000-08:00

I didn't see it at first, but the loud cracking of dry bush couldn't have been a bird or a rabbit.

An hour and a half before, I had headed out for the hills, not realizing how soon the sun would set. Halfway through, near the peak, an purplish orange sky tinted by the smoke off the Malibu Hills signaled I now had to pick between the shortest or the longest way home. The short way followed a narrow path I hadn't hiked on in more than a year. Lots of it could have changed in that time. Would I see the path when it got dark? The longest way guaranteed it'd be dark by the time I stepped back on a paved road, however the path was large and I knew it well. I chose the long way.

Once night set in, I picked up a stick and a heavy fist-size rock.

Coyotes live in those hills as well as mountain lions. A coyote won't generally attack a creature larger than itself, but in a small pack, and at night, when they start hunting, how certain would you feel?

Only about 100 yards to go. It's dark. Still no sign of the moon. The eyes can't see far. Smudges of dark and darker black surround me. I hear dry brushes crackle on both side of the path. I grip my rock, stand tall, keep on pacing. When I look to the side, something moved. I keep walking. Then the silhouette of a coyote, not 30 feet from me, overlooking the trail cuts against the charcoal gray of the hills. The predator looks about with a jitter, as coyotes often do. I reach the road. A sigh of relief and excitement. What was on the other side of the trail?

Tuesday Tip: Sprinkling Creativity Throughout the Process

2007-11-20T09:44:00.000-08:00

Making changes to a graphic novel that's well underway usually involves redrawing loads of pages and discarding hours of work. If one page takes about 1 to 3 days on average, then redoing 10 pages could represents nearly a month's worth of work. In such types of creative processes, where the toll of editing increases as the project progresses, pre-planning becomes crucial to avoid disasters in the long run (animation is another such process). In reaction, some artists will front-end the creative (and fun) work, only to find that they've turned themselves into drawing machines for the rest of the process. To keep the creative fun throughout the process, only plan early on what you must to ensure smooth transitions from phase to phase, and keep as much as possible to be decided, invented, created for the rest of the journey. For example, when you are the same person penciling and inking a page, "push your pencils" (draw and redraw until it's correct) only on the important elements. For the rest, say for trees or landscapes, merely sketch approximate shapes, so that you can playfully and creatively ink them in later on.

Another Month, Another Children's Comics Imprint: Toon Books

2007-11-19T13:04:00.000-08:00

It's official! We're experiencing a renaissance of comics for children. The latest imprint to offer children's graphic novels is Toon Books. It is introducing graphic novels for very young readers, 4 years old and up (similar to Punaise & Puceron in the French and Belgian markets). Toon Books founders, Françoise Mouly and Art Spiegelman, who have long advocated for quality comics for children (notably with their lavish and smart Little Lit collection), bring their artistic flair and editorial know-how to an already promising catalogue. (More info on Toon Books' blog and in Calvin Reid's PW article)

Dave Roman's Freelancing Tips for Illustrators and Comic Artists

2007-11-17T04:57:00.000-08:00

Dave Roman is surrounded by children's comics and graphic novels. At work, he's an Editor for Nickelodeon Magazine. At home, he's the spouse of the delightful Raina Telgemeier (who draws the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels for Scholastic). And he even makes his own comics! Now, we're all lucky he's sharing all his insights about working as a freelance artist in one place. Thanks, Dave!

Children's Graphic Novel Day Roundtable Summary (Part 4)

2007-11-15T04:57:00.000-08:00

On online comics, conventions and communities:
Most everyone agreed that starting to show your work online helped to generate interest and word-of-mouth, opening doors to many opportunities. The Flight anthology owed much of its early success to the online buzz generated before the release of the first volume. Every panelist agreed conventions played a critical role in bringing your art to the public and to publishing pros. Moreover, Kazu Kibuishi likened the group of creators behind tables at conventions as a village, and for him, attending conventions such as the San Diego Comic Con gave him the chance to meet and socialize with friends and peers in that village.

Read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of the Children's Graphic Novel Day Roundtable with the list of our guests.

