The Children’s Book Circle Summer Quiz

by Alex on August 28th, 2008

Last night I took part in the terrific Children’s Book Circle Summer Quiz. Naturally, it was a quiz about children’s books, but not even the Faber quiz was this tough! Thankfully there was a picture round…

It was a really great evening and I met some lovely folk, both artists, writers and publisher types. I got to talk about old books, new books, and even comics (with someone who actually makes them - I was completely in awe!) These sorts of social gatherings make you realise that you’re not alone in the children’s book world. In fact, last night gave me a positively rosy outlook about the whole industry – and everyone was so lovely about my badges!

(lesson learnt: always take badges with you everywhere.)

And then onto writing. I’ve been cracking on with the new project, rehashing old writing and sparking it up a bit to fit the bill. Any opportunity to write Yaks into the storyline is being taken, and the whole thing seems to be working nicely at the minute. I’m just waiting for that dreaded moment when I come to the conclusion that it’s actually rubbish. When? When’s it going to come?

The Young Mousehunters

by Alex on August 27th, 2008

I’m always interested in making the most of an idea. It’s a knock on from my art school days, when I was taught to take an idea as far as it would go, in terms of making the most of it, as well as not settling for the easiest conclusion. It’s probably because of this that I’ve made Mousehunter badges, cards, cuddly toys, animations, and  I doubt it’ll be long before I’ll make some Mousehunter wellies. I suppose though, those are all marketing things.

A long while ago, while thinking of other avenues to go down with the Mousehunter I thought about writing some Young Mousehunter stories, set in the Mousehunting School - or the Old Rodent’s Academy that’s in the book. I doubt I’ll ever do anything with it, but it would have made a nice cartoon addition to the world, like the Real Ghostbusters when I was a kid. (I was so excited when I found out that was coming out, but I never did work out why Egon suddenly had white hair…)

The idea of having classes of young mousehunters learning about mice and getting up to all sorts of japes still appeals.

The DFC comes of age

by Alex on August 26th, 2008

I’ve finally got round to reading the latest issue of the DFC. I know you’ve got to give things time to work (and, of course, you’re able to with a subscription-based comic!), but I really felt that the balance of strips and the content was right. Most of the overlong and slow original stories from the first few issues are thankfully taking a break, and what’s left now is something with a huge amount of energy. The new serials are far more lively, and more in keeping with playfulness of the Good Dog Bad Dog strip, which was always a highlight. The Prince of Baghdad is already looking like a winner, and overall it just seems to feel a lot more irreverent, sparky, and ultimately more fun. The artwork is always great however - but that’s never been an issue.

(The DFC Olympic cartoon has been a particular highpoint of late - I love the Squirrel Cannon Shooting event in the most recent edition. Also the Moles in Vern and Lettuce. I loved their festival when they were all on stilts.)

There are still a few dud filler pages, and they continue to print parts of the comic in the Guardian each week, instead of using new content, but it’s much, much better than it was. I really hope it keeps it up!

Submarines are the greatest invention ever

by Alex on August 26th, 2008

Ok, that might be a slightly wild headline, but submarines are pretty special, which is why Algernon has one in the Mousehunter. They’ve always intrigued me, and I’ve always loved their design. From my early days of seeing one in the Three Musketeers film (it might have been the sequel!), and of course Captain Nemo and the Nautilus, I’ve loved the idea of Victorian styling and invention placed in a very modern vehicle.

And then you see how the Victorians really did make submarines, and you realise they were even more skilled than you thought. Steampunk really DID happen, and is not just to be found in novels and Manga.

Emiline and Portly on an adventure

by Alex on August 24th, 2008

While taking a ‘well-earned break’ from mice yesterday, I found myself illustrating and writing a short story about Emiline and Portly. I don’t know why I suddenly picked up the pencil and started scribbling, but the pictures turned out to be some of the best work I’ve done to date.

The story is set prior to the Mousehunter, and the short plot seemed to be growing while I was drawing. I’ve never felt inclined to write about happenings before the start of the first book, but I found myself really enjoying sticking Emiline into a new situation (one where it’s just her, before there are many characters to take the focus away from her).

I’d always wanted the Mousehunter to be much more illustrated than it is, and I suppose this is my chance to do just that. I don’t know what I’ll do with it yet, but it might be nice to get it worked up into a little book.

