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 One of the cardinal rules of children’s book writing is that you NEVER get your own illustrator. Publishers buy manuscripts and want work with the illustrator of their choice. Sadly, we writers miss out on the fun of collaborating with a visual artist. Still, I followed the rule until…I met artist Mike Lawrence at the Portland Comic Conference. I liked his comic The Salamander King SO much. And his main character reminded me of the girl character in my chapter-book-in-progress called Muddy Boy, which I had been thinking might make a good graphic novel. So I emailed him, showed him what I had so far on the book, and he did some INCREDIBLE sketches. At a recent Willamette Writers conference, I pitched the book/graphic novel idea and showed the sketches to an editor from Random House. He loved the idea and the sketches, so Mike and I are going to get a package together to send him. Who knows where this will lead? Maybe he’ll take the manuscript but not the art; maybe he’ll decline the book but work with Mike on something, maybe neither. In any case, sometimes you just have to break the rules…
Elizabeth Rusch is a children’s book author and magazine writer in Portland, Oregon. She believes in the power of discovery, untold stories, and jelly donuts. Whether writing fiction or nonfiction for children or adults or teaching workshops, she hopes her work opens doors, opens minds, open possibilities.
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