Children's Graphic Novel Day Roundtable Summary (Part 3)

2007-11-09T05:27:00.000-08:00

Part 3 - On the role reviews play in the success of a graphic novel:
J. H. Everett, who worked at bookstores (Borders, Waldenbooks), said reviews almost did not matter to most customers. Conversely, Tommy Kovac and Michael Payne explained that librarians made many of their purchasing decisions on reviews alone, especially with trusted sources, such as VOYA. Moreover, Kelly Sonnack reminded the audience that strong reviews in established venues, like the New York Times, build your credibility and impress publishers.

Read Part 1 and Part 2 of the Children's Graphic Novel Day Roundtable with the list of our guests.

Children's Graphic Novel Day Roundtable Summary (Part 2)

2007-11-07T20:38:00.000-08:00

Read Part 1 of the Children's Graphic Novel Day Roundtable here with the listing of our guests.

Part 2 - On the best format and avenues for submissions:
Writers face the added challenge of selling a graphic novel proposal to publishers without visuals to support it. Douglass Barre stressed that writers approaching comic book superhero publishers like Marvel and DC have little chances of having a proposal accepted with a manuscript alone, and so they should find an artist to draw sample pages. Comic artist Tommy Kovac suggested starting your publishing career with smaller publishers to prove your abilities. Agent Kelly Sonnack recognized that with children's book publishers, no submission standards or protocol presently existed for graphic novels. Kazu Kibuishi said that many artists are struggling to finish their graphic novels, so shopping a completed graphic novel not only proves you have the required discipline, but also makes it easier for editors to take or reject your project (since they are still new to editing graphic novels).

Tuesday Tip: Drawing The Soundtrack of a Comics

2007-11-06T04:50:00.000-08:00

On the comics page, font weight correlates with the perceived volume of speech. A wavy baseline (the line where text rests) suggests a melody, mimicking the up and down movement of keys on a musical score. Beyond these two conventions, the comic artist can design letters that "play" very specific timbers, pitches, resonances and other audio qualities in the mind's ear of the reader. It's the power of synaesthesia, the ability of one sense to evoke another, like a color evoking a taste. One warning: computer fonts look too perfect and generally fail to evoke lively sounds, so hand-draw your onomatopoeias (sound FXs) instead. In so doing, consider the materials generating your sound and find visual analogies to shape your letters -- is it soft, hard, gas-filled, liquid, metallic, organic, static, vibrating, etc.? Seek shapes and line styles that convey emotional qualities like harsh, tender, deep, superficial, angry, silly, etc. Finally, your onomatopoeia can also mark moments in space. If the sound is moving, like a jet roaring by, your letters can act as motion lines tracking the passage of the plane across your panel. So remember, an evocative lettering enriches your comics' soundtrack, and your reader's "ear" will love you for it!

Children's Graphic Novel Day: Thanks So Much!

2007-11-05T05:34:00.000-08:00

To all of you who attended the 1st Children's Graphic Novel Day, organized by the SCBWI Tri-Regions Chapters of Southern California, a MAGNIFICIENT THANK YOU! Our speakers shared so much, from Marilyn Scott-Waters's funny intro and survey of the history of comic art, to Bob Singer's ever-so-insightful critiques of all your comics pages (congrats on completing those!), and to our panel of speakers who revealed the potential and complexities of this trade! We even had a surprise last minute guest speaker, Kazu Kibuishi, who showed us his first published copy of his upcoming graphic novel, Amulet. And to all our terrific volunteers and organizers, thank you, thank you, thank you!

If you couldn't make it, I've condensed notes from the roundtable and will post them in a few installments starting today. Our speakers included Douglass Barre, J.H. Everett, Kazu Kibuishi, Tommy Kovac, Michael Payne, and Kelly Sonnack (bios).

Part 1: On Trends in the World of Children's Graphic Novels:
The Harry Potter series proved to adults that children could read longer books, so one of the trends affecting graphic novels is higher page counts (Baby Sitters Club, Amulet, Avalon High). Another continuing trend is the broadening appeal to girls, from Babymouse to Fruit Basket. Books that increase social and playful interactions (with Harry Potter bringing parents and children closer or Captain Underpants with flipbook animations in its pages and other fun activities) connect and engage readers beyond the mere reading experience, with the universe of the story entering the real world of the children.

