petertaylor.bsky.social
Author & illustrator of kids' & craft books; past SCBWI Coordinator & science & art teacher; calligrapher, photographer & artist's book maker. My agent for 10 years has retired...seeking new representation.
www.writing-for-children.com
80 posts
174 followers
206 following
Prolific Poster
Conversation Starter
comment in response to
post
Much appreciated...and thanks also for your P2P advice.
comment in response to
post
Huge thanks for this!
I've illustrated my pub'd non-fiction how-to craft books (with 15 spin-offs) & a book cover. I'll illustrate my proposed MG n-f.
Can I call myself an author-illustrator when I query an agent with a picture book text that I will not illustrate? I don't draw people or animals.
comment in response to
post
Thanks for sharing!
comment in response to
post
I also wrap crepe bandage around my thin-handled traditional tiny brushes to make them easier to grip and control.
comment in response to
post
Great tips, Stacey!
If it's possible to pay you through The Manuscript Academy to critique a proposal for a Giant Book of (antique) Small Things...teens' parents, grandparents & ancestors may have owned or used (image on my profile), do I become ineligible to query you when you open? Thanks!
comment in response to
post
Upper MG: 'Her Majesty's League of Remarkable Young Ladies'—Alison D Stegert ...Finished it at 2am
As a 14 y/o, Winnie is recruited into a league of young ladies guarding Queen Victoria, and learns what she needs to save her papa, an inventor like herself.
Times/Chicken House prize UK in 2021
comment in response to
post
In 1976, the text & illos for my calligraphy book were hand written & drawn. The publisher's rep flew 400 miles to my home, collected the art & nursed it on a plane to Hong Kong for safety and to meet the deadline.
A team of Chinese 'surgeons' dissected some printing plates for colour separations.🙂
comment in response to
post
Print deadlines have always been strict in Australia. Miss one—what a mess!—your book is back at the end of the queue. Catalogues have already been printed & sent with the release date. Review sites plan article positioning months ahead & expect the book's available—hence contract penalty clauses.
comment in response to
post
...what do you think the newspapers said? Freddie Lane—Superstar? Australia's first Olympic swimming champion?
No. There were no Olympic reports in the media back home in Australia—just this in the Launceston Examiner (less in the Sydney Morning Herald, only that he was returning):
#kidlit
comment in response to
post
Instead of medals, he received bronze sculptures at the time, plus medals many years later.
So he won bronze and gold for the same event! Twice—for the 200 metres, & the obstacle race that included swimming under moored boats & climbing over them.
This is one of the sculptures. But...
#kidlit
comment in response to
post
...baby animals, papermaking, the sea shore, crafts, fungi...
Are they still keen?
I verbally pitched 'Fun Lettering for Kids'. The publisher asked if I could write one on 'Calligraphy for Greetings Cards and Scrapbooking' instead. They knew what they wanted.
comment in response to
post
I discovered one publisher had only released a calligraphy book because they didn't find anyone to write one on border patterns.
One was desperate for a book of recipes kids can cook...many are already published, but they wanted one on their list.
Others wanted books on...
comment in response to
post
Good luck to all agents and creators this year!
I know the benefits of having an agent, and I'm seeking new representation. The contract will be better, but you don't 100% need an agent to gain non-fiction deals and publisher interest.
Several publishers had wish lists.
comment in response to
post
'Coral Spawning' poem by Michelle A Taylor in 'If Bees Rode Shiny Bicycles, published by UQP
...We're not related🙂
comment in response to
post
My drawing of fictional animals hanging by their tales from a tree branch was blocked by AI. I'm told the artwork was probably interpreted as people committing suicide or being lynched and abused.
Sad!
comment in response to
post
Both I and another teacher in a high school art department were partially colourblind. Forget red/green as contrasts. Yes, we can distinguish traffic lights!
A book's spine design is important for sales. For me, the stand-out spines in my bookcase are striped. Plus orange with a touch of black.
comment in response to
post
I'd be fascinated! I'm an author & former school art teacher— now professional calligrapher & teach (?mislead) workshops for kids on book cover design & hand lettering.
Publisher used the croc's skin pattern to adapt Minya Nouvelle font for my PB. Was asked to hand write the calligraphy book title.