Christmas in August!

This week I made another normal trip to UPS to send my illustrations to Harper Collins like I have been for months now. But this time....it was a special delivery.

The final art for Christmas Goodnight is in! DONE AND DONE!

Did you hear that? I have to keep pinching myself. For real? Have I really finished? Remember how this journey started a year ago? Yes. One year. And a great year at that. I have a completely new perspective of children's books now. I've always known in my head how much goes into a picture book, but it wasn't until I actually became an illustrator myself, have I fully understood the labor of love involved.

The actual final art took only about 6-8 weeks in the making. What takes so long is getting the vision, storyline and sketches just right.  Well, that and a whole bunch of big life events that I had to work around (having baby #3, moving twice and becoming a first time homeowner all while trying to make deadlines!) And though the book took longer than expected, it couldn't have worked out better. In that year's worth of work, I've also been given an education of a lifetime! For someone who kinda skipped the whole art school scene, this has been my Illustrating Children's Book Degree. You guys, the publishing world is SO COOL and the people that get the books out there on the shelves are SO SMART and TALENTED and just plain AMAZING. I've been so lucky to work with such gifted mentors. There is so much that goes into getting a book to be at it's best. I think I've gone through at least 15 revisions of just this short Christmas book. But getting the vision and the storyline just right, as well as all the visual details right takes patience and creativity, and I'm so glad I got to work with the kind of people that know creativity and ideas come when they come, and can't be forced.

I will for sure post more about the book and it's insides once it gets closer to publication. But, it's not going to be for a good while. I've sent the art to the big guys in New York and there are a lot of color scanning and adjustments that they do, and then it's off to press which takes several months all together.

So that's that! Now it's off to unpacking boxes and really moving into our house...and getting out some new art. Sorry guys...this blog hasn't been very artsy lately...but that's cause everything has been going to this book. Stay tuned for more art soon. There's a lot bubbling up that's needs to surface now that Christmas is over around here!

PS-If you are new to the blog, here's the info about the book:

A Christmas Goodnight written by Laura Godwin, illustrated by Sarah Jane Wright

Published with Katherine Tegan Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Children's

Coming to stores Fall 2011

Birthday Love.

So what does the husband of a gluten-intolerant gal do for his wife's birthday? Makes her a gluten-free cake of course.

And yes...he makes sushi too. Really good sushi! It was my best cake yet! (Notice the ginger rose? He's all fancy like that. I love him!)

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. And for all the Mermaid love. There are more coming....but not for a bit. I'm days away from finishing the final art for the book, and so I'm still living in snow and Christmas trees. Rather odd for a hot July.

But just a reminder: This week, the shop is having a birthday sale. Today is the LAST day for the Buy 2 Get 1 FREE Sale. So hurry on over!

Oh, and technical side note: If you are one of the many people who have been bugged that this blog was unsubscribable for a while, you can now subscribe and read this in your prefered Reader. Sorry for all the trouble.

Have a great weekend! And thanks again for all the love!

xo

sarah

He's really all that.

Dear Reader who wonders how I have time to do creative things,

What you need to know about being an Artist and a Mom and a Book Maker:

You will be absolutely lousy without help.

May I introduce you to man who  makes things happen around here? Oh, and have I mentioned he happens to be the most amazing man on the planet?

Say "Hi" to Kenneth. He's the love of my life. Not only has he been on kid duty while I finish up the book at full speed, but he's the King Gardener, Fixer-Upper, Royal Chef, Fort Maker, Grocery Shopper, and Make-Believe Player and even does the dishes. He is basically makes this whole book making process wonderful. That, and he is a writer and storyteller himself, so he understands how this all works...and enjoys it too! We don't live close to either of our parents, and with 3 young kids in the mix, having long stretches of time to do anything is out of the question. But thanks to my school-teacher husband who has the summer off to let me work, it's been amazing.  And on top of all that, he keeps things fun around here. He is the one that keeps me laughing when I get too stressed and knows how to have a good time when things are a bit crazy. I am seriously in love. I am so blessed to be married to my best friend. Like, really blessed.

