The Christmas Quiet Book Cover Drawings

The Christmas Quiet Book is officially coming out in less than a month! Here are some of the original drawings done for the cover, some changed as the cover progressed.

Review are coming in for the book and so far so good (whew!) here is one from Publishers Weekly:

The team that celebrated various kinds of quiet in The Quiet Book revisits that theme with a holiday twist. Underwood again exhibits a flair for selecting evocative scenarios and moods: “Hoping for a snow day quiet” and “knocking with mittens quiet” immediately set a wintry backdrop, while “blown fuse quiet” and “shattered ornament quiet” speak to the more frustrating moments of holiday prep. Watching the furry animals in Liwska’s subtly hued pencil drawings participate in a Christmas pageant, make gingerbread houses, and listen for sleigh bells adds to a sense of gentle anticipation. Reverence for the quieter aspects of the season is indeed a gift. Ages 4–8. Agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Sept.)

Reviewed on: 09/10/2012

http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-547-55863-9

The grind

Now that I have a studio, I am making coffee at work sometimes. We have a little electric kettle and a hand grinder that works pretty well (the coffee smells so good after grinding). My editor sent me the coffee - to give me a boost!

Nice Typewriters

I am just posing for this photo. When I finished high school I wasn't sure what I was going to do so I signed up for a typing class because I thought it might lead to something to do. Anyway I moved away before the class began so I never learned to type properly. Worked out fine in the end, eventually found something to do!

This is at our neighbour Janine's, she has a typewriter book project in the works:



http://www.uppercasemagazine.com

Today we officially have a new studio! I like that it is uncluttered so I can focus on my work and not be distracted by doing laundry and stuff.

I am looking forward to seeing how it will inspire my work and we also plan to do some book launches and pop up shows there as well.

Busy as a Beaver

I've been busy trying to finish my latest book, which I am a little behind schedule! 

But I took a break a few days back to enjoy some nature watching. 

This is a drawing of a muskrat, I am certain he smiled at us as he swam by. 

We also watched a beaver eating dinner, he seemed to enjoy his meal very much.

We didn't have to travel far to get back to nature though, Princess Island 

Park is right on the edge of downtown Calgary - as you can see in the reflection on the pond.

Tigers and Lions

A little perk of having an agent, besides them handling the contracts (whew!), I can get books of other artists and authors at Pippin. Pippin Properties is the agency I am with and they call the artists and authors that work with them Pips. Here are a couple very enjoyable ones.

It's A Tiger has just been released.  Written by David LaRochelle and illustrated by fellow Pip - Jeremy Tankard, It's about a Tiger (obviously) that keeps popping in on a little boy. I can imagine a lot of giggles and roars when this book is read.

You Are a LION! And Other Fun Yoga Poses was released last March. Written and Illustrated by another Pip - Taeeun Yoo, It's about doing yoga poses (obviously) and shows kids how to do them and features lovely drawing like the cover that bring alive the imagination. Also makes me want to do yoga.