How Books Are Made

Everybody’s journey is different, but this is my process from start to finish. So far I have always had to work a regular job while illustrating books, so I only have weekends and a bit of time on some evenings. Therefore, it takes me a lot longer to finish a book.

Contrary to popular belief, an author doesn’t find an artist to illustrate their book. A publisher is the most skilled at matching the right writing with the right picture-maker to make the best book. In fact, authors don’t usually talk to the artist at all.

STEP one

I first receive a manuscript (typed pages). If it doesn’t make my heart sing and images pop into my head right away, I must say “No”.

For an artist to do a good job, it must ‘resonate’ or feel right. You see, those words aren’t ours so we must take them and make them our baby. Then we can hum along and give a face to those lovely words and it will seem like we did it ourselves all along.

Feature 2

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Feature 3

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