The kids think so too.

So, when I look at my life and wonder why I haven't cracked yet, it's cause of him.

The end.

xo

Sarah

PS: New summertime art is in the shop today!

For Young Readers

Last week I was so fortunate to attend the FOR YOUNG READERS conference in Salt Lake City, UT. Having gone the year before, I knew what I'd be in for: a really intense week full of content based lectures, 20 hours of mentoring and illustration projects, lot's of homework and an overall stimulating experience. In fact, a couple of classmates and I joked that we weren't sleeping well at night because our dreams were so vivid from all the visual stimulation our brains were getting. It was that awesome.

So, I mentioned before Kevin Hawkes was the illustration instructor for our small class of 12 students (Have you seen how cool his website is, by the way?). From 8:30am-12:30pm each morning, I had the chance to work along side super talented illustrators and get feed back and critique from Kevin and his assistant Julie Olsen, a wonderfully talented illustrator as well. As a young mom who doesn't even get out to go to the movies, getting a week of intensive illustration time with amazing mentors was more than life changing.  Kevin Hawkes is one cool guy.  Kevin had a lot of great content heavy presentations, but all in all, I was impressed with his story and his slow but steady rise to the top of the children's book scene. He was such an inspiration. He is a family man (5 kids!) which meant a lot to me especially after writing this post on keeping your creative mind fresh and active while managing a growing family!

He admits that he is the king of altering his style for the need of the book, which also inspired me to really take risks and follow my own intincts. He is a master at his craft, and it was seriously an honor to work with him. And he even signed the books we own of his to say "To the Wright Toddlahs" for how much i love his latest books. How cool is that?

My husband participated in the Picture Book Writing intensive, and he just soaked up time with his mentor Bonny Becker. Again, like working with Kevin, it was a bit surreal to be tutored by the same author who has charmed our bedtime story routine for 2 years now. Bedtime for Bear, a New York Times bestseller has won tons of awards, but Kenneth and I bought this the month it first came out once we realized what a treasure it was. And it is just that.

It was so delightful to hear Bonny read out loud her own book that we have read so many times ourselves. It was just as amazing to see her reveal the process of the over 30 revisions that led to it hitting the shelves. The children's book industry aint' for sissies-that's for sure!  But Bonny is a wonderful talent as well as editor. She loves freelance editing and has an awareness of the craft of writing for children that a lot of picture book writers don't have. It was such an honor to work with her! And if you love Visitor for Bear, you'll LOVE the other 6 books she is contracted to write about Bear and Mouse that will be will be trickling out soon. We got to read Sleepover for Bear coming out this fall, and analyze Christmas for Bear that won't even come out for 2 more years and isn't even finished yet. It was truly inspiring!  Oh, and I have to put in a plug about Bonny's assistant Jed Henry who I also got to meet, who is himself a budding author/illustrator. Great contacts and great experiences.

This conference has been going strong for 11 years and is one of the best there is. If you get a chance to go next year, I can promise you won't be disappointed!

Room to grow.

Thanks for all your comments on the up and coming book! It really is odd to be working on a project that I can't really talk about for a while....the process of creating a children's book is so collaborative and involves so many layers of production. It's a truly amazing industry! So as hard as I am working now, it won't even hit the stores for a year and a half. And I've actually been working on this for a year! I have a whole new level of appreciation when I browse the children's book section at the bookstore. Honestly....these people dedicate whole chunks of life to those pages! It's wonderful and amazing.

Really, though. Thanks for all your kinds words and support. It means so much to me. I'll share more as soon as I can!

