Advanced copy!

Just seconds ago, I received an advanced copy a book I illustrated earlier this year: I AM MY GRANDPA'S ENKELIN, written by Walter Wangerin Jr. In terms of the overall product look, I've never been happier. Paraclete did a fantastic job! The reproduction of my art is right on target. And I especially love how they've taken bits and pieces of my original art to create spot illustrations in various places.

The design and reproduction of a picture book is just as important as the illustrations. Bad font choices or colors that compete with the art can completely mess things up. That wasn't a problem with this book. Bright green end papers fall alongside a pale blue, slightly violet, sky. A chicken — swiped from an interior scene — marches across the dustcover inside. It's beautiful. The overall design not only compliments my illustration work, but elevates it.

And as tacky as this may sound, I must say, my illustrations turned out very nice, too.