Hi, fellow SVS peeps~

My debut author/illustrator picture book, BLUE CAT, is coming Oct 1st from Boyds Mill Kane/Starberry Books.

I can't believe it is almost here. Target, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and some local bookshops will carry it.

If you happen to preorder and get a copy, reviews are always much appreciated. MEOW

My two spring 2020 books as an illustrator are finished and off to the printer. One with Page Street Kids (picture book) and the other Amicus Ink (Board Book).

I am trying on my marketing hat and it is making my head hurt, lol! Any tips would be much appreciated.

I am doing storytime at a local bookshop and will be signing and selling BLUE CAT at the EPA SCBWI chapters Fall Philly Fest in November. My publisher and one of their editors will be there too. Anyone here going to it?
I may also be doing an event for a local preschool. BLUE CAT is for kids ages 2-6.

I also have a request from my editor for some art samples for a PB manuscript of mine she recently read. Working on that this week, here is to hoping it makes it to her acquisitions team.

I have been watching @Will-Terry class with Brian Ajhar called Building Backgrounds and it is excellent! Check it out if you haven't had a chance yet. Plus his podcast with @Lee-White and @Jake-Parker is so awesome! I look forward to hearing it every time a new one drops. Fellas I would love to hear a podcast on podcasting, positives/negatives, struggles and successes with it. Also, how it is factoring into your marketing for the school and your own projects as well as lessons you learned along the way while producing it.

Anyone have any book news or projects I should know about, post them here! Let's fill the shelves with books by SVS creatives!!

Happy creating all!

Hello everyone,

I just got in my box of illustrator copies for a board book I worked on for AMICUS INK. WHO IS MAKING A MESS, written by Maria D'Heane. This book hits shelves in the SPRING and it is so cool to see my work in this format. @Lee-White told me a long time ago that my portfolio is well suited for the board book market and here we are! Thanks, Lee!!

Shout it out if you guys have any projects hitting the shelves! I love buying books for holiday gifts.

I am VERY excited to announce that my work is now represented by the wonderfully talented agent, Kathleen Rushall of Andrea Brown Literary Agency!! Pitch me. This is an amazing opportunity and I could not be more thrilled. Feeling blessed! Happy happy dance!!

Huge thanks to @Lee-White for being an amazing mentor/teacher and @Will-Terry and @Jake-Parker for creating SVS. You three have pushed me every step of the way to improve my art and narrative storytelling and I know I would not be where I am had I not stumbled upon this amazing school and community of artists!

Thank you thank you thank you!!! SQUEAL!!

My latest book deal (as the illustrator) was announced this week in Publisher's Weekly. It's still so surreal seeing it and I have SVS to thank!!

https://www.publishersweekly.com/iowa-edit/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/78799-rights-report-week-of-december-10-2018.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=8f86ddf94e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_12_11_10_39&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-8f86ddf94e-306068637&fbclid=IwAR0sBMvFwQBnOZ3aZZPrBjSlWOGAN3UbgK-BPg490Wekl59OX-XfQtY6WYY

I'm really looking forward to working on this PB project with the team at Page Street Kids and so excited to get started the illustrations.

I'm on final color for my picture book Blue Cat (Fall 2019) and the cover and an interior spread has been sent to the marketing team. I am also working on an illustration job for a board book with Amicus Ink coming Spring 2020.

Super busy and stressed but so happy and thankful! I'm really enjoying the SVS 3 Point Perspective Podcast, too!

I hope everyone is enjoying the start of the holiday season!

Cheers,
Charlie

Hi all

I wanted to share some news. In the fall I entered the SCBWI Tomie Contest. My Little Red and Wolf piece did not win but I did enter it into the Tomie Gallery for the public to view.

I recently landed a nice deal for a Pre-K book with McGraw-Hill, an educational publisher out of NYC.

I found out today that the editorial director saw my work in the gallery and was immediately drawn to my characters, went to my site and shared it with his team. They loved my style.

Besides entering the contest, I had assistance from @Lee-White who really helped me focus my main portfolio and he pointed out that my work especially Buzabee was appealing for the pre-k market and to do more of him in addition to my other work.

They loved Buzabee too and I think that is what ultimately sold them on me for this Pre-K project. Thanks Lee!!!

So even though my work was not chosen for the contest it still lead to a contract. That and a nice, clean portfolio and website design with a focused balance but still showing a nice variety. www.charlieeveryan.com

SVS rocks!!

Moral of the story, keep putting work out there and listen to @Lee-White and @Will-Terry and @Jake-Parker, because they know their stuff and then some!!