In the mean time though, isn't this room darling? Amy sent it to me after she framed the SUMMER TEA PARTY print in her daughter's room. She is an amazing quilter too, and sells her quilting kits on ETSY. I have one of her quilt kits sitting in a bag. I bought it for Ella when I was pregnant (you know how you get so excited about projects when you are nesting and pregnant, and then you're too tired and fat to do them? And then when you have the baby you are too exhausted and deleriously sleep deprived to do them? Ya. That was me. Ella is 11 months, and her baby quilt is sitting in a bag.) Anyways....if you are unlike me, and actually finish the projects you intend to do, you'll be so happy with her kits. And if you are like me, and don't finish, thankfully she sells her quilts too. Don't you love her colors?

Hope your all having a great week! The snow here thankfully subsided and there might be hope of sunny weather soon. Might being the key word.

Sneak Peek.

When you put your life and soul into something, it's only natural to want to share it with the people you interact with. I mean....what mother can't keep her mouth shut about the cute thing her toddler said, or the sleepless night spent with a teething infant? It's just how we are made. We were meant to share things.

I for one, and not naturally a 'secret keeper.' I can keep a secret when there is a specific reason behind the withholding...like this book I'm illustrating for instance...but any one who knows me, knows that I'm a rather transparent person. I wear my feelings and thoughts on my sleeve.

But...the book is getting closer. Closer and closer to being done! It's taken a bit longer than initially anticipated:  mostly due to my buying and selling and remodeling a house, having a baby and mothering 3 under school age children while trying to learn the industry of picture book making all at the same time. Whew! But thankfully I have the best editor in the entire universe (Yes, YOU Molly!) and I've been granted a lot of strength and help from my family...namely my incredible and good-lookin' husband.

I'll save all the thank-you's for when I'm actually finished with this baby. But it's been an AMAZING journey...one that I can't wait to share more of. I can't share it all now...I still have a bit more time before it goes to press.... but the lessons have been invaluable. I'm completely in love with the Children's Book industry, and illustrating picture books is the hardest yet most fulfilling and wonderful work! I feel so, so lucky. It's such an amazing opportunity and I am so humbled to be involved and learning!

A CHRISTMAS GOODNIGHT (Fall 2011) written by Laura Godwin and Published with Katherine Tegan Books, and imprint of Harper Collins Children's Books,  is a simple goodnight story which mixes the traditional Christmas story with the story we make for ourselves every season. It is a classic treasure!

Stay tuned for more!

Be a Rock Star.

I'm loving when my kids pretend to be rock stars.  On most days, my kids are the experts on something...the top of their world.  And so I ask myself....when was the last time I pretended I was a rock star? Not the spike your hair stiff kind (although that would be pretty wonderful) but a rock star at whatever I am doing at the moment. Like a rock star kitchen sweeper. Or a rock star laundry folder. Think about that. Aren't kids awesome? I learn the coolest stuff. Today is going to be a great day..... I am off to be a really cool rock star.

Design on my mind.

What do these images have in common? There is a theme here, and I'll give you a secret: it has to do with ALT DESIGN SUMMIT this weekend!

Ok, Can you guess?

These are the ladies I'll be speaking with on my panel under a topic that will for sure spill overtime cause there is so much to talk about: Building Your Brand and Your Business.

I am so thrilled to be speaking with Victoria from te super savy style blog Sfgirlbybay and the expert gardener and renaissance woman Gayla from You Grow Girl. We all have something in common: we love what we do, we started to put ourselves out there in the blogging world, and a business grew partially by accident and partially planned. We will be talking about the steps we have taken to get there and advice for the journey. Come with your questions too...I think we'll have a Q&A at the end if we have time!

So, if you haven't had time to get your tickets, this is your last chance! The first ever blogging conference with design in mind. I can't wait to hear from some of my biggest social marketing heros, and design heros. It will be a party with lots o lots of packed information.

If you can come, please come over and say hi! This will be my first day away from the baby, so I will be considerably more lonely than normal...either that or completely care free!

See you there!