My book publisher is giving away 4 books. Head on over to their home page to find out how to enter. http://magicalchildbooks.com

Q: When did you get started illustrating for children? What did you do before?
A: I was surrounded by people who acknowledged my talents, my entire life. And always knew I would go on to do something artistic. In high school, I decided to go on to art school at Columbus College of Art and Design. Their instructors guided me towards a career in illustration. I have a BA in illustration and graduated in 2001. I have been moving around a lot the past eight years. I have been a custom framer, a substitute teacher, a youth services librarian and now a graphic designer for a library system. I do all this while still working quietly building my portfolio and gearing up to enter the industry. After learning how to network online, I really started to see a jump in work that was coming my direction.

Q: Tell us a little bit about the recent picture book you illustrated, WHAT’S WRONG WITH MUD by Gillian Colley.
A: The story was the 2007 winner of the ABC Picture Book Competition and I was asked to illustrate it by Rita Mills of the Book Connection (who puts on the contest). The book is a cute story about ducks that like to keep clean and pigs that like to play in the mud. One day they decide to trade places and find out that each way of life is fun in it’s own way.

Q: What are you working on right now? Do you have any other books or art projects you’d like to talk about?
A: I am currently working on a series of three books being published by 4RV Publishing, Inc. The first book, Lemur Troops & Critter Groups by Rena Jones, should be out later this fall. The other two will come sometime in 2010. I also illustrate on a regular basis for Stories for Children Magazine. I actually illustrated the cover for the July issue so stop and see it. www.storiesforchildrenmagazine.org

Q: Do you do non-children’s book art (licensing, fine art, etc.) or art just for fun? Is that art similar or different from your children’s book art?
A: I haven’t dove into that at this time because I am still carrying the graphic design job at the Lane Libraries. It seems like licensing is picking up in the illustration field and right now I know nothing about getting into it, but I am not opposed to learning.

Q: Do you illustrate full time? If not, what else do you do?
A: I have a day job, which I mentioned above. I illustrate in the evenings and on weekends and occasionally take time off to work on illustration. I suppose you could say my day job falls under this category. I design program posters, brochures, signage and much more for the library and have a lot of fun with all the creative freedom I have there.

Q: When you illustrate a picture book how do you decide what scenes and details to draw?
A: I read and re-read the manuscript several times and each time I jot down notes about things I see as a little movie plays out in my head. Each time I edit or add to my notes until I get a clear image in my head. From there I write down all the things I need to research so that I create clear visual images. Visual literacy is very important to picture books and it is important to me to paint a clear picture for all audiences.

Q: When illustrating picture books do you include a visual storyline not mentioned by the text or include animals or people you know?
A: Yes. I try to incorporate a theme throughout the book, though sometimes it is only clear to me. I like to point it out later to viewers and when they see it, they find it fascinating.

Q: Can you explain your art process? (please include a URL link to any visuals you may have on a blog or web site)
A: Well, ‘What’s Wrong with Mud?’ is made entirely of cut paper. I start with my sketches and ink them to get all the details clear. Then I blow them up to just a bit bigger than 100% and start to trace the pieces on tracing paper. From there I start cutting things out with an Exacto knife. I work very differently than most cut paper artists and I learned while doing MUD that it sometimes is not clear my work is in cut paper.

The book series I am working on now is being done totally digital and does not mimic the cut paper look. And I have found a whole new style that I am really enjoying.

Q: Do you have a favorite color or palette?
A: I have recently realized, that I have a certain color green in all of pieces I create. It is totally not intentional so I started at looking at my life and what colors I am surrounded by. This particular shade of green is everywhere, every day of my life so it has made an impact on me. After discovering that, I secretly place it in each piece on purpose.

Q: What is your favorite medium to work in? Have you always worked in this media? If not, why did you switch?
A: Right now I’m love working in digital painting. But the cut paper, I really love the focus it requires to cut with the Exacto knife.

Q: Did you always want to be an artist when you grew up?
A: Yes. The only other thing I wanted to be was a teacher (well, I wanted to be a zookeeper for a long time too). I would love to mix the two and go back to teach illustration for an art school or college.

