[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-daunt-books-launches-oliver-and-the-seawigs":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"After all this build-up, \u003Cb>\u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i>\u003C/b> is well and truly live! And Seawigs are being released into the wild! Have a look at these two with \u003Ca href=\"http://philipreeve.blogspot.co.uk/\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a> at our launch, made by \u003Ca href=\"http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/nicole-young/33/5b5/969\">Nicole Young\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.sueeves.net/\">Sue Eves\u003C/a>!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_nicphilsue_zpsda3bb3f6-ca24624a4d.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nMy studio mate \u003Ca href=\"http://whodunnknit.com/\">Deadly Knitshade\u003C/a> took this photo of gorgeous \u003Ca href=\"http://www.dauntbooks.co.uk/shops.asp\">Daunt Books\u003C/a>, Marylebone. There aren't many bookshops prettier than this one! Big thanks to \u003Cb>Julia Harrison\u003C/b> and her team for making the evening go so well.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_laurenpic_philsarah_zps059a6e0d-d4cda4f860.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nPhilip and I talked about how we met and started throwing around ideas for \u003Ci>Seawigs\u003C/i>, and then did a reading. I got to say the mermaid bits. Here's a photo by writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.candygourlay.com/\">Candy Gourlay\u003C/a> (whose new novel, \u003Ci>Shine\u003C/i>, came out the same day as our book)!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_candypic_philsarah1_zps930163ac-d39741d7a3.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for lots more under the cut!-->\\r\nLook at all these great Seawigs people wore! That's Deadly Knitshade in the orange squid hat.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_candypic_audience_zpsf5dad885-352d7f8ca4.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nDaunt Books did an amazing window display. At the end of the night, everyone was trying to make me go home and I kept delaying to take photos of it, I was so chuffed about how nice it looked.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_dauntwindow_zps314c2e40-6a53222977.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/susannah1968\">Susannah Northfield\u003C/a> (sister of Gary Northfield, my other studio mate) made the cakes for the night. Thank you, Susannah! And you can see that the Giant Wig from the \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/575183.html\">Golden Hinde pre-launch\u003C/a> also made an appearance.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_susannahcake2_zpsc1d62b37-e5240888f3.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_susannahcake_zps91eeea4d-af45d5ff7e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThere's Deadly Knitshade's knitted Sea Monkey! You can stitch one, too; here's a \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/oliver-and-the-seawigs/\">free pattern on my website\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_laurenpic_monkey_zpse1406852-13498f4bd3.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://whodunnknit.com/\">Deadly Knitshade\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nI was really hoping to get a group shot of everyone wearing awesome Seawigs, but the evening was actually a bit overwhelming, trying to do lots of things all at once, and I didn't manage to rally everyone. But here's are some of the great wigs on display. Check out this wild Seawig by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.fionadunbar.com/\">Fiona Dunbar\u003C/a>! Love the ship!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_candypic_fionawig_zps474e9eb6-64426ed33e.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photos by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.candygourlay.com/\">Candy Gourlay\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAnd this amazingly polished one by \u003Ca href=\"http://teasemade.blogspot.co.uk/\">Sami Teasdale\u003C/a>:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/sami_teasdale_seawig_zps5f84500e-48ea19f32c.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/teasemade\">@teasemade\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHa ha! Some great parrot-and-bubble-wrap action from \u003Ca href=\"http://scribblehound.com/\">David O'Connell\u003C/a>! (You can see \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/575183.html\">his earlier Seawig here\u003C/a>.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_davewig_zpsa2ea48e1-787c593947.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/davidoconnell\">@davidoconnell\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.babette-cole.co.uk/\">Babette Cole\u003C/a> looked ravishing in her Crab Seawig and red dress (I knew she would, that lady knows her frocks and hats!):\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_babette_cole_zps0f967061-3a1f5727ae.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere we are, teaching everyone how to draw a Sea Monkey:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_stupic_flipchart_zps8de2d8ec-bb0bf786b4.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.candygourlay.com/\">Candy Gourlay\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nLots of busy scribbling! (And you can download a \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/oliver-and-the-seawigs/\">How-to-Draw-a-Sea-Monkey sheet here!\u003C/a>)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_candypic_drawing_zpsdb3e4878-1e7e6808c0.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photos by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.candygourlay.com/\">Candy Gourlay\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nWe talked about how we came up with the idea of our island giants, and showed some development artwork that didn't actually go into the book. (Here's one of my early drawings of Cliff, wearing an old submarine on his head.