some lovely bits as winter creeps in

Hello, hello - I hope you're having a gorgeous start to the winter season. Above is a Canada goose flying to Texas for the winter, and as ANZAC Day has come and gone, Canberra has (as it always does) plummeted headlong into beanie weather. If I had wings, though, I wouldn't be heading to warmer climes, no no. Could not be happier. I even bought new boots last week. Beanies, gloves, boots, scarves, tights is where I'm at. Bring it on!

Yes, it's definitely snuggle weather, and that couldn't be more appropriate because all I seem to be doing of late is snuggling up to my Mac, my laptop, my drawing board . . . and barely looking up. I'm right in the thick of a LOT and feel quite out of touch with the world, so wanted to say hi, share a bit of news, and give you some peeks before I go back into creative hibernation.

Australia Illustrated and Australia Day

The modus operandi behind the creation of Australia Illustrated was to celebrate Australia in a way that's inclusive, is respectful of our First Australians, and celebrates diversity and multiculturalism.

I am happy to celebrate an 'Australia day' when the date can be changed, and we can honour, with equality, the original custodians of this land and the enriching ethnicities that have come to call this land home.

#peace #changethedate

In the meantime, it's so great to see the book going strong since its release last year. An author's greatest fear is that your book will melt into the ether and disappear from shelves let alone the consciousness of beloved readers. EK Books have a strong publicity arm (thanks, Alison!) and I'm so grateful for it. Indeed, I've had a week of radio interviews for Australia Day, and gosh, there are some gorgeous radio hosts out there; have had SO much fun chatting and talking about the importance of multiculturalism and diversity.

My kids are still off school (back next week), and today I ran them around a little and went to a new bookstore, Book Face, in Gungahlin. No matter how long you're in this game (10 years next year for me), seeing your book facing outwards (with over a dozen copies!!) in a bookstore is just the most beautiful feeling.

And on top of that, when I rounded the corner, a woman was leafing through the book while her kids played at her feet. I wanted to say 'OMG, you're holding my book!' but I would never dare!

I did, however, introduce myself to the bookstore manager and signed a few copies. It's so nice to see local stores supporting local authors.

On the way out, I grabbed their Summer Reading Guide and was surprised to see Australia Illustrated tucked inside. It's the loveliest feeling because writing books is such a 'blind' career--you rarely get direct feedback, and often feel like you're stumbling along in a darkened room!

It was also lovely to get EK Books' latest kids' catalogue last week and my little bee from Australia Illustrated is on the cover!

And there are some lovely book promos inside... You might even see a little new book(s) preview if you look hard enough...

And in super lovely news, Smile Cry is coming out in paperback and Jess Racklyeft and I are working on a sequel AS I TYPE! We also have some VERY exciting potential book news ... but need to await confirmation; hopefully soon.

The year is about to begin in earnest, and I have a lot planned and a lot to embark upon, which I'll reveal these coming months. Trust me when I say I will be stepping outside my comfort zone... a good thing!

Tomorrow I'm hosting a This is Banjo Paterson blog launch right here, so check back then for some cool posts on the production of the book, and more about Banjo's life. You can even win a copy of the book. Click the poster below for more.

And if you're in or near Canberra, don't miss the book's launch at the National Library on Sunday 12 February--more details here! I'll also be appearing in a live Periscope video (my very first, yikes!) on 17 February--Banjo's birthday. More on that soon.

Christmas stocking stuffers

Books are the absolute best stocking stuffers, and Exisle Publishing's latest catalogue has some sensational ideas for Christmas--from adult books through to 'the cutest book of emotions for young kids'.

See the online catalogue right here!

Rhys reading Smile Cry

This video is one of my greatest treasures. Thanks to The Styling Mama. 

Smile Cry WINNERS!

THE WINNERS

Thank you to everyone for entering my comp to win a copy of Smile Cry. Some of you entered by leaving a comment and some by email. Your entries were so heartwarming, and oftentimes hilarious!

And now, I have great pleasure in announcing the two winners, as chosen anonymously by my two kids.

Congratulations go to:

Reena Balding

+ 

Vanna McAlister

 
Congratulations, Reena and Vanna (who entered by email). I hope you love Smile Cry. Please email me at booksATtaniamccartney.combooks@taniamccartney.com and your book will soon be winging its way to you!

Smile Cry in New Idea and Books + Publishing Junior

So chuffed to see our sweet little book in a big time mag! Thank you, Angela!

And always honoured to be chosen for review in Books + Publishing's Junior Newsletter and on their website. Thank you, B + P!

