A box of Cookies

It's nice to finally get a box full of the book one has put so much effort into creating.

Of course we illustrators, being the shut-ins that we are, usually have to throw our own parties to celebrate.
SO here's to celebrating my new book, 'One Smart Cookie' on this blog. Maybe, just maybe, more than 6 people will read about it... and who knows, maybe something will come of it.

I know one of the main problems anyone involved in making books has to deal with is trying to get anyone to notice you exist. It's harder than it sounds.

Here's some other fun spots I've done recently... silly ladies having a teaparty and a painting pig.

There's an animation to go along with this pig. Just paste this link into your browser or try Googling the term 'Squealy Scholar' and you'll find links to the animation. Its got music, narration and the folks at Highlights have animated the drawings to make it move.

http://www.highlightskids.com/Stories/AudioStories/Sept06_squealyScholar.asp

I have a special affection for pigs... since that was my nickname as a child (called by my brothers and the neighbor kids), even though I wasn't really fat at all. I was famed for my ferocious fighting hooves... which could NOT be bested in any battle. But I digress... oh the stories I could tell.

Comments

[Liz]

"Ferocious fighting hooves"?? Oh, you simply must elaborate on that one. The book looks adorable- let's hope word gets out about it. I noticed your Highlights piece a month or 2 ago in the magazine, and I thought they did a good job of animating it online! BTW, I just did my first piece(s) for Highlights, but for their new mag for younger kids, called "High Five". Fastest deadline ever!!

[Barbara Johansen Newman]

John, I just read the Booklist review and it was more than decent--it was wonderful!! And from what I see here, this books deserves that response and more!

I bet you will have lots of success with this.

[john nez]

Thanks! Thanks ya'll...

Now about those 'ferocious fighting hooves'... you see my legendary fighting prowess soon earned each appendage it's own special name. I had the diamond hoof, the golden hoof, the silver hoof and the bronze hoof... and I employed them all as part of my superpowers.

None could defeat the mighty Pig!

LOL!

[chris tripp]

John, the book looks WONDERFUL and a whole BOX of wonderful books, how fun! Not much does happen in our day to day life does it, so we DO need to celebrate days like you just had, when the post brings you something sooooo much better then the hydro bill:)

I remember seeing the animation and thinking Highlights had done your charming characters much justice. You should be very proud of yourself and INSIST that your family make a big fuss over you today:)
Chris

[June :¬)]

...I had the diamond hoof, the golden hoof, the silver hoof and the bronze hoof...

How on earth do you hold a pencil!?
In the UK we call a pigs foot a 'trotter' rather than a 'hoof', so I shall think of you as 'Trotter Nez' from now on :o)

Lovely pictures John, and fun stories of your childhood. Do tell us more.

June

[john nez]

Those hooves worked quite well for holding a pencil actually. I used to have drawing contests with my older brother. He was a much better draftsman than I ever could hope to be, so I was always playing catch up.

We'd have contests to see who could draw the best Abraham Lincoln portrait. He'd regualarly get his drawings printed in the local newspaper, The Denver Post, which used to have drawing contests for children. In fact once, they sent back his drawing saying he must have traced it from a photograph because it looked too realistic for a child to have drawn.

He still makes art, but he only does gallery art... which is an almost impossible way to make a living.

So the Diamond Hoof remains triumphant!

[sharon lane holm]

A box of cookies! How clever! They really do look wonderful! And we all must really celebrate something so special-because we always tend not to. So many people so envy our talents and jobs-why dont we appreciate ourselves,and our art a bit more?
Congrats John-they look great! We are all very proud of you!!
sharon