Euphoria. Completed art ready to ship to New York.
The Book Boat for Holiday House Publishers had many ports of call. At the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, where I met the editor Grace Maccarone for the very first time.

Los Angeles and by pure syncronicity, I met the author, Cynthia Cotten (shhh- don’t tell the publisher).

Upstate New York and a visit to the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse for research and finally Fremantle, Australia to create the art.

So what’s in the box…here’s a sneak preview of the art. Click on image to see full spread. To see more, you may have to buy the book next spring.

“Truth is Stranger than fiction. But De Rougemont is stranger than both”
– The Wide World Magazine June 1899

Received an advance copy of the new book today. I’m thrilled.
Painting Louis’s entertaining tall tales was an artist’s dream. Creating whimsical fish with hairy moustaches, witty flying wombats and a hilarious scene with cannibals was out the normal spectrum of my subject matter.

I tried to imagine Louis de Rougemont’s tall tales could be true. In the process of creating the art I found myself, like many others, struck by the charm of one of history’s colourful characters – a loveable dreamer-a master of “beautiful lies”.

Note from the Author: Mark Greenwood
The Greatest Liar on Earth is a tale of shipwreck, catastrophe and miraculous events.

But beneath the surface it’s the ‘true story’ of an unusual character, perhaps an overly enthusiastic dreamer, perhaps a charlatan, who is forced to confront the consequences of his storytelling.

There was a time when his incredible tales took audiences to places they could only imagine. His popularity grew as people turned to his adventures to enrich their lives. Dignitaries were struck by his charm. He was overwhelmed by invitations to lecture from every corner of the globe.
In later years, when he was disgraced as a charlatan, Louis earned a meager living telling stories to anyone who will listen.

In The Greatest Liar on Earth we are left to ask – after we have been entertained by a ripping yarn – does it matter if it is actually true or not?

Walker Books Australia: imminent release
Candlewick Press USA : Release Date: October 2012

See the Trailer. Click here.

Gwalia is a red dirt ghost town, nearly 1000km from Perth. The shacks have been long deserted, but one cannot help but feel like a voyeur, sneaking into peoples homes while they’re out.
A few creaking doors and the howling wind sets the scene.

More pictures on my Facebook Page.
We’re here to run workshops, in nearby Leonora, to further opportunities for local Indigenous people.

The Team:
Ron Bradfield Jr, from Artsource, Manager Regional + Indigenous Program

Margaret Whiskin, Publishing Manager, from Magabala Books , an Indigenous Publishing house

And me….

This is a piece of goanna (lizard) tail I grabbed from the fridge for morning tea!

Participants are enjoying learning the process of making books and being exposed to new art materials.
I’m learning to ‘go with the flow’ and enjoying every minute along the way.

After two days of extensive training at a writersWA workshop and thoughts of giving up only once, my new book trailer for Ned Kelly and the Green Sash is finished. Well actually, the real one was finally commenced and completed on the flight from New York to Tokyo – all that time, everyone asleep, bad food, no internet = Perfect.

Please click here to view: Ned Kelly and the Green Sash

The best part of learning this art was the company kept.
With my wonderful peers, we all came away with immaculate trailers.
Please also check out their trailers: Robyn Mundy’s, Meg McKinlay’s, AJ Betts’s, Lara Morgan‘s, Amanda Curtin, Chris Nixon‘s and Dianne Wolfers.

Yee haw!
Here’s a book trailer Laura Melmed created of our new book now on youtube: Click me.

Here’s the blurb:
Welcome to Texas—home of cowboys, cattle, and NASA—where “Friendship” is the motto folks live by. Remember the Alamo, where a brave Army fought against Santa Anna; visit Big Bend National Park and try to spot a Bear; and go to the Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame to discover the women who Conquered the Old West. Celebrate Texas in this alphabetical tour from Laura Krauss Melmed and Frané Lessac, the bestselling duo who brought us Capital! Washington D.C. from A to Z and New York, New York! The Big Apple from A to Z.

With a treasure trove of facts and bright, bold art, this rootin’-tootin’, rip-roarin’ tribute to the Lone Star State will have readers shouting “Yee-haw!”

Very exciting news…of the 42 international books honored on this list, Simpson and His Donkey (The Donkey of Gallipoli) AND We Are All Born Free were selected.

USBBY‘s

Outstanding International Books list offers tales that speak to every student

Talk about an international effort. Some of the world’s best children’s book artists got together to help Amnesty International celebrate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ 60th anniversary in We Are All Born Free, one of the 42 titles recommended by the fourth annual United States Board on Books for Young People’s (USBBY) Outstanding International Books committee. This and other titles on our list offer young people the best of children’s literature from faraway places—books that introduce them to outstanding authors and illustrators from other countries, help them see the world from other points of view, and provide another perspective or address a topic that may be missing from children’s books in the United States.

Our committee is pleased to present this year’s choices with the hope that these books will be used by young people, and those who work with them, to explore our diverse world. Information about the Outstanding International Books project can be found at www.usbby.org.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. We Are All Born Free: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures. illus. Frances Lincoln. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-84507-650-4. U.K.
Gr 3-5–In this oversize book, published to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, each of the 30 articles of the Declaration has been simplified for young readers and illustrated by an internationally renowned artist. Photographs of and brief biographical information about the illustrators are included.

GREENWOOD, Mark. The Donkey of Gallipoli: A True Story of Courage in World War I. illus. by Frané Lessac. Candlewick. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3913-6. Australia.
Gr 3-5–When England declares war on Germany, Jack, who immigrated to Australia in search of adventure, enlists and takes part in the invasion of Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula. In the 24 days before he’s killed, Jack carries more than 300 wounded men off the battlefield on a donkey. Poignant gouache illustrations highlight this story of heroism.

Dianne Wolfer came up from Albany and stayed over for a PJ party.
She’s meeting her publishers this morning about her exquisite new book Lighthouse Girl due out in early March. Here’s the blurb:
It’s 1914. Fay can shoot a rabbit and make a mean nettle stew. She understands Morse code and the semaphoric alphabet. She knows where penguins nest and when humpback whales migrate. But until she starts writing to a soldier named Charlie, she’s never known friendship – and she’s never had a friend to lose.
Based on the true story of Faye Howe, this gentle tale brings to life the hardships of those left at home during the war — waiting, wondering, hoping. Drawing on fascinating archival material, and interweaving fact with fiction, award-winning author Dianne Wolfer deftly recreates this period in Australian history from the perspective of a young girl.

Last night: Music wafted up our road and we discovered that the Survival Day 2009 concert was held a mere 100 yards from our house – a national celebration of Aboriginal music, performance, visual art and culture. An exciting alternative to the official Australia Day event’s although we also indulged in prawns on the barbie doll at David and Lindsay Lloyd’s house with stunning views over the Swan River for the annual Sky show.

Bought the most beautiful pure canvas. Painting an Achibald. I did the Maths. I have a 3% chance of getting in.

The galleys for The Green Sash also arrived.  The ball is now in my court.

And for those of us who need to buy holiday presents, buy a book, this book.