This blog is for writers, and is mainly about writing, and the road to publication, but Rose's book is an interesting mix of format and illustration, so I asked her to talk a little bit about what it's like to be the author and the illustrator for the same novel.
Take it away, Rose!
I am lucky enough to be the author as well as the illustrator of the MG Blogtastic! Novel series GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLS’ ROOM and RUMORS FROM THE BOYS’ ROOM. Writing the book and making the illustrations is a double process-two different deadlines and twice the work, but totally worth it!
I work with my editor on the revisions and copy edits of the actual text. For the illustrations, I work with a designer at Random House.
As I write the book, I insert notes as to what the images will be and where they will be placed. For example I’ll write [insert illus: Sofia yelling at Nona, saying “You have anger issues!”] These notes go through the same revisions and copy edits as the actual manuscript. I actually don’t start drawing the images until after copyedits.
Even though I can chose which illustrations to make, during revisions, my editor can request an image to be cut or changed. The last step in the process is doing corrections on the images I’ve submitted. They have a real eye for detail! Some of corrections are really simple, like thickening the stroke lines or making the eyes smaller, or even adding length to a characters hair so it matches with a previous image. It may not sound like much, but it’s about 200 images per book that I end up drawing, which can be really time consuming. I also have to scan each image in, set it at certain resolution and save in a specific format.
The cover is designed at the same time and it can take several attempts to get the image just right. With one book, it can seem like almost a year of deadlines with short breaks in-between. Having both my books released in the same year is fantastic though, and it doesn’t get any less exciting!
Here are some images that were cut from the first book, GOSSIP.
This was cut because the scene was changed and the word “Love” was removed from all the text in the book and replaced with the word “crush.”
Apparently, decapitation is not encouraged. The note from my editor said, “Ha! No way!”
The entire scene for this image was cut. Sofia’s mom assumed Sofia had a bladder infection since she always caught her in the girls’ room (she was only stalking!). Sofia was forced to go to the Dr. and, as you can see, peeing in a cup is frowned upon too!
I’m seeing a theme here. Missing body parts are serious, people!
Thanks, Rose!
I find this fascinating. I mean, of course, Rose's drawings are awesome, so adorable and look like they fit very well with this fun idea for a story, but I find it really interesting to hear about the process and how much work goes into something that looks so simple. Clearly it isn't as easy as she makes it look.
What do you guys think? Can any of you draw (besides Vic)? Would you ever want to illustrate your own book?
Don't forget to visit Rose's blog, and become a follower.
And, if you really want to get into the Girl's Room, you can pre-order it online:
Amazon / Borders / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound / Powell's Books
Thanks so much for sharing all this with us, Rose!
Follow Rose Cooper on her blog tour to promote GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLS’ ROOM:
Monday, April 18th The Misadventures in Candyland
Tuesday, April 19th The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment
Wednesday, April 20th Rambles & Randomness
Thursday, April 21st Unedited
Friday, April 22nd Talli Roland
Saturday, April 23rd Booking Mama
Monday, 25th Random Acts of Reading
Tuesday, April 26th Amie Borst
Random House Kids’ll be tweeting about Rose’s blog tour on @RandomHouseKids!
(Follow the author: @RoseCooper)
ALSO: Contest announcement! Rose has been kind enough to offer a giveaway. How cool is that? One lucky winner will receive an original drawing, to be determined by Rose and the lucky winner!
All you have to do is either already be a follower of Rose's blog, or go follow her today, and then comment on this post. One comment per person will earn you one entry into a randomizer.org drawing for a drawing. Pun intended.
