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

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

Thank you all! I am home from the hospital. The surgeon said the surgery went wonderfully. He had a bunch of people in there observing and learning from him because I am an unusual case.

So now I am on a clear liquids only diet for a week, then full liquid, then soft foods for a while and slowly back to a normal diet over 12 weeks.

It takes a long time to heal and all the swelling to go down.

Home resting and on morphine for pain, so a little loopy.

Thanks again!! We are very relieved with how everything went and turned out.

@lmrush Wonderful news!! Big congrats

@peteolczyk Thank you very much!!

@Lee-White Thanks so much, Lee! That really means a lot to me coming from you. Your advice on my portfolio over the years guided me towards exploring the boardbook market in addition to picture books. So hurray!!

@Kevin-Longueil Thank you!

@Laurel-Aylesworth Thank you!!

@smceccarelli Thanks so much!!

Thanks!! Taking that very very first children's book online illlustration course with @Will-Terry and @Jake-Parker before SVS was really SVS was the best career move I ever made and this community school and content has only gotten better.

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

@KaraDaniel thanks so much!!

@Chip-Valecek said in Board Book Illustrator Copies CAME IN!:

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan how exciting!! Congrats!!

Thank you, Chip