This week, I received an advance copy of “Cold Bath Street” by best-selling author, A J Hartley – the first “real” book I have ever illustrated. How unbearable exciting! To see my little graphite scrawlings, the result of many, many late nights, in actual print, in an actual book…… gobsmackingly wonderful!
The book will be on general release from April 13th, 2018, following the official launch at the London Book Fair and at Foyle’s Book Shop, Charing Cross Road, London.
I am honoured and humbled to have been selected for inclusion in the 2018 “Undiscovered Voices” anthology, produced by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
The brief called for the depiction of a myth or legend. I chose the story of Pandora; as a child, I had identified strongly with the main protagonist as nothing ever seemed quite as enticing to me as the things I had been told NOT to do!
I wanted to convey the horror of a space buzzing with darkly unimaginable horrors, contrasting with the small, but brightly glimmering, form of Hope.
The initial workshop, which dealt with creating a professional identity, and the subsequent launch event, where fellow selected illustrators and writers were able to meet a huge number of agents and publishers, have been wonderful, enlightening experiences. So much gratitude to the good people of SCBWI and major sponsors, Working Partners. ❤