Quick News: Children's Graphic Novel Day, Hugo Cabret, and Jay's 13 Reasons

2007-10-28T08:48:00.001-07:00

Speakers for the roundtable on children's graphic novels in bookstores, schools, and libraries, chaired by Andrew Mitchell, now include artists, writers, librarians, bookstore professionals, Tommy Kovac, Douglass Barre, J. H. Everett, and Michael Payne. Registrations for Children's Graphic Novel Day are coming in, so don't delay (it's one week away). And it sounds like we'll have some great professionals attending as well -- so we should see very lively and informed discussions. Thanks to Lisa Yee, Greg at GottaBlog, Christina Forshay, Marilyn Scott-Waters, and all of you who are helping to promote this event! You guys rock!! And from Lisa Yee's blog: Brian Selznick Invention of Hugo Cabret won a fine award! More great news for this expanding medium! Finally, my SCBWI buddy, Jay Asher's first (and much acclaimed) novel is out: check out Thirteen Reasons Why.

Updated GoRaina Website

2007-10-26T15:47:00.000-07:00

Last night, we received Mary Anne Saves the Day. It reminded me that a couple of weeks ago, Raina Telgemeier, the comic artist adapting the "Baby-Sitters Club" series to graphic novels, updated her website, GoRaina.com! It's filled with fun and happy goodies!

Fires in Southern California

2007-10-24T05:45:00.000-07:00

The fires do not threaten our community now, yet they are close enough for us to see the smoke and inhale the dry air... Many people we know and thousands more we don't are dislodged, helping others, or have lost their homes. The San Diego Red Cross chapter, which is in most need, has a direct link to help. Thanks for your thoughts and help.

Tuesday Tip: Writing The Soundtrack of a Comics

2007-10-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

Every time a comics becomes an animated show, some long-time readers upon seeing it for the first time will say, "Huh?... That's not the voice I had in mind for [insert character name]." It's one of the magical dimensions of comic art! Graphic novels do have soundtracks, only they play in our mind's ear. The writer and the artist work together in making the otherwise silent book object turn into a decibel-filled experience. For the writer, this magic resides in crafting natural-sounding dialogues with unique voices distinguished by speech patterns, hints of accents, and authentic jargon. Listen to people speaking, pick up rhythms, inflections, and selectively hand them to your characters. Next, the writer provides the first draft (or first spelling) of sound effects (onomatopoeias) for those sounds that should break past a scene's normal auditory landscape. You can use conventional spellings (WHAM! POW! ZAP!) for typical sounds, but you're creative, right? So why not add your own sound effects to the sequential art soundbank?

Next tip: how does the artist transform marks on the page into sounds in our heads?

HarperCollins To Start Publishing Children's Graphic Novels

2007-10-20T16:32:00.000-07:00

The latest SCBWI Bulletin announces that Brenda Bowen (formerly with Simon & Schuster and Hyperion) recently joined HarperCollins to launch a new imprint, which will publish children's graphic novels. Bowen is looking for new writers and artists, and for "graphic novels and books on cultural trends and titles with 'global reach,'" states a HarperCollins press release. Harold Underdown lists the name of the new imprint as "Bowen Publishing." Bowen oversaw the Hyperion launch of graphic novel biographies, such as Houdini by Jason Lutes and Nick Bertozzi.

Children's Graphic Novel Day - Nov. 3!

2007-10-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

If you're a writer or illustrator aspiring to create great children's graphic novels, the Southern California Tri-Regions Chapters of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is creating the very first Children's Graphic Novel Day. It's going to be a fun, hands-on, workshop-style introduction to the wonderful literary, visual, and narrative potentials of graphic novels! What better way to meet folks with shared interests too?! More news to come, but register now before it's full!

The Future of the Graphic Novel

2007-10-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Public Library organized an insightful panel on "The Future of Graphic Literature" (6-part video at New Rage Order). Among the panelists, artist and editor Kazu Kibuishi talked about his new children's graphic novel anthology, Flight Explorer (scheduled for early 2008), his own upcoming graphic novel, Amulet, Jeff Smith's Bone (Scholastic), and more tidbits about the children's graphic novel market. If you're new to the comics publishing industry, it's a great, albeit mellow, intro! Thanks to my illustrator friend Christina Forshay for the heads-up!

