Recently in Interviews Category

Janan Cain is the bestselling author/illustrator of The Way I Feel, a picture book which helps children find words for their emotions. Her latest book, Roonie B. Moonie: Lost and Alone, continues the theme of helping children understand their feelings. Following in The Way I Feel's award-winning footsteps, Roonie B. Moonie is currently a finalist for ForeWord Magazine's Children's Book of the Year award and the Independent Publishers' Children's Book Award, both of which will be awarded at this years BookExpo America at the end of this month. I had the chance to talk to Janan about her artistic inspirations in the following interview.

• As someone who's done both, which do you like best: writing or illustrating? Why?
  Illustration is my favorite form of expression, without a doubt. I worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for over 20 years in the corporate world before trading in my paint brushes for diapers. While I was home raising my two daughters, I attempted freelance illustration during their nap times which proved very difficult as I couldn't always count on a consistent work schedule. Somehow I always manage to create artwork, which I realize now is necessary for my sanity. As much as I love to read, I find writing very challenging and have the utmost respect and admiration for authors who seem to write effortlessly. That is a gift I don't possess.
• Roonie B. Moonie is such a fun character. How did you come up with him? Did he spring fully formed from your head, name and all, or was it a more gradual process?
  In a sense, Roonie sprung from my garden! I have a studio overlooking my lush yard which has inspired me to paint nature stylistically. With such a variety of interesting shapes and intense colors, flowers and foliage practically draw themselves. In a garden setting, my main character obviously needed to be a bug. I thumbed through my files for inspiration and discovered a sketch I intended to paint years ago. It was a woman's head sporting a beehive hairdo complete with bees buzzing about. I loved the idea of putting this silly twist at the end of the story. In short, Roonie is a combination of my passion for gardening and a long-forgotten sketch.

  Roonie B. Moonie's name was another story: I had already settled on his first name because I was drawn to it although I can't explain why. While visiting with my extended family at a birthday party, we gathered around the patio table and brainstormed a last name for Roonie. I wish I could credit one of my siblings, parents, nieces, nephews or children, but I can't remember who suggested "Moonie." Sorry, family.

• Both Lost & Alone and The Way I Feel deal with feelings and emotions. What is it that draws you to this topic?
  The concept for The Way I Feel was born shortly after my second daughter while I was searching for a basic children's book on emotions. I found that nearly all word books focused on language for the physical world around us-- car, boat, red, blue. No books presented emotions in a simple and straightforward way, so I created a picture book designed to give children language to better equip them to express their feelings. The success of The Way I Feel confirmed that other parents are searching for picture books to help teach their children, not merely to serve as entertainment.

  I've always felt strongly that children need to learn a few simple tactics for dealing with dangerous or scary situations. They also need to be taught the importance of trusting their instincts during times of insecurity and doubt. It's common for parents to sometimes lose sight of their children--who would benefit from a few basic safety strategies. As with The Way I Feel, I set out to create a book to serve as a catalyst for conversations between parents and their children. Roonie B. Moonie: Lost & Alone offers parents the opportunity to discuss staying safe in dangerous situations.

For more on Ms. Cain's inspirations and some advice to aspiring authors, read onward.

I recently had the chance to talk with Steve Jameson, a.k.a. Wodin, illustrator of Just Imagine. Steve had some fascinating insight to offer on his artistic process, so this is one interview you don't want to miss! Be warned, though. It's quite lengthy, but well worth it.

• When did you decide that you wanted to be an artist?

  This is my personal first memory of drawing: I remember my aunt worked in an ice cream factory. She passed by our house on her walk home after work daily. When she heard I liked to draw, she started to bring home discarded white, cardboard, ice cream box dividers for me to draw upon. It was Groundhog Day so I drew Mr. Groundhog dressed to go to town. Everyone exclaimed how much they liked my drawing. So I did another of Mr. Groundhog in his nightgown and cap. Again I got encouragement. So for the rest of that week I drew a huge multitude of scenes of Mr. Groundhog in various attire to show everyone.
  
  As a young man, I majored in architecture when in college because I wanted to design folksy cottages and villas. But I felt alienated with the huge, ultra-modern, un-human commercial buildings we were required to design in class. I dropped out of architecture school and switched to fine art. It felt like a huge risk because I had cleverly thought that I could more likely make a living using my artistic talents in architecture than fine art. But in painting and illustrating, I could satisfy my desire to design buildings, clothing, wallpaper, fabric, furniture and many disciplines all within my artwork.

• Have you illustrated any other children's books? Anything in the works right now?

  I am currently working with John Thompson at Illumination Arts on a second in a possible series of books illustrating children playing in god's hands. I would love to do a long line of books exploring that theme. In the past, I illustrated 2 books for Mani S. Irani, younger sister of the Indian spiritual perfect master, Avatar Meher Baba. One, which is entitled GOD BROTHER, includes line drawings of Mani in her many episodes as a child with an older brother who is believed by many to be the avatar of this age. The other, which is entitled DREAMING OF THE BELOVED, has full-page, full-color illustrations of many of Mani's dreams of her god-man-brother. I also have another very long line of art depicting god playing among and generally appreciating his many and varied animals. The animals are depicted in an anthropomorphic style illustrating human behavior traits and are usually humorous in nature. I would love to someday have a book published of this line of art as well.

For more details on Steve's inspirations and favorite book, read onward.

This week, we've got an interview with Cindy McKinley, author of one of our best-selling books, One Smile. This sweet little tale shows kids just how easily one person can make a difference.

• When did you decide that you wanted to be an author?
  I have been a teacher for almost 20 years. After reading about a million books to my own 2 kids and to all of my students over the years, I always knew I wanted to write a book myself. So, I guess you could say, I have wanted to write a book for a very long time!


• Have you written any other children's books? Anything in the works right now?
  I did write a sequel to One Smile. We'll see what happens to that... I have also written several articles for some children's magazines. They are about animals. With the articles, I also included some photos I took of the animals I wrote about. Photography is another hobby of mine.


• The story of One Smile follows a chain of pay-it-forward events. Was there a similar chain of events in your own life that led you to write this book?
  Actually, yes. My family was out for an evening in Detroit. We were on the People Mover for the first time and it was crowded. To be kind, my son and I gave up our seats to make room for a lady who got on carrying a baby and a bunch of stuff. Later on that night, we rode it back and couldn't all sit together. A nice man realized we were straining trying to talk to each other and gave us his seat so we could all sit together! It just got me thinking: what if that kindness kept going? What would happen? What could happen?

As promised, the author/illustrator interviews are beginning! I had the chance to talk with Roberta Collier-Morales, illustrator of Inside Out. In Inside Out, a young girl's imaginary friend helps her discover her own shiny spirit. Roberta's vibrant illustrations breathe life into this tale of inspiration.

• When did you decide that you wanted to be an artist?
  When I was four years old I copied a drawing my older sister did of a horse - my family fussed over it and I knew from that age that I wanted to be an artist. It's been an uphill trip for most of my life, I'm lucky! I didn't realize until much later that I was fortunate in untold ways, that I knew music, art, dancing, writing and anything to do with drawing - were the driving force in my life.


• What other children's books have you illustrated?
  When I was in my mid-twenties, I moved from Denver to New York City to pursue my career as an illustrator. I've illustrated so many educational books, workbooks, auxillary materials as well as mass market and trade books that I can't begin to tell you how many books I have out there both in and out of print.


• Did you have a difficult time deciding how to illustrate an invisible friend/shiny spirit?
  No, I've had so many unusual experiences in my life with the seen and unseen world, that it was a gift to get to illustrate a book about a girl who had experiences similar to my own.