THE SQUEEZY BOOK BLOG TOUR

Welcome to Day 1 of the Squeezy Book Blog Tour!

To celebrate the new children's picture book Squeezy Cuddle Dangly Legs we have sent the talented illustrator, Jacqui Grantford, on tour!

Review at Preschool Entertainment

You can follow the tour by attending these venues:

Day 1 - Saturday 10 November - Bren MacDibble's "Beast of Moogill"
Day 2 - Sunday 11 November - Sally Murphy's "Scribblings"
Day 3 - Monday 12 November - Robyn Opie's "Writing Children's Books"
Day 4 - Tuesday 13 November - Pemberthy Bear's "Pemberthy's Ponderings"
Day 5 - Wednesday 14 November - Claire Saxby's "Let's Have Words"
Day 6 - Thursday 15 November - Tina Marie Clark's "What is Happening in my Office?"
and a late host to join the ranks because you can never have too much of a good thing:
Day 7 - Friday 16 November - Sally Odger's "Spinning Pearls"

Jacqui Grantford, multi-talented artist, teacher, mother, illustrator and writer who has just released her sixth picture book: "Squeezy Cuddle Dangly Legs", welcome to the first day of your Book Blog Tour to celebrate this gorgeous new book.

Bren: Jacqui, this book is written by Peter Whitfield who is well-known for his "Zen Tails" and we all know that children, just before they fall asleep as well as 'at the darndest times', make almost zen-like statements, this would seem to match well with your style of realism but made brighter by the use of bright pastels. Was this an easy book to illustrate?

Jacqui: The appeal of ‘Squeezy Cuddle’ is its simplicity, but I think that can sometimes be more difficult. The trick is knowing what to leave out, but to still add a new dimension to the written word. This was my first book where I left lots of negative space, but I think it needs that to capture the feel of the text.

I used models as reference - Sophia, who co-owns New Frontier with Peter, and their daughter Grace. They flew down from Sydney especially so I could take photos.

Originally I had different models, but Peter and Sophia felt that the child was too old and we redid the layout. Sophia and Grace were naturals and you can tell how much they love each other which is so important in telling the story.

Bren: This is the sixth picture book you've illustrated (Jacqui has illustrated six other texts as well) and I've noticed you possess a wide range of styles. You've used a similar style in this new book to "Pemberthy Bear" and "Wishes for One More Day", more sombre colours for "A True Person", a completely different style for "Shoes News" and there's a certain baroque-feel to "Various Faerious" (I love the illustration of the faerie foot with the ring on the toe, btw). Are you conscious of choosing a style to suit the story and how did you choose the style for "Squeezy Cuddle Dangly Legs"?

Jacqui: I’m very conscious of choosing a style and it’s something that I want to develop even more. Colour choice and medium are so important in the story telling. And the fine details in the background also add an extra dimension and clues to the narrative.

With ‘Squeezy Cuddle’, I was sent a copy of ‘Playmates’ by Jane Tanner, so that became my inspiration to a degree. I deliberately kept the pencil lines rough to give it a drawn feel despite the realism. I felt that would add to the innocence of the manuscript.

Bren: You are also the author of two books you have illustrated, "Various Faerious" and "Shoes News". Obviously you must be proud to be solely responsible for the creative content of these books, but you've also illustrated socially important books like "A True Person", and books by other excellent writers. Which book is your favourite so far, why, and what is special about "Squeezy Cuddle Dangly Legs"?

Jacqui: I don’t think I could say that I have a favourite. They’re all special in their own way. ‘Various Faerious’ was my first and I love the fact that my children are in it. ‘Pemberthy Bear’ I love because Pemberthy is such a great character and kids that I read it to simply adore it. ‘A True Person’ is special because it’s such an important topic and has the capacity to do great good.

I read ‘Squeezy Cuddle’ to the kids I teach at Hampton Primary the other day and they loved it. The said the words along with me almost straight away, and got so excited by the bedtime rituals. I think ‘Squeezy Cuddle’ could become a bedtime regular with lots of small children.

Bren: Obviously you're a very talented artist as well as an illustrator. Your painting of Bud Tingwell was not only on display at the Archibald exhibition but also on the cover of the catalogue and invitations. How did you get started in children's picture book illustration and did that help with getting your own two books published?

Jacqui: I owe the start of my career with children’s book illustration to the two Anns at Books Illustrated. For those unfamiliar with Books Illustrated, it’s a wonderful shop and gallery for children’s books in Victoria and is run by Ann James and Ann Haddon. Ann James recommended that I speak to Lothian, so I then had a springboard to approach publishers with.

Bren: What advice can you give to the beginning children's writer and/or illustrator?

Jacqui: If you’re Victorian based then certainly visit Books Illustrated and speak to the Anns, or visit Dromkeen and chat to Kaye Keck. She’s been championing picture books for years.

Persistence is a big thing – keep sending your work out to publishers and go to events to meet with other illustrators or publishers. And if you can find a network to chat to others in the industry then that can be great as well.

PIO is an online newsletter that has heaps of information about the industry and competitions, advise etc for new authors/illustrators. You can email Jackie Hosking at jackiehoskingATaapt.net.au for more information. I’d highly recommend it.

And of course, reading terrific blogs such as this one will also give heaps of tips and ideas.

Keep writing, writing, writing, drawing, drawing, drawing, and sending, sending, sending. Never give up.

Bren: What's in the future for Jacqui Grantford? Are you still writing your own stories or has the increase in demand for your illustrations swallowed up all your writing time? If you're still writing what themes interest you?

Jacqui: The illustration side has seemed to have taken over a little. But I am definitely trying to find time to write still. I love it. I’m developing an idea at the moment, but I’m hopelessly superstitious, so I can’t say anything about it till it’s finished. Silly I know.

I’m hoping to collaborate with you one day on something, Bren. That would be fun. Something very science fiction and quirky.

Bren: Definitely. I was very impressed with the alien characters in your children's gallery. I'm sure that if we teamed up we'd get science fiction quirk standing on its head! Make a note of that idea because I suspect that you'll be terribly busy keeping the big publishers happy with your glorious illustrations for a long time. Thanks for taking the time to visit, Jacqui, and good luck with your multi-creative career.