The Art

Where do you find your illustrator? This is a question often asked at conferences or workshops. The answer is . . . I don’t.

When an author sells a manuscript to a publisher, the publishing team works together to find an illustrator that brings the words to life. That’s right. The author does NOT find the illustrator.

Publishing is a business. The editor, art director, and design team meet and review portfolios of art in the office. Or maybe someone has just met a new talent and thinks he would do a wonderful job. The process begins.

Have you always been pleased with your illustrators? Thankfully, I answer that question with a YES. It’s true that some of my writing colleagues have been disappointed in the art for their books. It could happen to any of us. But publishers really put a lot of time in selecting artists who will elevate the text with more meaning and attractive art for the topic.

This year three of my books are debuting and I’m thrilled with both of the artists.

Savannah Allen brought two cupcakes to life in Sprinkles and Swirls. Her style mixes whimsy and detail in just the right ratio. I’ve already heard that readers giggle on almost every page. That can only be achieved when the art provides visual images that are highly identifiable.

James Yang illustrated LIFT, MIX, FLING! Machines Can Do Anything. His color choices and sense of movement add so much energy to the book that it actually seems to be turning the pages all by itself. As a reader, it takes several discoveries to find all of the machines and motion embedded in each spread.

Picture books are just that – pictures + words. Cover art, plus interior illustrations grab the readers’ attention and hold it through the story or nonfiction information.

I’m truly thankful for the genius of my past illustrators, as well as that of Savannah and James. Without them, my words would never reach audiences around the globe.