Monday, October 15, 2012

WriWOPi: Amy Dixon

It is with great excitement that I start the week introducing Amy Dixon.

I first met Amy through the PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month) community.  Although she lives across the country I felt a certain kinship based on a few of our passions:  writing and running.  I was especially excited to learn that her debut picture book (releasing tomorrow!) was about a little determined mouse named Preston who sets out to run the NYC Marathon!  Needless to say, Preston has been a source of inspiration for me these last few months as I set out to complete the same goal.

So, run...don't walk to purchase MARATHON MOUSE written by Amy Dixon, illustrated by Sam Denlinger and published by Sky Pony Press.

Please welcome a new member of the PUBLISHED Picture Book author community, Amy Dixon!  And a huge congratulations to you, my friend!

In the picture book writing community, I've often been a part of conversations that include some form of this comment:
"Wouldn't it be soooo much easier if we were just writers AND illustrators? Then we could make our manuscripts look exactly the way we want!"

And in theory, it feels like it could be easier.
No stressing over whether or not to include an art note.

Word count worries would disappear.
And snagging an agent would be a snap, right?

Would it actually be easier for us? I suppose, if you don't include that pesky learning to be an illustrator stuff.
But what if we are actually asking the wrong question? What if the question isn't, "What would be easier?" but instead, "What would make my picture book better?"

Because here's the thing. From the moment you hear your illustrator’s name, to the moment you see the art for the first time, you will be filled with gray-hair-and-deep-wrinkle-line-producing worry. It’s true, being a picture book writer might well mean embracing Golden Girls status well before your time. It is NOT easy.
BUT.

When we bring two artistic minds together, we've just DOUBLED our creative possibilities. There are ideas brought to the page by our illustrators that we likely would have never come up with on our own. We all have backgrounds and perspectives and worldviews that, even for creative thinkers, are limited. But now, because we've allowed our work to be expanded upon by another creative force, we've increased the depth and even the reach of our story.
One example from Marathon Mouse has to do with a secondary character in the story. It is a book primarily about a mouse family, but near the end, a little girl makes an appearance.

Now, I have three little girls myself, who (in my totally unbiased opinion) are the cutest things ever, so of course I had pictured someone who looked a little like them. Chubby cheeks, fair skin, big blue eyes...sort of a Gerber-esque quality. So when I saw the art for the first time, I registered a delighted surprise when I got to this image:
Isn't she pretty much the cutest thing ever? I am seriously, madly in love with her.

Is she something that I would have come up with myself? Probably not.
Is she the perfect representation of the little girl I wrote in the story? Absolutely.

So, while handing our words over and releasing creative control of our “babies,” might send us running to stock up on Clairol, it can and most often does, make our picture books BETTER. And hopefully, as we travel down the road (and back again) of picture book writing, we will have collaborated to create books whose depth and reach we could have never imagined.
Amy Dixon grew up as one of seven siblings, so the only peace and quiet she ever got was inside a book. Once she had her own kids, she rediscovered her love for picture books at the public library. It was the one place she knew all four of her kids would be happy . . . and quiet. She writes from her home, where she lives with her four little inspirations and her marathon-running husband, Rob.

25 comments:

  1. Marcie—loving WriWOPi! So interesting to hear how authors face the unknown with their illustrations and the sheer delight when they see everything come together. Amy—MM looks adorable. Can't wait to get my hands on the little guy (hope he inspires my running as well). Congrats!

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    1. Perseverance and overcoming discouragement really is a theme in the book, so I hope it will be an inspiration (in running and in life!)

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  2. I love the little girl, too. So cute. Does she have a name?

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    1. No, alas, she remains nameless. Ooooh, I feel a blog contest coming on...name the adorable little girl in my book! :-)

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  3. YAY. FOR. AMY!!! Oh, and Preston and Marcie, too!!

    I'm soo excited for you, friend!

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  4. This is such an wonderfully encouraging post, Amy! I recently had a conversation with someone who was rather shocked to learn that the publisher chooses the illustrator, for the most part. This is a great example of the delightful way the pairing of author and illustrator works! So looking forward to reading Marathon Mouse.

    Race everyone to the bookstore! (In cyberspace it's okay for me to say that... I don't have to reveal my actual lack of athletic skill!)

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    1. Thanks so much, Beth. It can be a tough process, but ultimately, we have to remember that our publisher wants the book to be as wonderful and successful (and profitable!) as we do!

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  5. I love your book seems to have come together so beautifully and I can't wait to get a copy to I can read every word and see every delightful page spread. Congrats on the launch!

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    1. Thank you, Laura! Looking forward to GOODNIGHT, ARK as well!

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  6. Great post! Can't wait to get my copy of Marathon Mouse!

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    1. Thanks, Corey! Maybe your pigs and my mouse can hang out someday...

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  7. Oh "that pesky learning to be an illustrator stuff" - pretty certain that I've felt that if not said it!

    Great interview! Wishing Amy and M.M. 26.2 miles of success!

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    1. 26.2 miles of success...love it! Thanks, Cathy!

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  8. Yes, I've always thought it would be easier for an author/illustrator to prepare a PB. Thanks for setting me straight. "Creative possibilities doubled!" Now that's a great idea. Happy birthday to Marathon Mouse, Amy!

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    1. Thank you, Romelle! Big week for Preston mouse and me...ran my first half-marathon Sunday and lived to tell about it! :-)

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  9. Love that...what could make my picture book better? What a great question! Thanks so much for this interview Marcie and Amy! Can't wait to get my own copy of Marathon Mouse! Congrats Amy!!!!!

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    1. Thanks, Elizabeth! So fun to have such wonderful writing friends cheering for me!

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  10. Congratulations, Amy! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about pb authors and illustrators. Your mouse is very cute! Maybe he will travel to many races around the world!

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    1. Ooooh, great idea, Tina! And of course I would need to do research trips in order to write such books... :-)

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  11. Your book looks and sounds adorable. I was such a beginner when my book came out, that it never even occurred to me to worry!!! Talk about ignorance is bliss... It turned out I too had no reason to buy hair dye. Lea Lyon's watercolors made my little story a real, live book!

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    1. Awesome, Genevieve! So glad you had a nice, smooth, worry-free journey!

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  12. Congratulations Amy! Now, as an author/illustrator I may just have to worry if I can make my PB better! Great post ladies!

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    1. Julie, I am quite sure that there really ARE many advantages to being talented enough to do both yourself. Maybe Marcie needs to throw in a post from the other side of the coin and do a post from an author/illustrator. It would definitely be interesting to hear about the process from that perspective. Whaddya think, Marcie???

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  13. Congratulations! How exciting!

    Although I don't write picture books, your post has encouraged me because authors of other books have to let control of so many factors in the publishing process as well--title, cover, and so on. Thanks for the encouragement.

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