Q: Do you use models/source pictures or do you draw from your
memory/imagination?
A: I believe in using reference. But I rely on my memory for most. I like to use reference when I really don’t understand what something should look like. I use a mirror a lot too. Like for hand placement on an object, or facial expressions.

Q: If you could be anything other than an artist, what would you be?
A: I think I would go in the direction of teaching, but in a college setting or for kids who come from hard situations.

Q: What gets you through an illustration when you’re stuck for inspiration?
A: I have a friend whom I call my muse. When I am stumped on something I look her up to talk me through it. She is not an artist, but just knows how to get my brain thinking in the right direction.

Q: What book do you remember from when you were young? (list one or multiple books)

A: Hmmm, I always struggle with this question because I was always surrounded by books. The books I most remember were these books my mom ordered from Disney, each month they sent a new book that came in the mail with my name on it. And each year there was a yearbook that had lots of short stories in them.

The Elves and the Shoemaker was always one of my favorites, which is funny seeing as how I married a Shoemaker (last name, he doesn’t actually make shoes).

Q: Is there a children’s book illustrator whose work you gravitate towards in the bookstore now? (list one or multiple illustrators)
A: I really love Jane Cabrera, Kenneth Spengler and Charles Fuge work.

Q: If you could illustrate any writer’s new work, who would it be?
A: Oh, that is a tough one because I don’t follow writers like I do illustrators.

Q: Who do you want to be when you ‘grow up’?
A: I want to be the Nikki Shoemaker who has accomplished the goals she set for herself, but still enjoying and craving to do more.

Thanks for visiting, Nikki. Good luck with the new books!

—

Thanks for stopping by the What’s Wrong with Mud Virtual Book Tour.

Nikki is giving away 3 themed tote bags and there are 3 ways to enter to win!

1.    Copy/paste the book tour schedule onto your blog and leave a comment on Nikki’s blog to let her know that you posted on or before Saturday, July 11.
2.    Create your own blog post promoting What’s Wrong with Mud?
(You can contact Nikki for the Cover image and an interview to post if you want to)
3.    Stop by each blog on the Book Tour and leave a comment on each including Nikki’s blog (on or before Saturday, July 11), to let her know to enter you into the drawing.

If you enjoyed the book tour and would like an autographed copy of What’s Wrong with Mud? please email Nikki Shoemaker, nikki.shoemaker@yahoo.com for more details.
www.nikkisartroom.com
www.pinkpencil.blogspot.com

I am so excited I can barely breath.

I just found out my book “An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child,” is a finalist in the 2009 COVR Visionary Awards.

All finalists and winners will be announced up on stage on June 27, 2009 in Denver Colorado during the INATS Banquet. Winners will be announced at the banquet. SQUEEEEEEEEEEE…..

I’ve been invited to be there to accept my award. I wish Denver was closer!

Oh my gosh! I can’t breath!

I’ve been interviewed by a fellow Blueboarder. Authors on the Rise series: interview is posted here: http://www.karenkincy.com/?p=331 and here: http://ravelda.livejournal.com/333077.html. Feel free to spread the news and link away. Comments welcome.

Merry Hi Friends!

I don’t know about all of you, but my November has been quite full. In fact, it’s been so chock full it got away from me when I stopped to regroup. When I came up for air it was already the 24th!

The month started with my leap into trying to write a 50,000 word novel in a month. November is National Novel Writing Month. http://nanowrimo.org Thousands of aspiring (and published) authors from around the world drop everything to attempt writing a 50,000 word novel in a month. I didn’t make it this year, but my word count is double what I managed last year, so I am pretty pleased.

Next up, I was invited to be a guest speaker at the Annual Fall Conference of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Missouri chapter. I spoke about the process of creating art for picture books from start to finish. See below if you’d like to have me speak at your school, club, group or event. I hold workshops on the publishing process, as well as teaching Pagan centered crafts or workshops.

Right about the same time, I was given my first case as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. http://www.nationalcasa.org/ It’s a volunteer position, but a lot of work. I speak for a child in the foster care system to make sure his/her needs are met and that he/she is placed in a loving, safe and permanent home as soon as possible after being brought into care.

