Meet David Stedmond...an up-and-coming illustrator with a bright future

Introducing, the one, the only, the supremely talented…DAAAAVID STEDMOND!!!

One of the perks of writing and publishing children’s books, is that I get to meet some wonderfully creative, talented people. And when I find these “gems,” I tend to want to snag them for the Frog Prince Books team :) So it is with great pleasure that I introduce David Stedmond! Though he lives far off in lovely Ireland, fortunately through the miracle of technology, we’ve been able to collaborate on the first in a series of books: Who’s First?: Chicken and Egg Book 1.

Who’s First?: Chicken and Egg Book 1

I “met” David in 2019, on a Children’s Authors and Illustrators group on Facebook. He had posted a photo of an illustration he’d done. It caught my eye immediately, and lured me to go check out his website, where I found MORE wonderful artwork. He was just starting out illustrating for children, but his talent was evident, and his characters were expressive, engaging and imaginative. I thought his style fit well with my vision of my Chicken and Egg book series. These were silly adventures of two friends, a chicken and an egg, who can never make up their minds and make every molehill into a mountain. I sent him a note, we started chatting online, discussed the manuscript, and David did some concept art for me. The characters were funny, expressive and dorky…just as I envisioned them.

The concept art for the Chicken and Egg characters

Long story short, we decided to move ahead with Chicken and Egg! I’m so glad we did. David did a phenomenal job of capturing the personalities of these two characters. So much of the story relies on their interactions, more so than actions in many cases, and their expressiveness is key to conveying the humor and pace of the story. And it’s not just me…the critics agree. Kirkus Reviews said of the artwork: “The nicely varied and dynamic digital images by debut illustrator Stedmond contribute to the fun, including the image capturing the pals’ comically grim determination to win the race.”

A determined duo race to decide who’s first

Feathered Quill Book Reviews said: “I believe this is the first time that the author has teamed up with illustrator David Stedmond, and I have to say that the pairing is definitely a good match. Egg and Chicken are adorable, and Stedmond manages to convey their emotions perfectly.”

The pair tries Rock Paper Scissors to decide who’s first

For all its shortcomings, Facebook connects us across the globe with people we’d never have met otherwise, and I am grateful to Facebook that David and I crossed paths. We are just getting started on Book 2 in the Chicken and Egg series…Why Did Chicken Cross the Road? It is probably even sillier than Who’s First?, and I can’t wait to see David bring these two buddies to life one more time.

And now, without further ado, David was kind enough to answer some “probing” questions so we could all get to know him better…

Tell us a little about you, and what sparked your interest in art?

My name is David Stedmond. I’m a designer and Illustrator born and working in Dublin, Ireland. I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. I am from a very creative  family so drawing and painting was encouraged from a very young age. When I was younger my parents would leave sheets of paper and a small drawer of pencils on the kitchen table. I can remember creating all kinds of strange creatures and worlds from that table. It was obvious to me from a young age that it was something that I wanted to do professionally. During my time at school there was rarely a time when I wasn’t sneakily doodling on the edge of my page when the teacher was speaking or when I should have been doing classwork.

An illustration for David’s own children’s story

What made you decide you wanted to illustrate children's books?

After I graduated from college 2 years ago I was given a graphic design internship at an advertising agency. During lunch time I enjoyed doodling on my drawing tablet which I would always bring to work. My co-workers began commenting on how much they loved my art. Towards the end of the internship my employers advised that I should pursue illustration at a professional level so I took some months away from work to build my illustration portfolio and it led me to the world of children’s book illustration that I have come to love.

Are you self taught, or have you had formal training?

I am a self taught illustrator with one years training in fine art. That year gave me a good foundation to build on but since then I have constantly been learning new techniques through online courses which I would advise to anyone who is hoping to pursue illustration on a professional level. 

David Stedmond

What media do you work in? What are the benefits and drawbacks?

I am a digital artist. I have been illustrating  with Procreate on the IPad Pro for the past year. I found it a very natural progression from pencil on paper. I have found many benefits to drawing digitally, the greatest being the ability to undo mistakes. Being able to paint brush strokes and undo them at will is very useful. That is largely the reason I transitioned to digital. There are, of course, dangers that come with working digitally. With all the tools and brushes that are available in programmes such as Photoshop and Procreate, an artist will sometimes tweak and airbrush their creation to the point where they strip their artwork of all character. Since the beginning of my career as a digital artist I have tried to make a point of leaving visible brush strokes and rough textures to give my works a natural hand rendered feeling.

Tell us about a few favorite projects, and what made them favorites? What would your "dream" project be?

Stories that are simple, clever and humorous are the most appealing to me. I enjoy illustrating fun, quirky characters to occupy offbeat and exciting worlds. I don’t necessarily have a “dream project”. My only wish is to continue to create fun new characters and environments for whatever exciting projects come my way.

How would you describe your art style? What do you most enjoy creating?

I am constantly exploring new art styles. I am very early into my career as an illustrator so I am cautiously avoiding the use of one art style for all of my works. However, I have found that quirky illustration styles do greatly appeal to me. I grew up watching Laika and Aardman animation movies and found the visuals and exaggerated expressions of the characters to be very appealing.

What do you find most challenging about illustrating children's books? Most rewarding?

The process of illustrating a children’s book is full of ups and downs. There are many days when I find myself very unproductive. I was once advised that when you hit a slump that is when you should take a step away from your desk and take a walk in nature or [look] at paintings that inspire you. That advice has been very helpful in my career. Visual inspiration is so important in the artistic process. Something as simple as finding a beautiful colour scheme has, in the past, sparked ideas that were formative in the creation process of a landscape painting. I have found nothing to be as rewarding as overcoming those artistic slumps and seeing my artworks come to life.

You do a wonderful job of capturing personality and expression. How do you go about designing characters?

I have discovered that the best way to go about designing characters is to stop trying so hard. When I am doodling, that is when I am at my most creative. My most intriguing character designs came from doodles that I created in my free time. When I try too hard I put my effort into the unimportant details and my designs become too rigid and lose the free flowing, appealing line-work that adds to the overall quality of the work. I have come to realise that details are not important in the beginning stages of a character design, they should come much later in the process.

What are your goals for the future?

