October-y

But not octoberries. Unless you enjoy autumn-flavored cephalopods. Sounds like fodder for a seasonal sushi joint.

Maybe I should start a weekly wordplay page. (Wednesdays, to triple the alliteration.) Would you enjoy that (or read in the first place)?

The end of September and consequent beginning of the august month of October have brought news and continuing progress.

Results are in for Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. Racing Pajamas did not place, but I am grateful that the books will be donated to libraries somewhere. Seeds will be planted & spread abroad to work in places I know not–and yield fruit.

Project Progress:

  • Revised Antiquary synopsis
  • Began compiling Antiquary set notes
  • Started T-shirt design projects (felt ready to do something shorter-term). First subject: Jack Frost of Guardian fame. And advancing my knowledge of Photoshop along the way.
  • Read a 500+ page book on the art of Disney animation & gleaned a lot: Artistic inspiration, food for thought, ideas for creative problem-solving, insight on the film-making process, tips for drawing/composing an animation shot/sequence
  • Received final details for Terry Treble Music Adventures 1 & 2 — the books will be finished (design-wise, not print-ready) this weekend!

This, of course, is on top of a full school/teaching schedule. (Which, I triumphantly add, included designing an annotated bibliography worksheet inspired by The Legend of Zelda.) Fall break begins tomorrow afternoon — a release from academia & the perfect opportunity to accomplish much.

Noteable Read

The latest issue of Imprimis, a forever free “Monthly Digest on Liberty and the Defense of America’s Founding Principles” is very applicable to my purpose & outlook as a storybuilder. The article? “The Case for Good Taste in Children’s Books” by Meghan Cox Gurdon, who reviews children’s books for the Wall Street Journal.

To read it, click this: http://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/archives & select July 2013.

Noteable: I am formatting another card (daffodils) & revising the tulip one I explored partway through summer.

Antiquated Faces

Here is a handful of human heads hewn and hatched by my hand. In short, ’tis a sample smattering of several singers to stage my sometimes serious and simultaneously silly script.

In shorter, for those interesting in The Antiquary, here are rough sketches I did of several characters. Roll arrow over for “flavor text.”

Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Isabella Wardour

Jon Oldie but goodie
Jonathan Oldbuck
(The Antiquary)

Lovel
William Lovel

 Sir Arthur is not a good warder.
Sir Arthur Wardour

He's blue, daba di daba dai.
A Whigged Tory

Miz Griz
Griselda Oldbuck

Clint Eastwouldn't
Lord Geraldin
(Earl of Glenallan)

It was Lady Joscelind in the hall with the candlestick...
Professor Profile

Miss Mary Mac
Mary M’Intyre

 Uh huh.
An Unimpressed Young Lady