Sarah Stevenson and that Taekwondo kick

by Alex on August 23rd, 2008

I used to play lots of sport, and I’ve always thought there’s a point where professionalism in a game can go past the point of unsportsmanlike conduct. There’s the ‘doing what’s right’ thing even if it’s not necessarily for the good of your team. ‘The ball was out actually’. ‘That did hit my arm, actually!’

Now I know this post has nothing to do with mice, but the Mousehunter has a definite sense of what’s right or wrong amongst its pages, even if sometimes it’s a little hidden.

But this morning, I awoke to see the Olympics, and found myself gripped by Sarah Stevenson fighting in the Taekwondo. I watched Sarah kick a Chinese lady in the face, to score two points, which should have given her the match. But no. Apparently it wasn’t seen by the clearly ‘unsighted’ judges.

And here’s my point. Her opponent felt Sarah’s foot hit her chin. I saw her head fly backwards, and I guess it probably hurt a little bit. And at the end of the game, when Sarah had lost, her opponent let her lose.

Now in the spirit of the game, in the spirit of sport, Sarah’s opponent should have said, ‘No actually I was hit.’ She knew that she’d lost. I appreciate that it’s not her place to say so, it’s the job of the judges. But if professionalism means that you win unfairly, then you’re not really a winner and everybody loses. It’s just not cricket.

(By the way, you’ve probably realised that this is a way of me venting after having my Saturday early morning ruined by unfair and biased sports judges. You just shouldn’t have to deal with this sort of thing half an hour after waking up!)

[edited by Milway... Clearly the olympic judges heard this and Sarah's just been declared winner of the fight! The power of the blogger!]

The ghost stories in my slush pile

by Alex on August 22nd, 2008

I’ve been sifting through all the story ideas on my computer this morning. It’s funny how many things can seem great at the time, and when you look back at them a year down the road they seem odd, crazy, or just pure rubbish.

Some, though, still stand up. And that’s the reason I’ve posted the book cover of Moondial (one of the most memorably spooky books and TV dramas of my youth… now I’ve said all that, I hope it still stands up to the test of time!!). While looking through these folders, I’ve found that I have a few ghost stories, bubbling over and wanting my attention.

I guess for them to work, they’d have to be short stories - that most unpopular of forms for publishers - but there’s probably enough of them to make a little collection. The reason I mention Moondial is that it has the lovely trigger within the story (the moondial), which sets off the ghostly/time travel events. All my little stories seem to use devices like these, and maybe that’s their over-riding theme that unites them.

Anybody know of any good collections of ghost stories I should read for inspiration?

The New Project

by Alex on August 21st, 2008

With the writing of the Mousehunter stories taking a well-earned break after the excitement of book 3, I’ve been cracking on with a new project for a different publisher. The plot’s fully worked out and a few chapters are written, but where this project differs from the Mousehunter is that it will be totally illustrated. There will be pictures everywhere, so I’ve been spending loads of time drawing all the characters.

This here is one of them. I’m sure you can all guess who or what it is, but I’m not going to say too much about it just yet. Needless to say, I’m REALLY excited to be working on it.

Bobby Dazzler at the Green Man Festival

by Alex on August 20th, 2008

There was a magical little tent at the Green Man Festival filled with fabulous and beautifully hand-made toys. The shop/people who made them were called Bobby Dazzler, and I can’t tell you how exciting it was to see all these cloth figures filling the tent, whether they were hanging on a washing line, or hanging out around the edges mingling. (There are photos of the inside of the tent on that link to their blog!)

They were also holding free workshops showing how to make them, and it kind of just summed up the ethic and quirkiness of the Green Man - that someone who makes such beautiful things would help you to make your own.

It made me want to learn how to use the sewing machine…

The Green Man and back again

by Alex on August 19th, 2008

I’ve been quiet on here of late because I braved the tempestuous Welsh outdoors at the Green Man Festival. You won’t find a better bunch of festival goers than those at the Green Man, and in all honesty, they deserve better weather. But at least Friday was sunny - my body is already in the healing process, and I’ve almost forgotten the torrential downpours of Saturday and Sunday. Forgetting the top-notch music for a second, my highlight of the festival was being towed out of the campsite by a tractor. I think my camper van fell in love with that powerful red beast the moment it reversed up to her bumper and latched on.

And now, after a busy two months, I’m back into the world of writing. It feels like things are back on the move again. Plots are being plotted, characters are being charactered, and words are being worded.