I am aiming to build a strong reputation for myself as a children’s book artist. I want my illustrations to delight and intrigue readers from around the world. My goal is to someday become as good as artists such as Marco Bucci and Pascal Campion, who have such a great command of colour. I want to continue to grow as an artist. Online learning platforms Udemy and Domestika have been great resources for me and have improved my skills hugely. I have been learning a lot of valuable art techniques which you will be seeing in future illustrations. 

Outside of art, what are your interests?

I love listening to movie soundtracks (there are very few movie soundtracks that I don’t know). My love for movie soundtracks led me to create my own compositions. I have been playing piano from a very young age so I have a solid foundation in music theory. I have a real love for music. I am very often found singing, humming and whistling at work or even when I am just walking around the house. I also have a real love for all things sci-fi. The movie Passengers is one of my favourites. It is the full package, with a compelling story and a beautiful soundtrack to accompany it.

David, I can’t thank you enough for sharing yourself and your art with all of us. I can say emphatically that I am confident your work will delight and intrigue little readers around the world, and I am thrilled to be a stop on your journey.

The Story Behind the Story: Oy, Elephants!

I am often fascinated by where story ideas originate, so I thought I would share how the idea for Oy, Elephants! came about.

I was reading a news article one day about the upcoming retirement of the Ringling Brothers circus elephants. There were some very serious aspects to the article, including the welfare of the elephants and what was in their best interests.

But on a less serious note, I confess I was more than a little tickled by the notion that the elephants, like so many humans before them have done, were retiring to FLORIDA! In fact, my very own grandparents, once upon a time, had done just that, retiring to Delray Beach.

I have always had a special affinity for elephants.  For many years, I have collected elephant knick knacks and been interested in elephant issues and conservation efforts. Some little clouds began to collect in my brain, just wispy at first. Elephants, retirement, Florida, grandparents ... they floated around, slowly crisscrossing and forming into an idea.

What if the circus elephants retired to Florida, and not to an elephant conservation center as in real life, but to a Florida retirement village? How would the elephants be received by the residents? What predicaments would evolve from elephants in a retirement village? How would my own grandparents have reacted to these unlikely neighbors? I liked it!  In fact, I liked it quite a bit.

I feel it adds depth and believability to a story when the characters have some basis in real life, and for this story, my very own grandparents seemed the perfect muses.

My beautiful grandparents ... the real Morris and Gussie

My Grandma Gussie was a strong influence in my life, bestowing on me a deep love for animals and a strong sense of family, and always setting an example of kindness and caring. She made friends easily and everywhere she went. She had a unique way of making each person feel special, welcome and cherished. She was a phenomenal cook, who delighted in feeding those she loved. And, well, she was a little bossy, but in the best possible way.  

My Grandpa Morris (though he spelled it Maurice, he pronounced it Morris), was a born grandpa--stuffed with patience and fun, always up for an adventure, and never tired of playing with the grandkids.  The sillier the game, the better. I remember him standing on a piece of wood, sliding down a hill in the snow with us, just because we asked him to do it. He opted to walk instead of drive whenever possible, more on principle, though he was not the best driver. He was curious, loved to learn and share stories. He said a lot of funny things (not always on purpose) ... single lines that, upon recitation, can still bring family members to tears of laughter. And he had a heart of gold.

Grandma Gussie and Grandpa Morris

I considered how my grandparents would react to elephants moving in next door, and the answer was clear to me--they'd welcome them with open arms, make them feel right at home, and of course invite them to dinner. And so the story unfolded.

Concept art for Oy, Elephants!  (c) Morgan Spicer

I wanted to showcase the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, and so the main character evolved, named for my youngest cousin, Joel. The grandkids often went to visit my grandparents. In later years, the great grandkids went along. Staying over was always a special treat, filled with fun activities, grandma's offerings of all our favorite foods and grandpa's stories, games and his infamous egg creams, which he served in tiny A&W root beer mugs. I imagined young Joel, excited to see his grandparents, but worried he might be a little bit bored as the only kid in a retirement village full of seniors, and how he might react if some elephants moved in next door.

Joel awakening to elephants on the cul-de-sac

I had a great time talking with my aunt (mother to Joel, the main character's namesake) about what Gussie and Morris might do with the resident elephants and what adventures they might share. We reminisced and laughed, and little by little, the details and events fell into place. In fact, there are aspects of the story, including some of the specific dialogue, that are drawn directly from real life. As a result, the story is rich with memories for me, of two of my very favorite people.

Because I have a deep appreciation for the magnificent creatures that are elephants, and a strong desire to see them survive for future generations to appreciate, I also wanted to take the opportunity to teach children a bit about them, and about how to help ensure their future. In the back of the book is a section about elephants, encouraging children to learn more. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from the book will go to charities that protect elephants.

I also hoped to share a meaningful message. Though a family of elephants may be unlikely to move in next door, we live in a diverse world where it is easy to fear or shun those who are different from us. This story explores the things we have in common and how those things can bridge the differences that separate us. It reminds us that we all bring unique gifts to the party of life, and that extending a hand in friendship can make all the difference to others, as well as add richness and depth to our own lives.

Finally, as a tribute to my wonderful grandparents, who were such an anchor, inspiration and source of unconditional love and acceptance for me, my siblings and my cousins growing up, I wanted to share the very unique and precious relationship of grandparents and grandchildren. To envision a wonderful grandpa like my own reading Oy, Elephants! to a grandchild at bedtime brings a special smile to my heart.

Grandma Gussie

As always, Morgan Spicer's remarkable illustrations take the characters and story even beyond my own best imaginings. She has included a wealth of tiny details that add fun and nostalgia. My incredible editor, Krista Hill of L Talbott Editorial, was invaluable in helping me develop the story and tell it in the best possible words, and maybe most importantly, in giving me the confidence to believe it was a story worthy of telling. My aunt Iris, not only supplied so many of the ideas for the details of this story, but shares so much of the real history that gives the story its heart and warmth. And my wonderful publisher, Aperture Press, added the polish to the story and are tying the pictures and words together just so with a pretty bow on top as we speak. I cannot thank all of them enough for helping me take my wispy clouds of an idea and turn them into a book!

It's Almost Back to School Time!

