To be honest, I've actually never read the book before this contest! I'm now somewhere in a middle and enjoying it greatly

Hi everyone!
I just wanted to share the big news with someone, I'm so excited! Today I found out, I'm published outside of my home country!
https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/sky-pony-press/9781510764309/the-little-monkey-who-wouldnt-sleep/?fbclid=IwAR3GJnOF1fMSX4GQXHUtWFCGeQMLZAbHIj9F3m0AVl8FYb1U00FF5Io5w6k

It might look like that's not that important, where a book gets published, but to me it does make a great difference.
In Czech republic, as well as in other small europe countries, the budget for illustrator is usually very small. So to make a living as an illustrator usually means to work super super fast. Lately I've been working on a new illustration style (the Yeti one), but this style takes a lot of time and I know my publisher in Czechia could never pay that money.
Thus, for this year I decided I will finally get me an agent, break through on the US market and gain the time I need to make some great time... And this is much more easier said than done. The las year was very hard for me and this year looks even harder and somewhat the winter depression got into my head... And I somewhat lost the interest in pursuing my goals.
But. Finding out my publisher sold the rights to one of my books to the US market gave me the kick in the but I needed! I'm so happy about these news and I know it might take some time to get on the radar of publishing houses, but I will try.
Thank you for reading this... I'm sorry it's a bit long and that there's not really a climax in this story. I just needed to get it out.

What are your goals for 2021? I'm super curious to hear what all the other fellow illustrators are working on!
Is there someone with a success story? Is it really hard to get noticed outside of your home country?

And hopefully I'll be able to share my steps towards getting an agent and/or getting published on my own outside of my home country in the future.

This was such a fun! And I did this month prompt on time, yey! Now I just hope I'm still subscribed to SVS courses
Good luck everyone! Looking forward to seeing your work and progress in the upcoming year!!!

Here's my entry. My Yeti doesn't have a house per se, but still has a home. Thanks for the challenge!

Hi! Here's my entry.

I've been posting my work on my local Facebook group for illustrators for a long time. But few days ago, I first post an illustration with a comment that I have a project (picture book) ready to be shared with publishers, just a basic announcement... and in an hour or so two publishers (in my country we don't have agents) approached me and asked for the manuscript. That never happened before, when I was only posting illustrations! And I also did not believe people from publishing houses are actually present in those Facebook groups or following my account. But they are. They were just waiting for a project. So - you, guys from SVS, were right. We need to work on projects and be present on social media, so the right people might find our work.

Does anyone of you also have a success story or almost success story (because I have no idea if it actually will be a success story at the end;) to share? Might be great to hear those!!

Sooo... I hope I will finish this one. but we will see.
This prompt gave me an idea of a story about a little kid, raised by a Yetti family. Thus my character design is for both of them - the kid (still not sure about his/her name) and one of the Yettis

Sooo... after drawing like a ton of different houses and cabins, I realised, my Yeti would probably never lived in a house from bricks and stones. He’s a forest creature, from our fluffy and cute bohemian woods, so I’ve came up with all new sketch and designed his home under open sky.
Do you guys have any thoughts/critiques? I’m not entirely sure if It’s according to the rules of this month prompt cause this is not an actual “house” but it is his home ... so maybe it’s ok?

Hi everyone,
I had this page in my book (personal project), where the scene should happen in the attic. Before watching draw 50 things, the attic was... well - nearly empty (such a shame!) So I decided to take it to another level. Before moving on a more detailed sketch, a lot of the items are now just a lumpy place holders, I wanted to check with you guys the general composition and value. What do you think? Is there something bothering you? Thank you!

I'm working on a layout for one of my own picture book, trying to participate in mermay (but I've actually never ever draw a mermaid before, so it's freaking me out!), and working on sketches for a book with cute short rhymes for children - I'm very excited about this one, it looks I might get a few nice portfolio pieces out of this.

@Lee-White cool!
I’m really looking forward for this one! Hope kids will fall asleep just in time for me to be free to join you all

I really like your work! It has great colours and cute characters. Maybe show more of a sequential art, if picture books are what you would like to do

I thought it could be nice to share with you my process for the Yeti again
At this moment I’m making thumbnails, sketching...
Feedback would be greatly appreciated! You guys can always see something I missed or say something that sparks an idea!

PBPitch twitter party tomorrow! Are you going to participate? Do you have more than one story ready in case editor/agent likes your tweet? I really really wanted to participate, but it looks like I'm not going to have my picture book dummy polished and ready to present on time. Also I only have one picture book dummy right now (although I have few more manuscripts finished...) So I don't know. Should I try it anyway? What are your strategies regarding this Twitter event?

If i remember it correctly, the one with little red riding hood book dummy is here:
https://courses.svslearn.com/courses/take/illustrating-childrens-books-part1/lessons/2627881-what-this-class-is-about
Illustrating children’s books.
But there’s a lot about book dummies in “Writing picture books” class too.

@Melissa-Bailey-0 thank you
I was thinking about an agent because I kinda don’t want to deal with all the back and forth negotiation with the publisher and I don’t feel confident enough approaching publishers with my manuscript... but finding an agent might be as hard as submitting to a publisher well, we will see I guess

@JoshSchouwstra that sounds great! I was always flirting with the idea of making a graphic novel, but never really had enough time for that... do you write your own stories?

@davidhohn well I had great teachers!
Honestly without SVSLearn i would never be able to do something like this. And I’m also very grateful for the how to write children’s book class because it helped me a lot to become not just an illustrator but an author/illustrator.

Wow! Im just amazed how everyone is always so supportive and sweet! Thank you so much! 🥰

Hi everyone!
I just wanted to share the big news with someone, I'm so excited! Today I found out, I'm published outside of my home country!
https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/sky-pony-press/9781510764309/the-little-monkey-who-wouldnt-sleep/?fbclid=IwAR3GJnOF1fMSX4GQXHUtWFCGeQMLZAbHIj9F3m0AVl8FYb1U00FF5Io5w6k

It might look like that's not that important, where a book gets published, but to me it does make a great difference.
In Czech republic, as well as in other small europe countries, the budget for illustrator is usually very small. So to make a living as an illustrator usually means to work super super fast. Lately I've been working on a new illustration style (the Yeti one), but this style takes a lot of time and I know my publisher in Czechia could never pay that money.
Thus, for this year I decided I will finally get me an agent, break through on the US market and gain the time I need to make some great time... And this is much more easier said than done. The las year was very hard for me and this year looks even harder and somewhat the winter depression got into my head... And I somewhat lost the interest in pursuing my goals.
But. Finding out my publisher sold the rights to one of my books to the US market gave me the kick in the but I needed! I'm so happy about these news and I know it might take some time to get on the radar of publishing houses, but I will try.
Thank you for reading this... I'm sorry it's a bit long and that there's not really a climax in this story. I just needed to get it out.

What are your goals for 2021? I'm super curious to hear what all the other fellow illustrators are working on!
Is there someone with a success story? Is it really hard to get noticed outside of your home country?

And hopefully I'll be able to share my steps towards getting an agent and/or getting published on my own outside of my home country in the future.