10.31.2006

Happy Halloween!



Some coloring treats!

10.23.2006

The Practically Perfect Pajamas Rides Again!

Everything that you will read about the rerelease of my first book is true... HOWEVER, IT IS NOW MAY 2008 AND WINSLOW PRESS CONTINUES TO ABUSE THE SITUATION BY NOT PAYING ME ANY OF THE ROYALTIES OWED. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!

Alright, this bit of HUGE NEWS has been many years in the making... Given that I live near a make believe western town -- wooden boardwalks, hitching posts, and serious ordinances for appropriate signage etc. -- the "Rides Again" is only fitting!


The Practially Perfect Pajamas, my very first authored and illustrated picturebook - a Summer 2000 Booksense Selection, a Southern California Booksellers Association "Best Bet" for the Y2k Holiday Season, and a 2001 CBC/IRA Children's Choices Selection (picked by kids no less!) - is finally BACK IN PRINT!

2500 additional copies have been newly minted and shipped to undisclosed locations on the eastern seaboard. For now, individuals and bookstore owners alike should place orders directly with Winlsow Press: dfk@winslowpress.com or from their website at www.winslowpress.com.

With some amount of luck, Winslow's bankruptcy stigma will eventually wear off, appropriate parties will be justly compensated, and the book will sit comfortably on library shelves -- hard to find only because it is being read!

10.16.2006

The Methow Valley Boo Debut

Dear Methow friends and curious readers everywhere:

Just in case you've missed the posters... I will be reading and sharing the artwork from my new book, BOO'S DINOSAUR (written by Besty Byars) tomorrow night. Don’t miss:

BOO’S DINOSAUR “LIVE!”*

Tuesday, October 17th
6:00pm at the Twisp River Pub**


This will be a true ALL AGES multimedia experience, featuring, among other things, a visit from Boo herself. “What?” you say, a visit from one of your drawings in the book! Really? YES. It ‘s TRUE. See for yourself tomorrow at 6:00pm.

For those needing even more: Tomorrow’s program will also feature the debut of Terry Hunt's audio recording of my last book, SLOW DAYS, FAST FRIENDS. Enjoy Terry's versatile musical stylings with vocal performaces by talented Twisp thespians, Damon and Ginny Abdullah. This was a non-commercial venture by all parties, but it turned out really great. Come take a listen and help me thank Terry, Damon and Ginny for their terrific work.

Hope to see you there :)

With a big and welcoming ROAR from the Dinosaur,

Erik

*Thanks to Brian and Amy Sweet at Trail’s End Bookstore for coordinating the event. They will be selling and I will be signing books for any and all that are interested.

**Many thanks as well to Aaron and the Pub for use of the space. The snack/bar menu WILL be available for those wanting dinner.

10.09.2006

Holy WOW!

I was packing up the artwork for DOG DIARIES last night and my daughter was drawing with the Prismacolor pencil stubs somewhere behind me. She has been recognizing forms and familiar shapes in her drawings lately and will call out "mitten", "mouse", "snake" etc. when she creates something that she knows... Last night, she crew with intent!

When I peeked, she had drawn the green shape with two little circles inside. She then "circled" those circles and called it a mask. I laughed silly. Dumbfounded by witness of this very clear "face" that she was making :)

Amazingly (to me at least) she added little brown legs and arms - both rather symetrically places on the green head. She colored in the eyes, added purple and yellow hair, and then went crazy with some extra decorations... the end result: Person with Rockets all Around. Pretty neat!

10.02.2006

Elements of Style

The Blue Rose Girls are an amazingly energetic and insightful group of authors, illustrators, and editors in children's publishing.

They were discussing this ever present question of style just few days ago. After a whirwind weekend of illustrating - a cookbook cover for my daughter's school, a sign for the native plant garden at my wife's work, and just a few chapterbook illustrations -











it is clear to me that a signature style is NOT entirely obvious in my work. I simply run with it.

Three vastly different images in less than 48 hours? I feel like this is a good thing, but suppose as well that it makes me unpreditable... Perhaps, an evolution towards something more consistantly recognizable will be my progression over time.

Monkey Business Mentions


True to the nature of those prehensile tails, Monkey Business keeps hangin' around! Here's a nice new mention from the August 2006 issue of Washington Parent Magazine. My Mei Mei a new book by Caldecott Medalist Ed Young is also mentioned here. His watercolors are fantastic as always and my three year old LOVED the image of a young girl pretending that her daddy is the baby. I know for certain that at least one member of the Brooks family can play that game for hours :)