Lots of you are getting ready to go back to school soon.  It's hard to believe the summer is almost over.

At Frog Prince Books, we're getting ready for back to school as well! If you are a principal, teacher, librarian, member of the PTO/PTA, participate in a READ program at your school or library, or if you are a parent looking for a meaningful and educational book for your child's classroom this fall, consider award-winning children's book, Soaring Soren! Children have the opportunity to learn about the sport of dog agility, to enjoy an exciting adventure story and to take away an invaluable lesson about hard work, determination and believing in yourself and reaching for your goals.

To assist in bringing Soaring Soren to your classroom or library, we've created a page on this website with suggested lesson plans, activities, discussion topics and materials. Included is a video that features the real Soren in photos and in action running agility, so after students read the book, they can meet the dog that inspired it. We hope you will find it useful. Also included is information on school visits. Click this link to visit our new Classroom page!

Wishing everyone a very safe, fun end to summer, and a wonderful school year filled with new challenges, new friendships and new things to learn!

Living the Dream: My Trip to Craven County Schools

When I began on this journey to create a children's book based on Soren's extraordinary life, it was my hope that his kind and loving nature, his strong determination and his "can-do" attitude, would inspire children as much as they always inspired me.  Central to finding your own path and pursuing your own dreams, is the belief that you can navigate the obstacles and complexities to get to where you want to be, and equally important, the belief that you deserve to get there.  Soren was always a shining example that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and your whole heart into it, and that our only limitations are those we choose to accept for ourselves.  In an ever-more-complex world, I thought that message was especially important for children.

Soren always had a special love for and connection with children

I dreamed of children falling in love with Soren as I had, and embracing his tremendous spirit.  I hoped that I could tell his story, with the help of Morgan Spicer's amazing illustrations, in a way that would do him justice.  After years of planning, on October 4, 2016 the book was released, and on November 15, 2016, I made a most memorable trip where I got to see that dream become very real.

Essential to this story is Kelli Muse, a fellow Frenchie lover and resident of Craven County, NC, who happens to work for the school system in their Central Office.  Kelli and I connected on Facebook.  She was touched by Soren's story and wanted to share it with the local children.  She hoped it would inspire them to believe in themselves, to go for their dreams, and to seek out the person or persons in their lives who would believe in them too, and help them achieve their goals.  She and her husband Greg generously donated the book to each Kindergarten class in the district (and they have a LOT of Kindergartners in the district :) )

Kelli Muse

The first time Kelli and I met in person, was when I pulled up in her driveway on that Tuesday morning in November.  She had lined up visits at four different elementary schools, with over 360 Kindergarten students!  I had the chance to read the book to the children, to answer questions, and they got to watch a video of Soren that included both photos of him and some footage of him actually running an agility course.

Students watching a video of Soren doing agility

I had such a wonderful time with the kids.  They enjoyed the book, they asked questions that showed they really understood the message, and "ooohed" and "aaahed" and cheered at the video of Soren (which I confess made me a little teary). 

They wanted to tell me all about their own dogs ... some were black, some were brown, some dogs ate broccoli, some loved ice cream, one could jump over their house, and another dog was celebrating his 31st birthday that day.  One little boy quietly shared with me that his dog had died. 

They wanted to know why some of the other dogs in the book weren't nice to Soren, and that gave us a chance to talk about how some people are kind and supportive, and some not so much, and about how much it can mean to others when we are kind and supportive of their dreams. 

Some told me about challenges they faced and the things they hoped to accomplish in their own lives.  One little girl took my hand and whispered softly, "I just love you!," which of course made my day.

In the afternoon, we brought along a special visitor--Junior the Frenchie, who belongs to Kelli.  He was patient and loving and so gentle with the children, who were very taken with him.  They all wanted to call him Soren, and though Kelli and I tried repeatedly to tell them this was not Soren, but Junior, who looks a lot like Soren, we finally gave up when one little boy announced to us with great determination and a little impatience, "We're just going to call him Soren, okay?"  Okay!  Junior did not seem to mind what they called him, as long as they paid attention to him.

Junior was a wonderful visitor, spreading love as only a Frenchie can, and showing the kids close up what a real French Bulldog looks like helped them appreciate the story even more

Before I left for North Carolina, I tried to think of something special I could give to the children in the classes I'd visit.  I had some cute bookmarks and stickers for them, but I wanted something that would remind them of the message of the book.  I remembered the hundreds of ribbons Soren had won over the years of competing in agility.  They were tucked away in a box in the basement.  The idea seemed just right, and so I packed them up in a very large bag and stowed them in the car.  When we were done with the lesson, I gave a ribbon to each child and asked them to keep the ribbons as a reminder that they can do anything they set their minds to if they believe in themselves and work hard for what they want.  They hung the ribbons proudly from their shirts.

A huge bag full of Soren's agility ribbons to give to the children

They also had a gift for me--coloring pages from an illustration in the book, some with notes on the back.  One note still makes me smile and fills my eyes with tears whenever i think of it:  "Soren you're the best dog in the world."  I couldn't agree more and to know that the book had touched even one child that much was a dream come true.

Note on the back of a coloring page:  Soren you're the best dog in the world

It was one of those perfect days life hands us occasionally, the culmination of our hard work, wrapped in the tissue paper of good fortune and placed in a box with a pretty bow on top.  I'm so grateful to the principals and teachers of Craven County who were so welcoming, and to the incredible Kindergarten students who were so sweet and open with me.

Me and the kids with Junior, aka Soren.  He certainly has Soren's good nature and big heart.

And a very special thank you to Kelli, who worked so hard to arrange all this, simply because she genuinely wanted to share a message of encouragement with a bunch of students just starting out in their school careers.  Craven County is lucky to have such a caring, giving member of the community.  I also thank her beautiful family for opening their home to me and for their kind hospitality.

The following day we had one last adventure before I had to head out to an agility event in Georgia.  The local TV show, All About Craven, kindly invited me and Kelli, and of course Junior, to be on their morning talk show to discuss the book and our visit with the children.  The interview is in the video that follows.

Thanks Craven County for making a dream come true.  In turn, I hope the children will remember Soren, support each other, believe in themselves and always follow their own dreams! 

Thanks to the wonderful Kindergartners of Craven County!

