falling in trust
Writing the book has felt like this.
The ground was curious in the beginning, lush and ripe. But then there had to be that moment, that first solid intention. This might go somewhere, maybe, a book and the change underfoot was abrupt, with splintery spots and creaks under weight. And no clear view of what might come of this presumption, or of what might happen to the parallel souls that jostled at my back.
He facebooked me first. I’ve been approached to illustrate a book. Could it be you?
I stalked his profile holding my breath. This was to be the handing-over of my words and my noise and my brain matter to another. This person is intended to be the custodian, the lens. He might take what I've done and make it further and deeper and just More. Or not.
Then through the facebook peephole I saw these
...and something at the bottom of my spine snapped into place like THAT’S THE GUY. If I could ever be a Roald Dahl-like figure—even just within a 50-foot radius of my parents' house, with my fame and literary riches reaching as far as the Farmer's Market, oh yeah—he could be my Quentin Blake.
He is Sydney Smith, and he’s local, weaned on the same salt as me, which feels so damn righteous it makes me want to throw rocks at his window with latenight offerings of donairs and Keith's. In one ravenous facebook session I trusted him instantly as you tend to like the people of a house that smells of woodsmoke.
He’s got to be a bit odd, you see. He’s got to be into illusions. He’s got to play superhero. He’s got to have a head like a rabbit’s warren, some rooms dark and musty, with trapdoors and jesters, and he’s got to be on the front stoop employing some sweeping gesture, or doing a headstand in a cape.
I only see flashes of wheels, of the cannon, the boards of the deck, of boulders and trees cracking and crunching, mowed down by its bow. I can’t see the whole ship. And I know that she wears waffle longjohns and shitkicker boots, but I can’t see her face through her hair, all whipping in the wind. Can he? Can he make them stink on paper?
My editor knew it when she found him, and she sent this to me saying OH MY GOD he can do this and I wrote back OH MY GOD you’re right and then the facebooking and the skulking and as if his work wasn’t enough, which it was, I knew for sure.
So far he’s done the sketch for the cover art and when I saw it I gasped, broke out in goosebumps and smiled for three days straight. Look at what he can do. Still ahead: sixteen scenes, one for each chapter. If he did chalk drawings on sidewalks I’d say a spell and jump right in.
You would too, yeah?
Monday, April 6, 2009
Reader Comments (58)
The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.
Author: Aristotle
I liked this quote. The art from Sydney will sing the song of your heart!
A friend once said to me after my expression of a rather far out dream (i.e. Roald Dahl) "Why you dreaming so small (Kate) Jen, this could be bigger than THAT!"
Blessings.
I once had a cockatiel who would repeatedly try to climb into a garden-scene fresco. I loved that bird.
Congratulations on finding that special someone!
and wow, that peephole into facebook, how intriguing! his drawings will match your vision, your mind has met it's illustrative match. i can't wait to read your book!!
I just can't wait for this book!
The art is...incredible. I'm goosebumply, too.
witchypoo, nothing to do with the farmer's market... we were lucky to get Sydney when we did, I think. This time next year he's going to be this totally inaccessible illustrator celebrity. No farmer's markets for him. He'll be too busy in his stretch hummers and with his cristal and gold chains and stuff.
Janet, it sure is a brain crush, anyway. Or maybe in the case of illustration it's a hand-crush but that sounds kinda kinky. Let's just call it appreciation.
Alison (blushes) hey that's so cool, thanks for saying hello! Now I feel weird for gushing about your brother. Um. :)
Julie, the book's coming out in the fall - we haven't talked specific dates yet but part of the reason for the rush on the cover art is to have it in the publisher's catalogue for retail buyers - which means bookstores will be ordering it starting in May and June.
!!!
Your blog looks really good - full of bite and fun and the book sounds like I can't wait. Ever since I did my son Calvin's (now 37) pirate project in grade five I have been fixated on them. Do you know Bill Gilkerson?
I'm at my son's in Fox Point but I just wanted to get this off to you before I forgot your URL. Will go on the photo site later after I go into town and to work for a bit and then home to clack out my thou. Somehow the form won't take my URL. OK - I'll stick it here:
www.labanan.blogspot.com
Jan
Out to buy pirate costumes for my friend's son (who's on his way) and my Jessica (even though she's a girl) We were talking about whether to buy bear costumes or pirate costumes for the kids and I said PIRATES!
Oh gosh, this book is going to be something special. I'm going to buy Jess a copy for her 1st birthday if I can get my grubby UK mitts on it. Otherwise it will be specially imported from Canada.
Goose bumpley two, three or however many others of us have goose bumps!
xoxo
I honestly have chills.
Here's my cell - 877-6187 and you can of course email me at mobudge@ns.sympatico.ca...sorry to use your comment section as a message board but hey! Just delete it after...