With the recent Thanksgiving holiday just past this week, it only seems fitting to thank each and everyone of you for supporting me in my dreams and career. Without your emails, comments and yes, book purchases, I could not continue to live my dream of writing and illustrating fun and entertaining books for children.

Yule is just around the corner, and many of us are tightening our belts until it hurts. Still, we do want to give gifts to our loved ones. Please consider adding one of my books to the list. Dollar for dollar books are a better investment than most other forms of entertainment. Do your part to help support your local
businesses and buy locally and through independent retailers and booksellers whenever you can. Magical Child Books has made locating your local independent book seller easy. At the bottom of each book’s web page (along side the link to amazon) is an buy Indy link. You click on the link and type in your zip code and the 5 closest book stores to you will be listed with all their contact information.

Below are all my books currently available on the publisher’s web site: http://magicalchildbooks.com, amazon and other online book stores or your favorite book seller.

AN ORDINARY GIRL, A MAGICAL CHILD
Written and illustrated by W. Lyon Martin
Magical Child Books — Trade Picture Book – Available NOW!!!
An Ordinary Girl follows Rabbit, a young Pagan child through the wheel of the Year. Readers follow along with her as she celebrates Wiccan holidays, rituals and spells.

AIDAN’S FIRST FULL MOON CIRCLE
Written and illustrated by W. Lyon Martin
Magical Child Books — Trade Picture Book – Available NOW!!!
An interactive picture book. With hidden pictures in the main story, children get to help a friendly squirrel gather acorns for the coming winter, all the while learning the basics of a Wiccan Full Moon gathering.

WATCHERS
Written and illustrated by W. Lyon Martin
Magical Child Books — Trade Picture Book – Available NOW!!!
Based on a poem by Kelley Magee, this book is a bedtime story filled with subtle Pagan symbols in the illustrations. The hero, Thomas, is worried about the eyes watching him in the dark. He hatches a plan to capture them only to find out what he fears is really there to protect him.

Due for release to booksellers in FEBRUARY 2009
RABBIT’S SONG
Written by S. J. Tucker and Trudy Herring; illustrated by W. Lyon Martin
Magical Child Books — Trade Picture Book
Is currently only available for purchase through the publisher’s web site. A limited number of autographed copies (S.J., Trudy and my signatures are all there for you!) are still available. Buy before December 13th to assure delivery in time for Yule gift giving. Plus, as a special bonus for people placing
pre-orders for Rabbit’s Song, you will receive a MP3 file of Trudy and SJ reading a special story available no where else.. This is a limited time offer and is only available for those placing pre-orders for the book. The MP3 file will be removed from the servers on February 14th, the official release date of the book.

At Magical Child Books you can see inside pages of the books, read reviews and even find teaching guides. You can even leave your own reviews in the publisher’s shopping cart if you want to share your own views on the books.

Freebies:
This month’s coloring page is “L” of the ABC’s of Lesser Know Goddesses. Leucothea is a sea Goddess known for fostering the baby Dionysus. Go to the group’s web site to download this and previous coloring pages. If your budding artist sends me their masterpiece after coloring it in, I’ll post it on my blog. (Please keep files under 1 MG please.) Remember the monthly coloring pages are archived at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/magicalchildnews/. Let me know if you have a favorite Goddess who you think will be a good addition to the pages. We are only half way through the alphabet, so any letters we haven’t covered (M-Z) are still open for suggestions.

Visits:
To invite me to speak at your school or event, learn more at
http://magicalchild.handcraftedpagan.com/workshops/ or email me at lyon@handcraftedpagan.com.
To view my current schedule of events, go to http://magicalchild.handcraftedpagan.com/bio/appearances/. NOTE: Due to my current involvement as a CASA, I am limiting appearances in 2009 and 2010.

Note:
Again, I appreciate your continued interest in the milestones in this amazing career of mine and hope you’ll invite your friends and family to learn more about my books and enjoy my free downloads by sending them to the links above. Of course, I don’t want to bug you, so if you’d rather not hear about these things, you can always unsubscribe. But I sure hope you’ll stick around to share
this exciting trip!

Bright Blessings,
Lyon

Children’s Book Writer & Illustrator
http://www.handcraftedpagan.com