Can't Judge a Book By Its Cover?

You probably shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but in this interesting article on the Mill City Press blog, Rejected: Real Reasons Bookstores Refuse Self-Published Titles, it's clear that most bookstores do.  Mill City Press continues to present some interesting topics, and whether you are self-publishing or not, this article has some things to think about relative to making your book marketable.  Everything from genre to the title of the book can impact how marketable it is.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Eight: The Magic of Morgan

If negotiating publishing was my nemesis, the process of creating the illustrations for Soaring Soren was my joy.  Into the manuscript, I put my ideas, my carefully chosen words and my passion for the story.  These were the props ... the rabbit in the top hat, the deck of cards, the wand hiding silk flowers.  Seeing the words transform into a story with a life of its own through illustrations, was simply magic.

The very talented magician who envisioned the story in pictures and then made those pictures come to life, is Morgan Spicer of Bark Point Studios.  As I have told Morgan before, there are many talented artists who can draw or paint lovely pictures.  But the ability to look at words and see a creative and meaningful way to portray the story through pictures--that is a special and unique talent in itself.  For me, watching that process unfold was fascinating--the best magic show ever.

Morgan and her pack at the beach.  All three of her canine buddies pictured here (and one new addition) make a guest appearance in various pages in Soaring Soren.  See if you can find them!

Before we began getting into detailed illustrations for the book, Morgan created some concept art to outline her vision of Soren's character.  She states that for some of her books, "I start with concept art to see if the author and I are on the same page. Concept art is a great way to sketch things out and discover things you couldnt have known until you started drawing. For example with Soren, I had to make sure I didn't make him too tall or lanky, I have a tendency to do that, but for Soren it was so important to have him squat and short."  

Soren's shorter, squatter body type was essential to the story, though I do thank Morgan for making MY character taller and lankier than in real life <grin>.

Morgan's concept art of Soren perfectly captured not only Soren, but my heart.  When I saw these drawings, I was positive that Morgan was the one to bring Soren to life on paper.

When the manuscript was complete and edited, I handed it off to Morgan to create what I learned is called the "dummy book."  This is a mock up of how the book will lay out.  It shows each "spread" (two facing pages of the book), what illustrations will go on each page and what text will go with each illustration.  These are just very rough sketches, but they are critical to mapping out how the illustrations will tell and support the story.

This sample page from the dummy book for Soaring Soren, shows how the illustrator develops the concept of the art that goes with text from the manuscript.  

Morgan, who does her illustrations digitally on a special tablet designed for that purpose, described her process to create the dummy book:  "I have a template that I use for each dummy book. Then I take the text and lay it out over the desired number of pages. The text will sometimes move about as I start drawing, but usually when I place the text, I have a pretty good idea of what each page will look like. I can see in my mind what I will do before I do it, which I think is what makes for a successful illustrator. The image already exists.  You just have to put it down on paper-- or in my case a Wacom Cintiq." 

We then reviewed and discussed the dummy book, and once we were satisfied, since we were working with a publisher, we handed it off to them to okay.  When that process was done, it was time to begin to create the art.  Later the publisher would do the work to place the text from the manuscript onto the illustrations, so Morgan produced the illustrations without text.

Morgan created the cover art for Soaring Soren, and the publisher, Aperture Press LLC, added the text later  (c) Morgan Spicer

I asked Morgan how she how comes up with the concepts for her characters.  She told me, "If the character is based on a real-life individual, I will start by studying photos."  This photo of Alex, a Pyrenean Shepherd, doing the weave poles, was one of the many Morgan used to create characters for Soaring Soren.  

Pyrenean Shepherd, Alex, owned by Deb Rabuck, appears in Soaring Soren.  Photo by Barry Rosen (c)

"I look for aspects that I can exaggerate, so for Soren it was his big, gaping smile, eyes and ears that really captured him, " Morgan elaborated, adding that once she has drawn a character out a few times, the character "becomes real" in her mind and she can draw them in any position.  This ability to envision the character as a real being in her mind is, I believe, at the heart of her unique ability to make a story come to life through her art.

Morgan explained to me how she goes from the dummy book to the finished illustrations:

"I do a very rough sketch of each page in the dummy. Then when I go to work on that page, I already have the basic layout decided. From there I create a new drawing based on the sketch. This one will be more detailed and refined."

Here is Morgan's detailed sketch of Alex, done from the earlier, actual photo.  (c) Morgan Spicer

"Then I start blocking in color and decide where the light should come from. Then its all about the details, getting the markings of the animals right, and making sure they really look like they are where they supposed to be in the illustration."

Morgan's finished illustration of Alex.  The detail, use of light and expression are phenomenal.  (c) Morgan Spicer

Morgan added, "When working on Soren, it was challenging to make sure all the dogs were sized correctly depending on if they were closer or farther away from the viewer. Since I was working off photos of real dogs for most of the book, I had to balance accuracy of character with placement. "  

Over thirty "real" agility dogs make an appearance in Soren's book, as well as Morgan's dogs and a special guest appearance from Sashi the Sheltie, a character in another of Morgan's books.  Having these dogs in the book is such a cherished remembrance of the many friends who shared my agility journey with Soren, and of so many of the wonderful dogs we had the pleasure to compete with over the years.

Whippet Orla and Border Collie Dezi, sketch to finished product, by Morgan Spicer (c)

I asked Morgan about the challenges unique to book illustrations, like how the gutter (where the book is bound) and allowing for placement of the text impact her design.  She replied, "Certainly the gutter is a big consideration.  It is a challenge as an illustrator to make sure the page is exciting and well-designed, while also keeping important aspects away from the gutter.  Of course, making sure there is room for text is also a consideration. I do not allow the text to dictate the layout, but it does come into play.  For example, I do not want the text to be over a character.  I try to aim for text in the sky or in the grass when applicable."

Morgan's rendition of Border Collie Vilya (c) Morgan Spicer

In terms of other more generic challenges, Morgan cites motivation as the biggest one.  "It can be difficult, when the weather is wonderful, to motivate myself to sit at the computer and get work done. Sometimes I go through bouts of working all night and sleeping all day. When the motivation hits I have to go for it. Artistic blocks are very hard.  I would say I have about 3 a year.  Sometimes they last for a week and sometimes they last for a month."  