Omg! The boardbook I illustrated got a review from Kirkus. Thanks @Lee-White @Will-Terry @Jake-Parker for being the best teacher/mentors ever and for this awesome community. Written by Maria D'Haene/ Amicus Ink. Hits shelves today!! How crazy is that??? I know we are not supposed to care about reviews but that is pretty cool.

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/maria-dhaene/who-is-making-a-mess/?fbclid=IwAR2_nscdx_PqALD_1FfHt6k27oVabrPE3AvrPne4clrz17RleT8rdDUEDCE

Hello Team Svs,

My latest illustration project, a picture book called Saturdays Are For Stella written by Candy Wellins, Page Street Kids is an AMAZON Editors Best Books of the Month ages 3 to 5 pick and hit number one for NEW Releases Baby Books. SO UNREAL, thanks @Will-Terry @Lee-White @Jake-Parker for making SVS the best place for students and working professionals to hone their creative skills!! I am just floored right now and the twitter buzz from book reviewers has been amazing. I am so happy to be a part of this project! Happy creating everyone. If you have news, please share!

https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_KCedit_7b1_w?node=17276806011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_r=Y48B36T99QGJHFEH5MTY&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=6412fb7d-da0f-4047-a30c-7cd1475443de&pf_rd_i=17143709011

https://www.amazon.com/gp/new-releases/books/3056/ref=zg_b_hnr_3056_1

I'm so excited, there are two editors from two different publishing houses taking a book dummy of mine to acquisitions. How bananas is that? I can't believe it!!

One step closer, fingers crossed!! Thanks @Will-Terry @Lee-White @Jake-Parker and all the forum support ...I would not be this close without you guys and SVS!

In the meantime, I am so ready for Spring!

Hi All,

I'm so excited. My illustration deal for the book I'm working on was finally announced this week through Publisher's Weekly. It is so surreal to read it, even though it has been in the mix since Nov. I'm drawing tons of kids for this book and having fun.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/72542-rights-report-week-of-january-16-2017.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=4941266bc0-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-4941266bc0-306039289

I wasn't sure if everyone saw this but here is a way to support Will and his boys. Every little bit helps.

https://www.gofundme.com/will-terry-family-loses-wife-and-mom-lori?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_dn_postdonate_r&fbclid=IwAR2uig6myBesthktdfTDLMNz71EFehOfQt6dy4jh0A1igDTTaFVKvzvN_IM

@Lee-White 1000% agree! Never should have happened this way.

That is awesome!! Congrats

@Lee-White This should have never been handled this way, esp given Jake's track record of helping artists and the fact that he has been teaching these very concepts for years.

Trying to ruin another person's livelyhood without even talking to them and trying to work things out is unacceptable.

Similar yes but this does not seem like an open and closed case and he had very few samples to pull from.

He is acting like he invented drawing. Horrible situation all around.

Mob mentality is strong and unfortunately for Jake the internet mob is coming for him.

Praying for him and hope any misunderstandings get worked out soon.

@Coley Thanks!:D

@Neha-Rawat Thank you so much!

@Mara-Price Thanks

@Kevin-Longueil Thanks so much!

@Jeremy-Ross Thank you!!

@Nyrryl-Cadiz That is great, keep writing. It is a great skill to add and thanks!!

For the board book I did, I had an offer from the publisher for a 4 book deal that I did not take due to mostly deadline issues but they also offered me a contract to illustrate Who is Making A Mess and I really wanted to work with them but already had Blue Cat and Saturdays Are For Stella on my plate and could not say yes to the other project. There is no way I would have made all the deadlines.

Blue Cat is my first author/illustrator picture book and I pitched through the online sub guidelines Boyds Mill Kane to the editor who happens to love cats. So that worked our well!!

I found over the years to never give up your ability to market and talk directly to editors and art directors. Many agents are busy with several clients and just don't have time to pitch multiple projects. Some will try to control your every move. It is just not realistic and I find having that freedom really helps build relationships professionally.

@Nyrryl-Cadiz said in SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA News:

get

Postcards and pitching through email. It helps that I have my own stories to pitch. My illustration work seems to get more interest when people realize I write, too. I have not done an author/illustrator project with this pub yet but I have had interest from them with past stories.

It helps to build a back and forth with an editor and keeps me on their radar for illustration work, too. So when this book came to them they said they loved the way I capture small intimate moments with people/kids and thought I would be great for the book. I had a lot of creative leeway which was both overwhelming and exciting.

I have a ton of respect for my agent and am very open but I keep contact with editors and will reach out on my own too.