Tuesday Tip: Reverse-Writing a Comics

2007-10-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

With authors wanting to write graphic novels, many stumble on which format to follow. Although the industry has "traditions," it has no strict standard rivaling those for screenplays. For example, at Marvel, one such tradition (believed to have started with Stan Lee) consists in handing down to the artist a one-page point-by-point plot, which the artist then converts into the typical 22-page comic book format. At the end, a writer or editor adds dialogues and captions on top of the art. Other graphic novel writers will not only write dialogues, but give detailed panel-by-panel instructions, down to the camera angle and the characters' facial expressions.

One of the best exercises for an aspiring writer is to take their favorite graphic novel and "reverse-write" it (think reverse-engineering). Pick a sample of pages, look at the text in the dialogues and captions, identify the stage direction (action), the sets (description), and create a script that would have generated the page you are looking at. Ask yourself how you would communicate your thoughts with the artist, which thoughts are important to share, etc. With this exercise you will also become familiar with the many devices and concepts unique to graphic novel storytelling.

Great SCBWI Editor's Day 2007!

2007-10-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Francesca Rusackas, Q.L. Pierce, and Priscilla Burris for organizing such a fun, informative, and motivating SCBWI Editor's Day! What a treat to meet the very friendly Mary Lee Donavan (Candlewick Press) and Elizabeth Schonhorst (Bloomsbury Children's Books), and to listen to all the speakers (including my wonderful friend, Marilyn Scott-Waters)! Mary Lee Donovan introduced me to what looks like a super fun children's graphic novel (she called it a "graphic storybook"), Sticky Burr by John Lechner. The day even ended with news of a Graphic Novel Day for children's book writers & illustrators!

Conference Man

2007-10-03T18:33:00.001-07:00

So, okay, I did sketch (quite a bit, actually!) during my conference last weekend. Here's one of the more interesting shaped-face I saw!

She's Fit To Be Tied!

2007-10-01T05:58:00.001-07:00

No, this is not someone I met this weekend! Just a sketch I had fun with! Still, even the doodles in my sketchbook are afraid of this girl. What happened to the cute bunnies?!

Off to the L.A. Writer's Conference

2007-09-28T09:13:00.001-07:00

A long weekend of meeting writers, agents, publishers, and entertainment industry pros awaits me! I'm heading to the 5th Annual Los Angeles Writer's Conference. I'm planning on keeping a close eye on what this guy has to say about writing graphic novels!

Pensive Beard & Pointy Chin

2007-09-27T06:04:00.000-07:00

Ever noticed how pulling and twirling beards make men look thoughtful? Maybe there's a facial hair connection to the synapses! What d'you think?

One Book Out, One 1st Draft Done, and One Manuscript Scrambled...

2007-09-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

Quick news from some fun folks from the children's book publishing world: David Ezra Stein tells me his Monster Hug picture book is out (third book this year! Boy!). Wendelin Van Draanen just finished the first draft of the 12th volume of Sammy Keyes, tentatively titled Sammy Keyes and the Cold, Hard Cash (sounds fittingly dramatic for a mystery book!). And poor Lisa Yee has suffered an attack of the software-that-just-won't-cooperate, and her latest manuscript is one long word (no joke). Go drop her a "cheers, thinking of you note." It won't bring her manuscript back, but it'll stomp out some of Lisa's shock...

Five Graphic Novel Formalists Discuss their Passion and Struggles

2007-09-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

Mary Peterson brought back to my attention an interactive feature of five comic artists discussing their views of the visual language of graphic novels. All five (art spiegelman, Chris Ware, Seth, Chester Brown, and Joe Sacco) push the formal limits of comic art, while remaining effective storytellers. Seth's commentary about design and poetry rang particularly true, as well as Chris Ware's honest sharing of the challenges of the medium. (Note: when you go to the link, click on "High" bandwidth next -- the "Low" bandwidth option does not seem to work). Thanks Mary!

Long List of Comics Writing Links

2007-09-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

Too useful to pass: Caleb Monroe has compiled a generous list of links to online articles about writing comics. Thanks for that fine resource, Caleb!