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_candypic_philscreen_zpsdb4cec6c-c5a1784588.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.candygourlay.com/\">Candy Gourlay\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHere's a peek at the Explorermobile, that I got a little obsessed with drawing. (You can see on my blog some of the \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/493835.html\">early Explorermobile sketches here\u003C/a>.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_candypic_sarah1_zpscab79cc0-197104fb6d.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.candygourlay.com/\">Candy Gourlay\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nAnd then we led everyone in singing the chorus of our Sea Monkey sea shanty. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_candypic_ukes_zps9724d4db-3281052c79.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.candygourlay.com/\">Candy Gourlay\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nCandy shot a video of our song! Keep in mind that we are writers and illustrators and \u003Ci>\u003Cu>don't normally sing or play instruments\u003C/i>.\u003C/u> One must always try new things.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Clj-embed id=\"2416\"/>\\r\n\\r\nI quite like the tattoo effect in this photo.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_stupic_scarysarah2_zpse8029b6a-8b4bb492e8.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by Stuart Pyle\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nHere's our Oxford University Press publisher, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/LizJCross\">Liz Cross\u003C/a>, who talked about how she came on board for the project. Liz and the team have been amazing, really understanding what Philip and I wanted to do and going beyond our wildest hopes for getting behind the first of our four books. Thank you, Liz and everyone at OUP! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_liz_cross_zpsa6216383-5e201752a2.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by Stuart Pyle\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nOUP brought on board freelance publicist \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/LoisNina\">Philippa Perry\u003C/a> who, together with Manchester-based \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/LizScottPR\">Liz Scott\u003C/a> have been so forward-thinking and supportive about how to get the word out about our book. Here's Phil with our excellent editor, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/CWhitston\">Clare Whitston\u003C/a> (in the hat).\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_philclare_zps4e5b6c19-d4de0971f5.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWe had a quick interview with Reasonance FM radio host \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/panelborders\">Alex Fitch\u003C/a> after the party and, of course, we had to get a picture with him in the squid hat, designed by \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/studio7t7\">Emma Toft\u003C/a>. The hat's still a bit wobbly, but Emma promised me she'd attach a headband to make it more sturdy.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_alex_fitch_zpscb63c6af-46c8453c60.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThis photo is just plain freaky but I had to show it to you anyway, ha ha. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_candypic_scarysarah1_zpsbb6ba8ed-b09760dba9.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.candygourlay.com/\">Candy Gourlay\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nOh, one more thing about the dress: I only spotted it the evening before our launch, while Philip and I were walking down Portabello Road, on the way to \u003Ca href=\"http://natashangan.com/\">Natasha Ngan\u003C/a>'s launch of \u003Ci>The Elites\u003C/i>. We popped into a retro second-hand clothing shop and there was this enormous red ballgown hanging from the ceiling that I knew would be \u003Ci>perfect\u003C/i> for our party. And it was only £30! When I tried on the dress, tragedy; it was about six sizes too small, with at least a six-inch gap in the back where it was supposed to zip up. But I still had some leftover metal hole punches from making the belt on my Space Princess costume, and so I made it a lace-up dress. Designer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.davidfielden.co.uk/\">David Fielden\u003C/a> would most likely be APPALLED if he saw what I've done to his handiwork but, hey, IT FITS. Hurrah! I love it.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigs_david_fielden_dress_zps181474b9-7cd84f767e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThanks so much to everyone who came, and apologies if I didn't get a photo of your wig. Please feel free to tweet a photo of it at me, and you can download a sheet about how to make your \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/oliver-and-the-seawigs/\">own paper Seawig here\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/seawigslaunch_candypic_jacksuenic_zpsdd007587-f1c158210e.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Cfont size=\"1\">\u003Ci>Photo of \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jackiemarchant.com/\">Jackie Marchant\u003C/a>, Sue and Nicole by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.candygourlay.com/\">Candy Gourlay\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\u003C/font>\\r\n\\r\nWearing something awesome on your head is the ultimate rush, I totally recommend it. I hope you like the book!","2013-09-06T20:42:00.000Z","daunt-books-launches-oliver-and-the-seawigs",[],"daunt books launches 'oliver and the seawigs'!",1776628725504]