Blog Tour rolling with square wheels.

I am participating in a blog tour. Thank you, Kathryn Apel and Lynne Stringer for nominating me! I was caught out in an insanely hectic week but wanted to join in eventually. So there has been a delay in the blog tour – square wheels on my end – sorry! But these ladies are sweet and patient and know what it can be like. Make sure you check their blog tour answers and take the opportunity to discover some more interesting writers and illustrators in the process!

Here are my questions…

1) What am I working on?
I’m currently putting the final illustrations together for a new book, Celia and Nonna. This book is a debut picture book by Victoria Lane and will be published by Ford Street Publishing this year.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I think in many of my illustrations the influence of my exhibiting as a fine artist shows through. Although I have a cartoon style, it is painted with paint strokes and is not flat. I like to see the sketchy lines and if left to my own devices would most likely loosen up even more. I do experiment a lot too. Mt work is often colourful.

3) Why do I write and illustrate what I do?
I have thought about this question quite a lot and i believe I am beginning to see a theme or undercurrent of motivation in my work. I want what I do to make a difference in people’s lives. This may seem like a grand vision, but I think we are all created to do not so much for ourselves, but for others. The books I am involved in add a “feel good” emotional kick for the reader. If what I create encourages or edifies someone in anyway that is rewarding for me. This is what predominately motivates me.

4) How does your writing/illustrating process work?
Wow, big question. Pull up a chair, grab some popcorn and turn off the world for a month. How do I break that down into a short post? I will have to shorthand this answer!

I jot down all inspiration but some get my heart pumping more than others. I pray about direction all the time and go with what feels right. I guess you could say I am lead my my spiritual hunch or gut feeling – I trust it. Then I plan out with several drafts or thumbnail sketches (or both) and take it from there. I develop organically; allowing for movement in the work, so sometimes it isn’t so easy to see the final until close to final. I love the final conclusion when it has manifested what seems to be all by itself, even though it has been a considered process. Although I love a good critique, I usually work best when given license to play and experiment with my vision initially.

I work in several ways with my illustration as I uses several traditional and digital approaches.

Now a intro to my awesome fellow blogging mates:

Kathryn Apel:

Kathryn Apel was born and bred a farm girl – but she’s still scared of cows! Kat lives amongst the gum trees, kangaroos and cattle, on a grazing property in Queensland. Her chapter book, ‘Fencing with Fear’ is part of the Aussie! Read! series, and her rural rhyming picture book, ‘This is the Mud!’ has been read by Justine on ABC PlaySchool. Kat’s verse novel for younger readers, ‘Bully on the Bus’ will be released in July, with UQP. Prior to publication it won the published author’s manuscript section of the 2012 CYA Competition.

Kathryn co-ordinates Month of Poetry each January, and has had poetry published in magazines and on CD in Australia and New Zealand.
Read more about Kat’s work at; katswhiskers.wordpress.com

Her blog tour article is here: http://katswhiskers.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/tagged-blog-tour/

Lynne Stringer:

This lady has been passionate about writing all my life and was the editor of a small newspaper (later magazine) for seven years, and currently works as a professional editor and proofreader.

Lynne wrote her YA sci-fi romance novel, The Heir, in 2010. The Heir is the first in a trilogy. Since then she has published the remaining books, The Crown and The Reign.

To read her blog tour article and browse her website and blog go to: http://www.lynnestringer.com/