Imagine All That Happened In This Skin...

2007-09-03T18:43:00.000-07:00

This is what I came upon during my last hike! A remnant of days gone by, a ghost of the past -- a ghost I prefer to the live beast, mind you! (In case you can't tell, the previous owner of this skin is a rattle snake!).

Osamu Tezuka's Comics Grace San Francisco

2007-08-31T08:38:00.000-07:00

What a fun trip! I got to hop to San Fran for a day this week to see several museums. The Osamu Tezuka exhibit at the Asian Art Museum provided the "excuse" to do it all! And just seeing Tezuka's originals made the trip worth it! Some casual visitors may not look past the cartoony characters and the cute kid's appeal. However, if it looks so simple, it's all because of the magic of a master! This level of skill in visual storytelling remains rare. Tezuka can present very complex concepts and emotions with elegant and perfectly clear drawings and well-timed sequences. His page layouts seldom miss a chance to enhance the storytelling. The impeccable shot selection, the variety and appeal of his textures, his fine control of value, his huge range of visual special effects, and his beautifully balanced compositions really make him someone worth studying again and again. Yet, beyond it all, his stories and characters project a great love for life and humanity -- a grand message! And if this weren't enough, I loved the galleries of the deYoung museum (including the photos of the sea by Hiroshi Sugimoto) and saw a few powerful paintings and photos at the SFMOMA! Pffff! All in a day's work!!

Globing Made Easy

2007-08-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

Did I say Glob? Yes, I did! I meant "blog!" Does that make me a globber?! Oops! Well, yep, I got my consonants mixed up at yesterday's great O.C. Illustrators' get together! That's where my friend (and the artist behind these adorable illustrations), Christina Forshay, told me about Google Reader. That's one dandy bloggin' tool, and big keep-in-touch-time-saver (which I'm sure many of you already knew about!).

Bunny Breaking Bread

2007-08-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

I recently read a few hundreds of Aesop's Fables. And I thought, "wouldn't it be nice if the turtle and the hare became best friends after that infamous race? Don't they like the same foods, anyway?" This led to a few drawings, like this one.

Kudos to Professional Heroes

2007-08-23T06:19:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, in the afternoon, the throbbing hum of helicopters alerted me of danger in the nearby hills where I hike. Last time I heard a chopper buzz over the canyons, its pilots were guiding from above an ambulance to a mountain-bike rider who had fallen and broken her collar bone. This time, a column of grey smoke rose from behind the nearest crest. A fire had started. Minutes later, the column spread into a thick wall of smoke and dust. It charged in slow-mo over the hill. Four water-dropping helos kept going right in, dipping as low as they could to release their loads, and making way for the next one. More than 300 firefighters rushed to the scene. I couldn't believe how quickly these professionals controlled the blaze. By the evening, they had contained a fire that could have engulfed tens of area homes and hundreds acres of wilderness. In the end, more than 50 acres burnt, no homes suffered damages, and everyone was safe. So to the many L.A. and Orange County firefighters who took great risks to keep everyone safe: THANK YOU! You're heroes.

Hattie Big Sky -- WOW!

2007-08-21T06:50:00.001-07:00

One of the joys of an SCBWI conference is discovering new and exciting books. A year ago, Flipped, by Wendelin Van Draanen (who is organizing this amazing campaign, by the way!) and her series, Shredderman and Sammy Keyes, were it. Last Winter, The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Brian Selznick) and Letters from Rapunzel (Sara Lewis Holmes) highlighted my reading season. Now, I just finished Firegirl (Tony Abbott) and Hattie Big Sky (Kirby Larson), and it’s no wonder they got awards and honors (a Golden Kite Award and a Newbery Book Honor respectively). Kirby Larson's writing is like music, with a graceful melody, a well-paced story tempo, a masterful ensemble of voices and emotional chords. Just terrific! Onto more great books!...

Memory Doodle

2007-08-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

Character designer, Stephen Silver, is a great practionner of "memory sketches." Here's a memory sketch of mine (this woman had a great, stern elegance in her profile).