Start to Finish:  Psyche the Border Collie and CAVU the Pumi   (c) Morgan Spicer

While Morgan may find motivation a challenge, it would appear from working with her that it is a challenge she manages well.  I have witnessed her going through an artistic block, and her staying up all night to finish an illustration during our project together, and she handles it all with grace and unwavering dedication to the project and the deadlines.  I think she and I are alike as far as being driven to work when inspiration strikes, so I can empathize.  Two of my very favorite illustrations in Soaring Soren are the product of Morgan's (almost) all-nighters, so clearly that work style suits her. 

I was curious about how the need to edit plays into the illustrations, since it is such a large part of writing the manuscript.  Morgan had this to say: "Sometimes the edits are very simple and take less than 5 minutes.  Other times they are a bit harder.  I have had to edit things out that I felt made the illustration stronger.  But usually the reasoning behind the edits relates to marketing or the age group. I have been working in children's media for a long time, but sometimes, as a 26 year old, I don't think about how certain things could be viewed by a child, so its always good to have other people review your work and give constructive criticism.  Overall, the more people who genuinely care about the book's success, the better the outcome in my experience."

Morgan told me her favorite aspect of illustrating books is storytelling.  She said, "I am constantly coming up with stories and ideas of my own, but it is almost liberating to illustrate someone else's story.  A professor of mine at Syracuse University once said that illustrators need boxes.  We need to be put into a box, so that we can break out of the box, but only slightly.  We need rules and guidelines but we also push the boundaries and think outside of the box. Unlike fine art, illustration typically tells a specific story and often has a message."

Early on when we started working together, I sent Morgan a video tribute I had made for Soren, so she could get a feel for "who he was."   She had this to say about working on Soaring Soren:  "I like this kind of work [children's book illustrations], especially in the case of Soren.  I love telling stories that touch my heart, and I fell in love with Soren's story!"  

My only regret is that Soren and Morgan never got to meet, as I know Soren would have fallen in love with her right back.

Morgan mentioned that, "Having a positive and constructive working relationship with the author is EVERYTHING. "  I could not agree more.  From the earliest conversation we had about Soaring Soren (back before it was even called that), Morgan was professional and encouraging.  Her enthusiasm for the story and appreciation of Soren solidified my belief that it was a story worth telling.  As a first-time author of a children's book, her input on the story, based on her experience with previous projects, was invaluable.  I strongly believe that our ability to kick ideas around and springboard off one idea to the next, really added to the book.  Morgan was open to and embraced the ideas I had for the illustrations, in addition to the brilliant ideas she brought to the table.  And she patiently endured my sometimes tedious requests to make this aspect or that more like real life, and to add in little details that had special meaning for me.  

Soaring Soren is such a special story for me, filled with memories of and love for a little dog who inspired me in so many ways, and was an amazing friend, companion and agility dog.  I feel so blessed to have stumbled upon Morgan, whose talent, creativity and heart brought out the best in this story, and took it to a level beyond my imaginings.  I can't thank her enough for helping me remember Soren in such a unique and treasured way, and I can't wait for kids to have the chance to fall in love with her beautiful illustrations, as I have.

Morgan Spicer with her buddies Kiba and Roscoe Roo

In addition to her passion for art, or perhaps more aptly, at the root of that passion, is her deep love for animals, which shines through in her work and the way she lives her life.  She cites dogs and animals as inspiration for her art, and says that she learns a great deal from watching her dogs play together.  She is very active in animal welfare and rescue and donates a portion of the proceeds from her illustrated portraits to various rescue groups.  The following summarizes her dream to create a sanctuary for animals in need, as well as promote respect and caring for animals among people of all ages.  It is quite an ambitious vision, but if anyone can make a vision a reality, I'd put my money on Morgan Spicer ...

I will open the doors to an animal rescue like no other. At Bark Pointé, children and families will see that no animal can just be thrown-away. Everyone deserves a chance at life, including feral cats, dogs with bad manners,  puppy/kitten mill survivors and disABLEd pets as well. I will offer art classes for all ages, from Life Drawing, to illustration, to painting, to comic-book art. Kids will learn to get in touch with their creative sides while appreciating nature. There will be a movie-theater, where parents can rent the room for pet-friendly birthday parties and fundraisers. . 

The characters from my books will walk among the guests, dressed up humans in animal costumes to create family memories and hilarious selfies! Every Animal that comes to stay at Bark Pointé will be drawn and framed. 

Bark Pointé will be a community wonderland, where people and animals are treated with respect and kindness. Children can play, learn and experience compassion on a new level. Parents can instill responsibility and passion in their children at a young age, and enjoy themselves too!  At Bark Pointé we will cherish animals, and the people who rescue them, in a positive, whimsical manner.  Don't think Animal Shelter, think Animal Oasis --- Bark Pointé will be the Disney World of Animal Rescue.

~Morgan Spicer~

In addition to Soaring Soren, Please check out these other wonderful children's books illustrated by Morgan Spicer ...

Sashi The Scared Little Sheltie & Sashi Adopts A Brother are available for purchase here : http://www.sashi-the-scared-little-sheltie.com/

Stubby And His Magic Boots is available here : http://www.bionicdogbooks.com/

Benjamin Birdie's First Flight  http://michaeldotsikas.com/

Wilson Tries New Foods is available here : https://www.eatwellwithwilson.com/

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Seven: Royalty and Vanity and Assisted, Oh My!

One of the most daunting aspects of my quest to make Soren’s children’s book a reality, was navigating the vast sea that is publishing.  The options seemed endless, the terminology foreign to me and the differences between the various options was unclear at best, overwhelming at worst.

Once upon a time, authors wrote books, publishers published them, marketed them, distributed them and paid authors a royalty (portion of the profits from sales) for books sold.  But in today’s world, that traditional publishing arrangement is only one way to publish a book.

“Vanity Publishing,” as it is called, is at the other end of the spectrum.  Basically this is publishing for a fee.  You pay, and they will produce your book.  They don’t have to like it or think it worthy of publishing or that it will sell.  Since you are making the investment, and you assume all the risk, how the book does once it is published is your concern.

