Thank you for all your lovely comments and emails about 'The Book' As I mentioned before it has been a long and considered process taking it on, but now I have committed I am very excited and I am not afraid to admit a little bit nervous.
I had lots of emails in the last week asking for advice about the children's book publishing industry, so I thought I would try and share my experience here with you as it unfolds, lets hope it is a smooth & successful journey!
Week 1
I have the rough text at the moment, it will be edited down ALOT as I do the illustrations. At the moment it says things like 'their arms swing out in front of them' Once that is shown in the picture, it doesn't need to be in the copy etc. I currently do not have the page layouts they are being done by a designer at Orchard. These will give me an idea of where the text will fit within the illustrations, what font will be used and the general flow of the book. So I have taken this week to look for inspiration: in my childhood story books, the local libary but mainly on the internet. I have such specific words searched like 'hands lowering a bucket' which provide me with great photos like this!
When I illustrated books before I hardly used a computer, so would sit for hours in the library and set up photos shoots. One involved 2 friends of mine sat in a car park in the middle of the day, with my friends daughter in her pj's and slippers, we got a lot of funny looks that day! I still do use my own photographs, but I must admit a google search comes first.
I have also been getting to know the characters, I know that may sound silly as I have been drawing Belle & Boo for a good while now, but now they are appearing in a picture books there are some important decisions that need to be made. One of the biggest is "what is Boo?"
Yes I know he is a rabbit! but is he a pet rabbit, a wild rabbit a toy rabbit? and how human can he be? For example in the story he wears a pair of wellington boots, well at first I really wasn't sure about that, so I decided to draw how Boo would feel about it and see his reactions, I hope that makes sense?!
I am still not 100% sure how human he will become, dinner conversation btw Russ and I last night went something like this,
Me: "I am not sure Boo can hold a bottle of apple juice?"
Russ: " why not he can wear wellies"
!
Anyway thats a little insight into the first week, tomorrow I hope to have the spreads, so will start sketching out compositions gulp!
Thought I would share these adorable photos of Children out there around the world rocking Belle & Boo clothing, keep the photos coming we LOVE them here at Belle & Boo.
Our Lets Hug dress in Australia
Boo Coat in front of Buckingham palace
Elsa in Spring Blouse x (sold out)