Rediscovering David Wiesner's Flotsam

2007-08-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

I'm just getting back to reading some David Wiesner picture books. His storytelling and art are such inspirations! Flotsam is simply amazing. How he sometimes uses the images on the page as either extension of or a mirror of the reader. How he introduces depth past the flatness of the page to telescope back in time, but also in space in deep-focus layouts. And boy, framing techniques in the hands of master – when the images go back to the old days, viewed with the microscope, the round framing suggests closing the circle and repeating the cycle. And need I say impeccable page turns, solid pacing, clear staging and acting, great story, humorful whimsy, and a beautiful theme of connecting beyond space and time?!

Think-Jot-Draw: A Sketchbook for Picture Book Illustrators

2007-08-16T12:56:00.001-07:00

My friend and fun illustrator, Leeza Hernandez, just announced her much anticipated creation, the Think.Jot.Draw Sketchbook. It's made out of pages with useful templates and layouts most picture book illustrators use all the time, like quick panels to map out 32-page picture books (and it's only $8.95 -- total bargain!). I'm embarassed to say, but I don't know how many times I drew those silly layouts by hand over and over! Thanks Leeza! I can't wait to receive mine! And there's even a Think.Jot.Draw contest too!

Exposing Your Art!

2007-08-14T06:34:00.000-07:00

At the SCBWI conference, quiet illustrator, Jesse Joshua Watson, convinced the crowd in his presentation that to get work, you have to show your work! If you don't champion your art, who will? And my quiet illustrator friend, Jesse, put up a hilarious visual to make his point!... Did I say, Jesse is the quiet, almost shy, type? Well now, that funny visual is now on his Brains on Dislay blog!

Writing Graphic Novels U.: Recommended Reading List

2007-08-13T06:02:00.001-07:00

At the "Writing Graphic Novels" SCBWI session, I shared these titles (in no particular order) with the audience as a good set of great graphic novels to enjoy and study if you are diving into this art form. I've added a few comments about some of their literary and artistic strengths. Note: few of these titles suit younger audiences because so little has happened in children's comics in the U.S. in the last 40 years.

Bone by Jeff Smith
-- one of the great all-ages comics of recent years
Maus by Art Spiegelman
-- excellent writing, effective use of visual metaphors, brilliant story structure, intimate format, layouts that support the storytelling
Tintin by Hergé -- impeccably clear drawing style and panel compositions, voices and characters, slaptstick and verbal humor, smooth reading flow, great pacing (the later titles, like Tintin in Tibet, tend to be the best)
Fantastic Four by Jack Kirby
-- classic over-the-top adventures, dynamic drawings and visual effects, interpersonal conflicts
Spiderman by Stan Lee
-- a more "human" superhero, great dynamic visuals, strong pacing and rhythm
Epileptic by David B.
-- strong themes, careful writing, indelible graphic style
Pogo by Walt Kelly
-- voices, accents, and all-ages, or is it?
Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Waterson
-- impeccably precise writing, voices, magic of ellipses, character, clear compositions, visual stylistic range, overall mastery of medium
Any Astroboy by Osamu Tezuka
-- solid stories, attaching character, a classic for Japanese children -- Tezuka also has wonderful more grown-up stories like Buddha
Krazy Kat by George Herriman
-- a humorous Samuel Beckett in comics panels, voice accents, page layouts, takes a little warming up to, but will grow on most!
A Contract with God by Will Eisner
-- solid writing & story structure, characters, mood, intimate form, effective, yet simple layouts -- his Spirit stories have far more obvious experimental layouts
American Born Chinese by Gene Yang
-- multiple voices, simple and effective imagery, serious themes, complex story structure
Flight, (vol. 1-4) edited by Kazu Kibuishi
-- most volumes are a visual feast, with enough variety to suit all tastes, synthesis of Japanese and European influences on U.S. comics, beautiful color, useful to study short-form graphic novels or graphic novellas
Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay
-- not so impressive writing, but everything else is astonishing, from the graphic mastery, to the perfect union of layouts and storytelling, pacing, etc.; and if you want to get the experience of reading it in its original awesome size, get the original size version
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
-- deceptively effective use of simple black and white scheme to match the narrator's deceptively simple view of life, structure, good writing
Jimmy Corrigan by Chris Ware
-- mapping of time and space, sophisticated and engaging use of typography, page layouts, color, clear visuals, relationship between text and image
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide by Lorenzo Mattotti
-- beautiful "non-typical" style of images, effective adaptation, pacing, mood, colors
Many books from the publisher First Second. They have picked some of the best international comics and translated them into English, and they're also nurturing great home-grown talent.