Then there are a million options in between.  Assisted self-publishing options abound.  Some lean more toward vanity publishing, others do review the book, provide input on the quality and likelihood to succeed, and only accept books they feel have a shot at success.  You do pay them for services, which can include design of the interior, cover design, editing, illustrations, marketing, etc.  Some include distribution, warehousing, a webpage from which you can sell books directly.  Often these services are a la carte, though many offer bundles.  For example, if you are publishing a children’s book, they may offer a package that includes features and services typically associated with that genre (illustrations, hardcover binding on heavier paper stock, etc.).  Some providers allow you to retain full ownership of the book and any royalties, and others take a portion of the royalties.

There are self-publishing options like Amazon’s CreateSpace, that will allow you to upload your file in one of their templates, and publish it for free, or at a very low cost.  You get an author’s page on Amazon, can select from various distribution models, and can purchase a la carte services from them as well for editing, cover design, etc. as needed.

I am certainly not an expert on publishing options, nor do I play one on TV.  If you are interested in publishing a book (children’s or otherwise), there is a great deal of information out there from experienced sources.  What I will do is just share a few of my own observations I made as I sorted through the options for my own book, in case they are helpful.

First observation … Buyer Beware!  There are some very reputable providers out there.  But there are also many who are ready, willing and able to milk all they can from passionate-but-naïve would-be authors.   You can easily end up spending a fortune to produce a book that, unless you are savvy about marketing and have a top quality product, may never come close to recovering your initial investment.

If you want to take a stab at publishing a book yourself without a huge upfront investment, options like CreateSpace (and there are others like Barnes & Noble’s similar offer) aren’t a bad choice.  CreateSpace is perhaps not ideal for children’s books because they only offer softcover at this time and the paper quality is not as substantial as some children’s books.  But it is quick, doesn’t require much upfront investment, and since it is print on demand (the book is printed only when someone orders it), you don’t have to invest in or store a supply of books to fulfill orders. I thought it was a great option to "get your feet wet" without going into hock to give being an author a shot. 

CreateSpace is also a great option if you want to create a book for a limited audience.  For example, a friend told me of a book she wrote for her grandkids about their own family.  I adore this idea, and CreateSpace is an easy and affordable way to make that happen.  What a wonderful gift to give your grandchildren!

If you can’t invest money upfront, don’t want to own the responsibility for marketing and distribution and you have the patience to go through what can be a slow process, traditional publishing can be the best route.  What I discovered is that many larger publishers will not accept submissions directly from authors.  You need an agent, and getting an agent seems to me to be almost as tricky as getting a publisher.  If you like to network, joining writing groups and associations can help create contacts.

Submitting your book directly to traditional publishers can be a waiting game that requires stamina and patience

There are some traditional publishers that do accept direct submissions from authors.  Most have very specific guidelines for those submissions that you must follow exactly if you want to be considered.  And the majority indicate that it can take up to six months to respond.  Materials are usually not returned to you (for snail mail submissions), and many state that if they are not interested, they will not respond at all.  So it can be a waiting game, particularly if you want to submit to publishers who require that your submission to them is exclusive (as in you submit the manuscript only to them and not to any other publisher).  If your book falls into a specific niche, finding a publisher that specializes in that niche can certainly increase your chance for success.  They not only may be more likely to be interested in your manuscript, but they also have expertise in that market that can help sell books for you in the end.

Assisted self-publishing choices can be great if you can find the right package of services for you, but be prepared to weed through lots of options, and it can be tough to determine what services are essential, vs. nice to have, vs. a waste of money.  Do you want to have your book available in bookstores, online bookstores, on an author website?  Do you want hardcover or paperback or both?  Do you want an ebook version?  For children's books I learned that hardcover with heavier stock paper is preferred for little (sometimes grimy and not so gentle) hands to hold, and that ebook format is not the best for that genre.

You will also need to carefully weigh the money you will need to invest against what the potential sales might be.  Once you subtract the cost to produce the book and the portion of the profits that goes to the sales/distribution channel, you need to sell a lot of books to recover a substantial investment.  That means you have to put in a lot of effort marketing, or pay still more money for someone else to do it for you.

Another route you can go is to find your own providers for individual services, and then use a company that offers printing and distribution services to publish the book yourself under your own imprint.  You find an editor you like, an illustrator and/or cover designer you like, etc., produce the ready-to-print product, and then hire a printing service to produce the book.  Many also offer distribution services including warehousing inventory, fulfillment services, etc.

One thing you might consider if you are serious about publishing a book for the first time, is investing in professional advice.  It can save you a great deal of money in the long run.  Krista Hill, of L Talbott Publishing Consulting and Editorial Services, has been a great resource for me.  Krista provided frank and constructive input on my manuscript, several levels of editing, from developing the story to detailed copy editing, and also provided insights and guidance on my publishing options.  She not only was instrumental in making my manuscript the best it could be, but helped give me the confidence to move forward and make the choices I needed to make to do so.

For me, this was the most challenging part of the process, because my lack of experience made it tough to evaluate the options open to me.  In the end, I was very fortunate to find a wonderful publisher with an interest in my subject matter and an appreciation for my story.  It was a great fit and lifted much of the burden of navigating this aspect alone.   

If you are passionate about your manuscript and motivated to get it out there, my best advice is this:  Yes, this part is difficult, and it can be tempting to throw up your hands and say I give up.  Just take it one step at a time, with your realistic goals for your book in mind.  Get professional help where you need it, to understand your options and make your manuscript the best it can be.  Having a strong, professionally-edited, cohesive manuscript will serve you well and open doors for you, regardless of which path you take.  Ask questions, do research, be persistent, and you will find the path that is right for you and your book.

Be persistent and you will find the path that is right for you and your book!

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Six: Ouch, the Editing

In my wanderings around the Internet to research children’s books, I learned that, aside from quality illustrations, the other critical aspect to success was a quality, professionally edited manuscript.  I discovered that picture books are quite formulaic—typically a certain number of pages, a certain number of words—and my stream of consciousness manuscript was clearly too long and too complex for my chosen audience. 

From my research, it seems people often assume it is easier to write for children than adults.  Certainly it is less voluminous, but there is definitely a challenge in explaining a complex story succinctly and in a manner that children can appreciate.  Whether I opted to self-publish or submit the manuscript to traditional publishers, I needed to find a good, professional editor!