Article in The Canberra Times for Smile Cry

An article for the Canberra Times (in syndication) today about the importance of emotion and subtlety in storytelling, and never dumbing it down for kids.

Read the article on the Sydney Morning Herald website here.

Smile Cry Launch Party Wrap-Up!

Launched! Smile Cry has set sail at the glorious Harry Hartog store in Woden, Canberra.

Piglet, Bunny and Cat made a crocheted appearance, along with ate-all-the-pies pies, ice-cream-plopping-down cupcakes and sweetie-pie-wink cookies. There were animal masks, colouring-in and goodie bags, and we even had some 'suggestions from the audience' (five-year-olds are so eloquent) that were so utterly touching, including a loneliness-in-the-playground-cry (gasp!) and a sunshine-smile.

Gosh, kids are so beautiful. I so loved meeting the most divine little souls today. Many of them brought along their own cuddly toys, especially pigs, rabbits or cats!

Jess Racklyeft, my insanely-good illustrator, was unable to attend (in Melbourne, with babies) but she was fondly spoken of, and so many people ranted and raved about her stunning illustrations.

Thank you so much, Harry Hartog, for hosting us in your divine store! and to everyone who came along and enjoyed the story. We sold all but one book!

And my eternal thanks to the amazing Nicole Godwin for her organisational skills, support and ability to take all these phenomenal snaps at just the right moment. So appreciate that girl.

And lastly to my dear friend Jen Storer for coming to Canberra on the quickest flight known to mankind, for launching my book, being stylish and eloquent beyond belief, and for filling my heart this weekend. This is one generous, thoughtful woman--so busting with creative passion, it's palpable. She also signed a stack of books!

I hope you enjoy these pics from a very special morning--and that they make you smile! ...

Smile Cry Review on Books + Publishing

Smile Cry Launch Party!

Come and join us for a launch party this Saturday 5 March, to celebrate the release of Smile Cry, a unique double-story picture book, with Smile starting and one end and Cry at the other! A Beginner’s Book of Feelings, join Pig, Bunny and Cat as they explore their emotions with gorgeously whimsical illustrations and lots of humour.

Kids will enjoy a story, book signing, goodie bag, a special animal mask and colouring-in. Yes, there will be cupcakes and maybe even pies, and they’ll be able to meet real life versions of the characters!

And the amazing Jen Storer will be in town to launch the book! She might even sign one of her own books for you ...

Perfect for kids up to the age of 6, but all ages welcome.

Bring along smiles, a love of story and your favourite stuffed toy—especially if it’s a pig, bunny or cat!

Goodie bags are limited, so RSVP to woden@harryhartog.com.au or 02-6232 5832 if you’d like one.

You are invited - Smile Cry launch party!

Come and join us for a launch party to celebrate the release of Smile Cry, a unique double-story picture book, with Smile starting and one end and Cry at the other! A Beginner’s Book of Feelings, join Pig, Bunny and Cat as they explore their emotions with gorgeously whimsical illustrations and lots of humour.

Kids will enjoy a story, book signing, goodie bag, a special animal mask and colouring-in. Yes, there will be cupcakes and maybe even pies, and they’ll be able to meet real life versions of the characters!

And the amazing Jen Storer will be in town to launch the book! She might even sign one of her own books for you ...

Perfect for kids up to the age of 6, but all ages welcome.

Bring along smiles, a love of story and your favourite stuffed toy—especially if it’s a pig, bunny or cat!

Goodie bags are limited, so RSVP to woden@harryhartog.com.au or 02-6232 5832 if you’d like one.

cover reveal - Smile Cry!

Absolutely delighted to reveal the cover to my latest book--created with the amazing Jess Racklyeft, out this March in NZ, UK, USA and Canada, and an April release for Australia. 

I simply adored working with Jess on this book for little ones--her illustrations so perfectly convey my words and the emotion behind them.

Huge thanks to Mark Thacker who typeset the book and designed these amazing covers, and endless thanks to my publisher Anouska Jones for yet again making book publication not only a joy, but a breeze.

Below are the book's details, and look out for my book launch to be held at Harry Hartogs, Woden (Canberra) on Saturday 5 March (click poster below for more). You might get to meet these hand-crochets characters from the book!

Smile Cry OUT MARCH/APRIL 2016
(March 2015, EK Books, $19.99, hard cover, 9781921966989)
BUY

A fun, flip-over picture book for children that reads from both front and back, Smile Cry is an innovative picture book for young kids, showcasing the full emotional range of their formative years.

Readers follow three adorable characters--piglet, bunny and cat--as they react emotionally to a variety of events and circumstances from everyday life. From an 'ate all the pies' smile to an 'ice-cream plopping down cry'; from a 'cosy under blanket smile' to a 'need a band-aid quick cry', children will empathise with the tear-jerking calamity of a popped balloon or lost toy, or feel the smiley warmth of a being tickled.

