Monthly Archives: September 2012

oxford, the rochester storyloom, and it all ends with a big bang

Posted on September 30 2012 by dan fone

With two of my three publishers based in Oxford, I forget how many times I’ve been up and down the rail line the last few years. But on Saturday, it was extra fun because Stuart came along with me. I … Continue reading →

david almond & oliver jeffers: the boy who swam with piranhas

Posted on September 27 2012 by dan fone

Last night my graffiti-knitting studio mate Lauren O’Farrell and I put on our best fish faces and went along to the launch at Waterstone’s Piccadilly of the new book by writer David Almond and illustrator Oliver Jeffers, The Boy Who … Continue reading →

almond & jeffers in london: see you tonight!

Posted on September 26 2012 by dan fone

Really looking forward to tonight’s event at Waterstone’s Piccadilly with Oliver Jeffers and David Almond! I’m so excited that I have drawn a piranha. Feel free to bring along your own piranha drawings! Details here! There might be a few … Continue reading →

boo. that panda looks awfully familiar…

Posted on September 26 2012 by dan fone

Edit: The issue has now been resolved: my agent and her lawyer tracked down the owner, they have apologised and paid a fee for usage of the image. But I will leave this blog post here as a deterrent to … Continue reading →

seawigs part 7: plunged into story

Posted on September 25 2012 by dan fone

Another peek at how I’m getting on with Oliver and the Seawigs… here’s a new character: Iris the near-sighted mermaid! She thinks she’s found a lovely prince or something, but actually, it’s just a walrus. But at least he’s polite … Continue reading →

seawigs part 6: the crisp family home

Posted on September 21 2012 by dan fone

Some more step-by-step drawings from Oliver and the Seawigs work in progress. First, a thumbnail sketch. That’s supposed to be Mrs & Mr Crisp and Oliver in their Explorermobile, but I hadn’t decided what it would look like at that … Continue reading →

seawigs part 5: pens, ink and brushes

Posted on September 20 2012 by dan fone

Yesterday I posted a photo of this work-in-progress illustration for Oliver and the Seawigs: And I got a couple questions about it on Twitter: So here’s the answer! To illustrate my story with Philip Reeve, I’m using a mix of … Continue reading →

seawigs part 4: final artwork begins!

Posted on September 19 2012 by dan fone

Yesterday was a very exciting day! I’d sketched out in pencil all the illustrations for Oliver and the Seawigs (my project with Philip Reeve), and they were ready to go to ink! Here’s the first double-page spread: I think inking … Continue reading →

children’s book writers & illustrators group conference 2012

Posted on September 17 2012 by dan fone

Children’s book writer and illustrator conferences are excellent ways of getting to find some of your favourite creators and try on their specs. Can you guess whose specs these are? All shall be revealed… So a bunch of us from … Continue reading →

croc walk

Posted on September 14 2012 by dan fone

Today’s morning sketch: I’m off soon to Reading for the big all-weekend Society’s of Authors children’s publishing event, the CWIG Conference. (CWIG stands for Children’s Writers & Illustrators Group.) I’m chairing a panel about literary prizes and festivals, and giving … Continue reading →

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