In the next day or so, I'll gather a list of books that teach about the medium such as the excellent Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud.

Good Night to Wish on a Star!

2007-08-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

If you're up late Sunday night, away from city lights and under clear skies, look up at the Perseid Meteor shower show! Prepare your wishes!

How Many Graphic Novels Have YOU Read in the Last Year?

2007-08-11T06:08:00.000-07:00

Do you see that band wagon fixin' to leave the station? It's the Children's Graphic Novel Express! Run aboard! Jump in! Smile to the press for the maiden voyage photo! We're making history!!

But, WAIT! Hold it! Right there!

Your ticket -- do you have your ticket?!

"Ticket?!" you ask.

"Well, yeah! Just how many graphic novels have you read in the last 12 months?"

Blank stares...

"How 'bout thirty?... Twenty?... Ten?!?!... Not EVEN ten!!! Waitaminute! Children's graphic novels are serious business! Do some readin' and then hop right in! It's gonna be a fun ride!!!"

Still More Children's Book Publishers Are Publishing Graphic Novels

2007-08-09T04:22:00.000-07:00

Fresh from the SCBWI Los Angeles conference, new entries to add to my first list of children's graphic novels publishers include Holt, Penguin and Simon & Schuster.

A Big THANK YOU from the "Graphic Novel Guy"

2007-08-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

I must have boarded the Calendar Express on July 25 (first day of the San Diego Comic Con) and stepped off yesterday (closing day of the Summer Annual SCBWI conference). What a blast! Where did all the days go?! So many terrific people, memorable moments! Catching up with old friends, making new ones! Receiving that funny nickname, the "Graphic Novel Guy!" To all the incredible organizers, to all of you who attended my presentations, a heart-felt THANK YOU! Stay in touch! Let's spare no effort, let's cut no corner to make tomorrow's graphic novels for children the very best this world has ever seen!

From One-Illustration per Page to Many Panels per Page

2007-08-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

Illustrators wanting to refine their visual storytelling skills and writers curious about graphic novels from the point of view of the visual artist will learn about the techniques to designing clear, fluid, and powerful graphic novel pages in the "Illustrations in Panels: Composing Graphic Novels" workshop. This SCBWI session (Friday Aug. 3 at 11:45am) serves primarily illustrators. However, writers who wish to write manuscripts more suited to this medium will appreciate the insight into the artist's creative constraints and challenges. The "Illustration in Panels" workshop will launch with having you put pen to paper right away (no need to draw like a pro - stick figures will do!). Then we'll explore the concepts and principles of comics page layout (such as guiding the reader's eye, prioritizing your panels, creating rhythm and emotion, etc.). Another hands-on 2-3 minute exercise will follow before the Q&A. This workshop acts as a solid complement to the workshop on "Writing Graphic Novels" (Sunday Aug. 5, 10:45am). See ya there!

Bookpage Runs Creative Interview of David Evra Stein

2007-08-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

My illustration buddy, David Ezra Stein, has been the "victim" of a fun and creative Bookpage interview!

The "Writing Graphic Novels" SCBWI Presentation is Good-To-Go!

2007-07-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

My presentation on "Writing Graphic Novels" for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators summer conference is ready! During my two workshops at the past winter conference in New York, I had so many questions about writing graphic novels that it proved that many writers don't quite know where to start. So this presentation won't disappoint! It's PACKED with information. After an overview of the industry and the role of writers in it, we'll zip right into the heart of the matter: what's specific to writing good graphic novels? From dialogues and voices to economy of style, from speech balloons to voice-over boxes, from word sounds to timing speech for drama, from the relationship of text and images to "silent" comics, and tons more! In the end, we'll look into manuscript formats and submissions, as well as tips for collaborating with artists. With so much info, I am creating handouts for my attendees so they can focus on the presentation rather than on beating records of speed-note-taking! It's happening this Sunday August 5th, at 10:45am in Los Angeles. Register here!

