All white

Not really but just enough and very, very pleased.

I'm departing a bit from my full color mode and am entering a spare approach with my latest samples. All I am using is expression, movement, limited palette, playfulness, energy and shape to create the line and story. Very simple yet intricate. Young, funny, sweet and (I think) clever.

I am finishing my robot, robotic animals and little boy series and I LOVE IT. At first I thought who am I kidding... What do I know about robots? 

Well, they are a blast to manipulate... and they like the boy a lot even though he is in charge. And they follow him. Maybe they will get in trouble and he will guide them. Well, I am having so much fun...I might write this.

And it is all on white. Not much background. No distractions. Young. Right.

It's my party. I'll cry if I want to.

1) Kids are in Florida after a harrowing airport experience (toughens them up... except they're crying)

2) Work is INSANE for the next few weeks (toughens me up... except I'm crying)

3) We picked a painter for the house (no crying...yeah!)

4) Got my ms out for conference critique (I hope the editor will not be crying)

5) Have till early June to do new samples for AD at conference (no crying, just smiling)

6) Must try to re-dummy that same script (on the verge of crying and smiling simultaneously)

7) Charlotte must pick her college by the end of the month (me crying, she... I don't know but IT IS HER DECISION so I can cry if I want to)

8) Three Birthdays including mine in ONE week (Crying, smiling whatever...pass me a Bloody Mary)

You would cry too if you had all this to do!

12 unbroken eggs

This is the first year in 18 years that they've all remained uncracked whilst boiling!!!! 

 I take this as a sign that my 2 book/illustration packages will come thru unscathed and uncracked because they are well targeted and well done! Color me perfect!  

Professional writers who don't write well (and me?)

Today I spent a good portion of my work day with my boss editing a marketing letter. The letter was laden with repetition, misused comparatives (like 'more true'), delinquent header info and sentences all starting with We (in the same paragraph). Then there were the split and unnecessary paragraphs and poor word choices like 'free advice'. This letter also contained a really bad opening line that read, "They say things come in 3s...well." What it should have read is something like "You may think things come in 3s...well," which clearly draws the reader in.

People get paid a lot of money to do this, and I get paid a little to edit them. And I am no editor. Just a good writer. :) Because I am starting to read closely. That is what pb writing does to you. And cover letter writing...and query writing.

I should write marketing letters. I'd do better than this guy. More true.

Life is a beautiful book.

True, honest, funny, painful, sad, sincere, weighty, and round words and story, and with a rich emotional and profound resonance. It lasts. It offers more than simple humor. It speaks volumes with few words yet offers layers of nuance that reach many human readers.

Get in the Car and drive!

(Sorry Freddie...changed the vehicle)

Yesterday Rutgers Honors....VERY VERY NICE school and price

tomorrow NYU (and your wallet)

Looking at schools is FUN, FUN, FUN with your teenage piece of academic brilliance and judge of parental failures.

It is not me...it is the econome.

Back to the drawing board.

Waiting, waiting, waiting...is hard.

I am starting to get restless on the waits.

I need to start a new project and revise two manuscripts. But they are not inspiring me at the moment. I think the key is to just tackle the suggestions offered by the editor and agent and group critique from last conference. Just sit down and do it.

One of the mss sparks me a little: but I have come to the realization I am better with people as subjects and not animals (the writing part). I think that is because I like an humorous, honest and true sentiment....not so much quirky. 

And it seems that there are a ton of quirky animal characters out there and way fewer children as characters with real emotions and inventive plot lines. 

Sit down and look at the revision suggestions, you... and dummy. The proof is in the dummy.