This week, my second picture book "Malaika's Winter Carnival", the advance copy of my sequel to "Malaika's Costume", arrived from my publisher Groundwood Books all the way in Toronto, hand-delivered to my classroom in Dubai. I don't typically open mail in front of my class but the "mysterious package" couldn't wait and this class was well-behaved enough so I agreed to open it in front of them. (The previous class saw the package delivered and were just as curious but a little too rowdy for me to give them this special privilege. Besides, this was going to be the first time I held my book and boy, did it feel good.) This Grade 2 class had just celebrated their Writer's Workshop the day before so they had amazing questions like "What is your summary? But don't tell me about the whole thing." "Why do you write books?" "How long did it take you?" "Do you have an editor?" The grade 4 class asked me questions that had me talking about contracts, translation, advances, royalties, publishing rights, and legal fees. How's that for throwing your music class on to a different track? Sheesh. I'm not complaining though. I loved every minute of it.
I still get a thrill out of seeing my name in print. Holding the book in my hands, stroking the smooth surface of the cover jacket, seeing the bright blue (my favourite colour and shade) of the end papers, feeling the cool energy of the blues in the illustrated contrasted by bright bold colours, I truly have a greater appreciation of the publishing process. I really love how the pictures and feel of Malaika's Winter Carnival make me feel 20 degrees cooler. It seemed like the illustrator Irene Luxbacher took the best things from Malaika's Costume but then gave it a fresh look. I love how the words and the pictures work together. I'll stop here though. I don't want to ruin it for anyone. Besides, I am allowed to critique my own picture book, aren't I?
Can't wait for the Malaika's Winter Carnival release date of September 1, 2017! Stay tuned for the launch information which should be scheduled for late August.
I still get a thrill out of seeing my name in print. Holding the book in my hands, stroking the smooth surface of the cover jacket, seeing the bright blue (my favourite colour and shade) of the end papers, feeling the cool energy of the blues in the illustrated contrasted by bright bold colours, I truly have a greater appreciation of the publishing process. I really love how the pictures and feel of Malaika's Winter Carnival make me feel 20 degrees cooler. It seemed like the illustrator Irene Luxbacher took the best things from Malaika's Costume but then gave it a fresh look. I love how the words and the pictures work together. I'll stop here though. I don't want to ruin it for anyone. Besides, I am allowed to critique my own picture book, aren't I?
Can't wait for the Malaika's Winter Carnival release date of September 1, 2017! Stay tuned for the launch information which should be scheduled for late August.
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