Enter Krista Hill of L Talbott Editorial.  Krista came highly recommended, and with good reason.  She first provided me with an assessment of the manuscript at a higher level, and then a more detailed edit.  Was the story worth telling?  Did the story have a logical flow?  Were there loose ends or inconsistencies?  Were the characters developed well?  Was there too much detail?  Too little detail?  Was the writing appropriate for the intended audience? And finally, the nitty-gritty of spelling, grammar and punctuation.  Each word needed to be carefully chosen and earn its place in the story.

I have to say that editing what you have written, especially in the case of a manuscript based on a true story so dear to my heart as this one, can be a painful process.  You have agonized over each word.  Each detail of the story is full of meaning and memories.  But I recognized that Krista’s suggestions had merit and would improve the manuscript.  Some things needed more detail and elaboration.  Others needed to be simplified or even removed altogether.

Editing the manuscript for Soaring Soren was sometimes painful, but a critical part of telling the story in the best way possible

At a certain point, I had to let go of my emotional attachment to some aspects, and just start rewriting.  Like taking off a band aid, it hurts less when you steel yourself and just do it quickly.  I had to admit that, despite the sometimes painful process, each iteration (and there were many) got better and better.

When we thought we had the manuscript “together,” I handed it off to Morgan to begin mapping out the illustrations.  She came back to me with the news that it was still too long.  We had two options:  make the book longer than we had intended, which added expense and took us farther from the accepted formula for a picture book for children, or find a way to shorten the manuscript.

And so my struggle to strike a balance between reality and telling the story began.

Soren was born in Denmark, and bred by someone who has, over the years, become a cherished friend: Tove Rasmussen of Daulokke Kennels.  Tove has produced many Champion French Bulldogs, and many, like Soren, who are also very athletic, smart and with much humor and much heart for those they love and everything they undertake.  Along the road, Tove has taken great interest and pride in Soren's accomplishments.  She shared my journey with Soren, and I often thought of her as his "first human mom."

Baby Soren in Denmark

In the original manuscript, the story (true to real life) included someone else who has become a cherished friend over the years, Suzanne Orban-Stagle.  

Suzanne on the left

Suzanne of JustUs Kennels, was Soren's "second human mom" and had brought Soren over from Denmark to the U.S. when he was a puppy to be a show dog and part of her French Bulldog breeding program. 

Soren as a puppy, at his home with Suzanne in MD -- even then you could see his intelligence and soulful, loving nature

When Soren grew too big for the show ring, it was Suzanne who recognized how smart, athletic and determined he was, and who decided he was destined for other things besides the conformation ring.  We met through mutual friends in performance sports who knew I had competed with another Frenchie in Obedience, Rally and Agility. That is how, at the age of 1 ½ years old, Soren came to live with me to be my agility dog, and as it turned out, my very best friend.  

Young Soren celebrating Christmas at Suzanne's.  Can't you just hear him saying, "isn't it time to open my presents yet?"

It was Suzanne’s love for Soren, her appreciation of the many things he had to offer and her willingness to let him to have the life he was meant to lead, even if it was different from the one she had planned for him, that prompted her to let him go.  That selfless decision made my story with Soren possible, and her generosity over the years that followed, enabled us to accomplish more than any of us ever could have imagined back then. 

I will be forever grateful for the generosity and love that Suzanne showed in allowing Soren to come to live with me -- as it turned out, it was such an amazing gift for me and for Soren.  

The very first publisher who reviewed the manuscript had suggested that having two owners in the story might add too much complexity for young children.  Morgan and Krista agreed.  But in my heart, this was very much Suzanne’s story too, so it was a difficult decision for me.  Suzanne and I discussed it, and agreed that I would make the change, and that the character that was Suzanne and the character that was me would become one character who had Soren from the time he was a puppy. 

I was not sure how to tell the story that way initially, but once I looked at that character as a combination of the two of us, it seemed somehow appropriate and the rewrite just flowed.  We both loved Soren and vice versa.  Suzanne was the first person I called whenever Soren did something wonderful or something funny over the years, and the one who cried on the phone with me at the end when we had to make the decision to say goodbye to him.  He brought us together and took us on a most amazing journey that will forever bind us in a special friendship born of shared adventure, and I feel incredibly blessed that we have been able to share the ups and downs over the years.  

Finally, when the major rewrites were complete, a long-time friend and author, Rory Janis Miller, who (lucky for me!) is a retired children’s librarian, agreed to have a look at the manuscript and was kind enough to give me her perspective based on years of reading books to children in the age group of my target audience.  Her insights helped me make those final adjustments to the story to ensure it was one children could both understand and embrace.

The manuscript today is quite different from the one I wrote well over a year ago.  One of the challenges, and I suppose the art of a good children’s book, is knowing when to use words to tell the story, and when to let the illustrations do the talking.  In many instances, less is more.  The process, though sometimes emotionally taxing, allowed me how to look at storytelling in a fascinating, new way.  In the end, I believe the manuscript is much stronger for all the rewrites, and I am grateful for the wise and wonderful input that helped make it so.

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Five: A Little Help from My Friends

The next big piece of the puzzle I needed to solve for was professional editing.  And perhaps most daunting, I needed to figure out the complex and seemingly endless options for publishing.   The more I read, the more confused I became.  So I decided to throw up a flag on Facebook and ask my friends for help. 

Did anyone know, or know anyone who knew, anything about publishing a children’s book? 

And help they did!  Several people knew other authors who were willing to talk with me about their books, the publishing options they used and why.  They were so kind, patient and generous with their time.  One introduced me to a children’s book illustrator with a major publisher who was willing to talk with me.  He gave me lots of great info about illustrations, guidelines for children's books, and he suggested a publisher a friend had used and liked.  Some shared their self-publishing experiences.  A few other friends knew another publisher I could contact. 

I reached out to a friend that had written a number of dog-related books and asked about who she used for editing, and she pointed me to Krista Hill of L Talbott Editorial Services.  I’m so glad she did!  Krista was wonderful, and not only was she able to help me with editing, but she also was a great resource for starting to understand the various publishing options out there.

I was so touched by people’s willingness to help and to share their knowledge.  They were not only enlightening, they were encouraging, and their successes added to my determination that I could and would find a way. 