It's the little things that touch the hearts of children the most, and Smile Cry typifies both the small joys and challenges that are the essence of childhood. Younger kids will respond to the soft whimsical illustrations, while older readers will learn more about the range of their emotions--how it's possible to cry with happiness and also smile with trepidation.

The clever 'flip book' format means that the Smile story reads from front to back, while the Cry story reads from back to front, with both delicious narratives meeting in the middle.

A heartfelt picture book that will be treasured for years, Smile Cry is perfect for ages 3 and upwards.

Teachers' Notes -- coming soon!

book characters come alive

One of the most exciting thing about writing books, is playing 'god' when it comes to creating characters. You can create absolutely anything you like, in whatever colours, styles, moods, personality traits. It's like imaginary play for grown-ups.

Extending characters by creating 3D models is a whole lot of fun, and how could I resist creating crocheted caricatures of Piglet, Bunny and Cat from my upcoming book, Smile Cry? These beautiful critters came to life from the paintbrush of the gorgeous Jess Racklyeft, then hopped onto the end of my crochet hook. They'll be coming along to my Canberra launch in early March! (see EVENTS for more)

Another delightful surprise regarding book characters came from my dear friend and 52-Week Illustration Challenge admin member, Lisa-Marie Kerr, who has started a business that will blow your socks off if you're into gorgeous interiors for kidlets. Bear and Sparrow. You simply must check it out.

Lisa-Marie surprised me with this beautiful peg doll, based on one of the characters from my first self-illustrated book (our November 2016). Can you believe how gorgeous she is?

Creating anything, in any form, whether it be painting or cooking a cake, is such a fine way to feel happy, connected and at one with life.

What are you creating today?

Smile Cry - sneak peek

Way, way back when I first decided to reconnect with illustrating (end of 2013--eons ago!), I began the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, which is still going strong in its third year (directed by the gorgeous Nicky Johnston for 2016).

A major part of the joy of the Challenge was in meeting some incredible people, and one of those was Jess Racklyeft.

When I signed contract for a really unusual style of picture book, Smile Cry, I opened an illustrator opportunity to the Challenge group, and we were inundated with stunning work, with three finalists. Jess ended up securing the contract and it has been an absolute joy to work with her on this picture book--a book that has a special place in my heart.

Here are the two images Jess did for the Challenge competition (to fit the text I provided entrants):

Could they be any more adorable??

Of course, like all books, these images have since gone through an even greater transformation and I'm just thrilled with how the book has turned out. It's actually two books in one--Smile begins in one direction and Cry begins in the other direction, with a double-page-spread meeting in the middle.

One thing we wanted to do, to differentiate the two emotional (and opposite) states, was to commit to a set colour palette for either side of the book. For Smile, we wanted to go for a slightly warmer colour palette and for Cry, a slightly cooler one.

Here you'll see the colour palettes Jess worked on, and they just work so very well with the emotional components of the book, and its adorable characters.

I also wanted to give you a peek at the storyboard Jess first provided for the book. I loved all of her ideas! but some of them did develop over time, to provide a nice visual balance through the story. This is really important when it comes to picture books--sometimes close-ups, sometimes full scenes, sometimes vignettes and of course, that all-important white space that rests the eye.

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek at the work that's gone into my latest book - with the amazing Jess. It's due for release this March, so I'll be revealing the cover(s) very soon! Watch this space!

In the meantime, here is the official book blurb:

A fun, flip-over picture book for children that reads from both front and back, Smile Cry is an innovative picture book for young kids, showcasing the full emotional range of their formative years.

Readers follow three adorable characters - piglet, bunny and cat - as they react emotionally to a variety of events and circumstances from everyday life. From an 'ate all the pies' smile to an 'ice-cream plopping down cry'; from a 'cosy under blanket smile' to a 'need a band-aid quick cry', children will empathise with the tear-jerking calamity of a popped balloon or lost toy, or feel the smiley warmth of a being tickled.

It's the little things that touch the hearts of children the most, and Smile Cry typifies both the small joys and challenges that are the essence of childhood. Younger kids will respond to the soft whimsical illustrations, while older readers will learn more about the range of their emotions - how it's possible to cry with happiness and also smile with trepidation.

The clever 'flip book' format means that the Smile story reads from front to back, while the Cry story reads from back to front, with both delicious narratives meeting in the middle.

A heartfelt picture book that will be treasured for years, Smile Cry is perfect for ages 3 and upwards.