September Round Up ...

September has been a busy month for me! 
Here's a quick round up of the whole shabang ..

PRINCETON BOOK FESTIVAL, NEW JERSEY
This is the first really BIG book festival I have exhibited at .. exhausting, fun - I'll be back!
Jazams Book Store did an excellent job.

 
 At my table ... It was hot and humid and windy!

  
 With Linda Barth, author of our book.

  We sold out ... yippee!

 
 Saw lot's of famous people! John Bemelmans Marciano ...

 Bad Kitty and Nick Bruel (but he wasn't in the costume I hasten to add. This was one HOT Kitty).

  Brian Lies and his wondrous car!

 Michael Buckley!

 The cooler than cool, Peter Brown ...

 Awesome and prolific Roxie Munro!

Brian Floca!

PHILIP HOOSE PRESENTATION, PORTLAND, MAINE
A little later in the month I scooted down to Portland with the high-energy author Lynn Plourde to attend a presentation by Phil Hoose (National Book Award and Newbury Medal Winner) talking about his beautiful book MOONBIRD. Kirsten Cappy, from Curious City, did a great job putting this together.



NESCBWI  ILLUSTRATION SYMPOSIUM
Just before the month blew out in rain and wind (as it is today) I traveled with Anna Boll (SCBWI RA for Maine) to the Illustrator's Symposium at NH Institute of Art, Manchester. Great faculty, caught up with some friends and feel set for the long nights of winter to come ...

 
Anne Sibley O'Brien gave an excellent talk of drawing ethnicity in children's books.

 
Melissa Sweet and the team who designed her book 'Balloons over Broadway' gave an excellent panel.

 Brain Lies gave a great talk on marketing ... a reminder that we only get one go at a launch, so you had better plan!

 And I won a copy of Chris Van Dusen's book in the door prizes. it's a little spooky!!

I am ready for a few weeks at home in the studio WORKING!

Got good news coming in the pipeline too. Stay tuned!

Happy October
Toodles!
Hazel
http://hazelmitchell.com

Oh and I bought a Brian Lies bat, I love it!!






Highlights - a great (re)treat

I promised a little run down on my recent visit to Highlight's Foundation in Boyd's Mill, PA. It puts the TREAT in RETREAT. Here's one reason ...

 and here's another ...


Just in case we were feeling faint they fed us 3-4 times a day. And in between we were welcome to raid the pantry ... yee gads! Thankfully, all the top-notch food is locally sourced, cooked with care and healthfully. Which is good, because you wouldn't want to miss any of it! Especially 'Angel Poop' .. my fav dessert.

But there's more to Highlights than just good grub. If you've no idea what I'm talking about, here's a link to their website. They run fabby writing and illustrating workshops for the kidlit world at a wonderful facility in Pennsylvania. Highlights is allied to Boyd's Mill Publishers in Honesdale and the first day includes a tour if you get there a little early. Which I did. A day early because of flights (which they don't charge you for). I was collected from Scranton airport by a very nice chap called Bob. All the staff are very welcoming and helpful. It's a bit like being at a private country club for children's writers and artists, but with no boring golf or rubbish conversation at the bar.)


at Boyd's Mill ... some place to have your office ...


The Barn, where all workshops and meals take place. It's a beautiful building and very welcoming, with informal rooms to lounge around in and a big space for work and eating. Some nights we ate on the patio.


 

Attendees get to stay in cute little private cabins ... but I got to stay in the farmhouse, which I loved! 


 


The workshop I attended (Advanced Children's Illustrators) had a great faculty - Eric Rohmann - Ruth Sanderson - Kelly Murphy - Floyd Cooper ... plus guests including Neal Porter (Roaring Brook Press), David Wiesner, Donna-Jo Napoli. During the week, staff and editors from Boyd's Mill popped in and shared mealtimes with us, which was very nice and friendly.


 


Days start early with coffee at 7.30am, followed by breakfast (and 2nd breakfast if you want it!) then workshops at 9am until .... you want to stop in the evening. It was great to have several days to experiment, the wonderful atmosphere and secluded surroundings of the foundation make it a pleasure. After a day your fellow attendees feel like family. The everyday world is a memory.

I wanted for nothing while I was there. Wifi is available most everywhere (phone service is a little squiffy, but there are house phones you can use a calling card on, or get folks to call you back). If there is anything you need - then you just have to ask. Did I say I worshiped the kitchen staff ...?

There is nothing, however, to top sitting down with seasoned professionals and listen to their experiences, chat around the dinner table or next to the outdoor fireplace and hear about experiences on a personal level. With only 24 or so attendees it was great to really get to know each other in intimate surroundings.

If you are looking for a different experience from the usual hurly-burly of the conference circuit, I suggest you give Highlights a try. The cost of the workshops are truly reasonable given the level of attention and accommodation. They also offer scholarships to those who qualify.

I leave you with some photos as they speak more eloquently than I ...




 Neal Porter

 Eric Rohmann

 
Eric was my mentor for the workshop! Lucky me!

 



 Kelly Murphy

 Faculty Panel

 Portfolio Showcase


 





Toodles!
Hazel


My first book in Korean!

I think it's a lot of fun when you see your book in another language. Here's 'Why am I Here?' that I illustrated a couple of years back for Matthew Kelly.




I like that they took time to use a fun Korean typeface. It's great to show at school visits!

Next time - what I got up to at Highlight's Foundation Advanced Illustrator's Workshop, in Boyd's Mill, PA.

Toodles!

Hazel