Comic-Con '07: Packed!

2007-07-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

On the opening "Preview Night" of the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con last night, you couldn't help but bump into people in the aisles EVERYWHERE! On past Comic-Cons, "Preview Night" was laid back and you could stride through the halls and get to any booth in a jiffy. Not this year! It's official: the Comic-Con halls are a JUNGLE! And attending the Comic-Con is a contact sport!! I still managed to catch up with a lot of friends and bought Flight 4, which looks terrific and has some new exciting artists!

Private Yankee Doodle 10,000 Feet in the Air

2007-07-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

On the plane to my Midwest excursion, after reading parts of Martin Plumb's adventures as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, I sketched this little fellow.

Holidays are Over! Back to Business!

2007-07-20T10:06:00.000-07:00

Back from a trip in the Midwest (with the free Librivox audiobook of the Wizard of Oz in the car and the renovated Lincoln Presidential Library as some of the big highlights!). One week till the Comic-Con and two until the SCBWI summer conference! And tomorrow is the O.C. Illustrators Group meeting! Can you say "busy?"

Kite Tales Features Children's Graphic Novel Article

2007-07-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

The friendly team at Kite Tales (the newsletter of the SCBWI Tri-Regions of Southern California), invited me to contribute an article on children's graphic novels. It's out in the Summer 2007 issue. The title? "Is Creating a Graphic Novel Right for Me?" In it, readers get to ask themselves a few questions to see if their heart is in children's comics (rather than merely jumping on the band wagon). Then comes a list of tips to improves one's knowledge of the art of crafting comics.

So, is creating a children's graphic novel right for you? Go read the article!

(A big thanks to Caroline Hatton and Mary Peterson for making this article happen!)

Happy Birthday to the USA!

2007-07-03T22:53:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all the wonderful opportunities!

Happy Birthday to U... Happy Birthday to USA!

Little Delights to Artists

2007-06-26T21:16:00.000-07:00

Two beautiful high quality bristol pads arrived in the mail today! Smooth, two-ply, 14 x 17" bristol pads on which to pencil and ink comics! I want to compare Canson high-end bristol to Strathmore's 500 bristol, so I ordered one of each. I haven't drawn on them yet, but Canson's is whiter and feels a little thicker. Can't wait to get started!!

Another Beautiful Space Shuttle Landing!

2007-06-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

A "BROOFF!" and sudden tremor shaking the windows announced the flight of the shuttle Atlantis over our air space. NASA played live the landing on its online "NASA TV". Simply beautiful and magic! Congrats to everyone involved in this latest successful mission!!! Next take-off: August 9th with an astronaut, who attended Calstate Fullerton! (Photo credit of space shuttle Atlantis touching down at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.: NASA TV)

How Many Pages Should a Kids Graphic Novel Have? The Artist's P.O.V.

2007-06-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

French and Belgian comic artists produce on average one to two black and white pages a week (add more time for fully colored pages). In Japan, several pages per day is not uncommon. The big difference? Division of labor.

In Asia, a comics page will go through many studio hands: penciler, inker, letterer, "special effects"/toning artist, etc. In Europe, most comic artists work alone and handle every task (except for the coloring).

While mangas have many uncontested strengths, European comics hold the upper hand in favoring authorial voices. In that sense, the creative and artistic processes in European comics resemble more our tradition of children’s books.

American publishers like Marvel or DC Comics factor about three days to complete a page: one day for the penciling, one day for the inking, and one day for everything else (writing, lettering, coloring, etc.).

Presuming an artist wants to create a 100-page children's graphic novel in full color at that pace, it would take about one year of full-time employment (3 days/page X 100 pages = 300 days).

What does this imply? Well, will the publisher's advance sustain the artist for a year? What if the graphic novel is a dud and the publisher could have found out about it with a book half as long? Finally, longer children’s graphic novels don’t bode well for artists who produce their best work on shorter and more varied assignments. At 100-page or more per children's graphic novel, the industry risks weeding out talented sprinters (who could earn more in other trades) in favor of marathon runners and assembly-line worker bees.