Little by little, one conversation at a time, the plan forward began to take shape.  I knew if I waited for all the details to fall into place, it would never happen.  So I resolved to just keep taking small steps in the right direction, and keep believing that as long as I kept walking forward, the path would become clear.

Please check out these and other books by these very generous and talented people ...

The Long Road to Antietam:  How the Civil War Became a Revolution by Richard Slotkin

Sashi the Scared Little Sheltie by Linda Greiner and illustrated by Morgan Spicer

Bev: The Invisible Sister by Rory Janis Miller

Six Sisters by P.J. Lazos

PJ Finds a Home by Sharon Wells Wagner

Chester GiGolo:  Diary of a Dog Star by Christina Potter

Grandma D's Bubbles:  A Lesson in Life and Loss by Debra Joy Hart

Paws & Effect:  The Healing Power of Dogs by Sharon Sakson

Woolbur illustrated by Lee Harper

L Talbott Publishing Consultant and Editorial Services

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Four: A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

As with any project, half the battle is assembling a great team.   In hindsight, that process began before my Soren book idea was even formed.

A few years ago, I happened to see an illustration of a friend’s agility dog posted on Facebook.  It was precious and really captured the dog’s look and personality in a very “Disney-esque” way.  I loved it and wanted one of my own dogs, so I contacted the artist on Facebook and had her do a portrait of two of my four dogs:  Soren and Remus.  It was wonderful!  That very talented artist was Morgan Spicer of Bark Point Studio.

Audra, illustrated by Morgan Spicer (c)

A while later, shortly after I wrote the first draft of Soren’s manuscript, I decided I wanted to have Morgan illustrate my other two dogs, Audra and Ferris, and do an illustration of a friend’s dog who had passed away recently as a special remembrance to give to my friend.  Morgan did those illustrations for me and I loved them as well. 

Ferris, illustrated by Morgan Spicer (c)

While on the her Facebook page, I noticed some posts about a children’s book Morgan was working on, and the illustrations were wonderful.  I sent her Soren’s manuscript and asked her if she might be interested in illustrating his book, and she said she would be interested.  I was thrilled. 

Charlotte, one of my favorite Frenchies and beloved heart dog of a dear friend.  Morgan Spicer (c) created this wonderful remembrance.

We talked about the publisher she was working with on her current book.  I contacted them and was thrilled again when they were interested in publishing the book.  I learned that, while they provided all the guidance and services needed to publish the book under their imprint, It was up to the author to finance the project, including paying for editing, design and layout services, and printing of the book itself.  They were very professional and supportive, I liked the work they did, their services seemed topnotch and I could retain full ownership of the book and the royalties.  But the price tag was definitely out of my league.  As excited as I was by the prospect of doing the book with them, I just could not figure out how to make it financially feasible.  So back in the drawer it went.  I needed to think some more.

After Soren passed away in January of 2016, my resolve to find a path forward with the book took on a life of its own.  I started reading all I could about children’s books on the Internet, and one thing became very clear:  When it comes to children’s books, if you don’t have great illustrations, don’t bother.  I wished I had the talent to bring the words I wrote to life in illustrations, but I recognized that I could not do it justice.  So I got back in touch with Morgan, and was delighted that she was still interested in working with me on the book.  In my mind, Soren was very much the perfect Disney-style hero, and Morgan’s artistic style seemed ideally suited to portray him that way. 

We decided to take a baby step, while still researching options to publish that might be more financially feasible for me, and did some concept art of Soren’s character.  At Morgan’s suggestion, I also had a friend of hers submit some concept art.  Both designs were fabulous, but when I looked at Morgan’s drawings, they were just so “Soren” that I was moved to tears.  The moment I saw Morgan’s concept art of Soren, there was no doubt in my mind—I knew that she had to be the one to bring Soren’s book character to life.  

This concept art by Morgan Spicer (c) touched me so much, I knew that she was the one to bring Soren's book character to life

We still had a long way to go to assemble the team we needed to move the book ahead, but I was very excited about my "first pick" and felt confident that with a compelling story and a very talented artist to portray it in a powerful and endearing way, Soren's book was on the road to becoming something special.

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Three: As the Method Actor Said, What is My Motivation?

So now I have a story, it’s down on paper and it’s tucked away in a drawer, or in actuality, typed in a Word document and stashed in a folder on my hard drive.  Now what?  There it stayed for about a year.  Occasionally I opened it up, re-read it, tweaked a word here and a comma there, and put it away again, unsure of the next step.  I envisioned book signings with Soren by my side, giving kisses to adoring kids, but I just didn’t know how to get from here to there.

In October and November of 2015, I started to notice little things about Soren that didn’t seem quite right.  A few times I had to carry him home from a walk as he was clearly struggling to go on.  I chalked it up to getting older, or maybe a little more out of shape since his retirement from agility the year before and his new, less-active lifestyle.  But in early December, he ran to see who was at the door and collapsed in the hall, and I knew in my heart that the time I dreaded for many years had come.  Something was not good—not good at all.  He seemed fine shortly after that, and I hoped maybe we’d dodged a bullet and it was just a fluke.  But a few days later, he collapsed again, and again.  The emergency vet and my own vet were unsure of what was wrong.  On New Year’s Eve day, he was not doing well and we returned early from a trip to see our vet.  His heartbeat was erratic.  They did an ultrasound and he was definitively diagnosed with a tumor on his heart, wrapped around his aorta, and inoperable.  After a lot of tears, we agreed we would try medication to stabilize his heartbeat and hope for some time.  A few weeks later my own heart, and the hearts of many others who loved him too, would break when I had to make the gut-wrenching decision to say goodbye to the little dog who had truly changed my life over the past decade.

The loss of my best friend was devastating, but out of that loss came a new resolve to honor Soren’s life by telling his incredible story.  It would be the perfect way to capture all my love, admiration and precious memories of such a special soul.  I knew that, somehow, I had to find a way to share with others the inspiration Soren brought to me and to so many who knew him over the years.  I thought of the book stored in the folder on my laptop, and I remember thinking, “Soren wouldn’t be stopped because it’s difficult to figure out what to do next.  He’d just do it.”  And so would I.