The simplicity of e-book app making...

I finally got an iPad... a mini. It's fabulous. I was thrilled to finally see my apps on a screen larger than my iPod.

I am drawn to the simplicity of the process of creating ebook apps. This photo captures that simplicity... from the first idea to the sketches to the finished art and the audio. All in one quick creation... (about 4 weeks actually).

Finally, like magic, the 'Publish' button makes it all real.

Or are these pesky little gizmos really real I wonder?
Time will tell...

Mermaid of Mystery...

Here's a fun new style that I'm working up... sort of a digital folk art with lots of rich color and texture. This will be in the PBAA flip-book app that is in production.

Christmastime is coming...

It will be fun to see if I can find any of my Washington christmas books this year. Who knows, maybe there will be a few around.

Last year's book signing at Costco was fun. But this year... hmmm... haven't had any inquiries from interested bookstores. I need a doppleganger ( a paranormal double of a living person) to do the book publicity... because as it is I simply don't have the time for it.

And I'm not the least bit ready for my own little Christmas, though I notice other people seem to be getting ready for it. The truth is I only like Christmas once it's over. So... Christmas is like a runaway freight train bearing down on us with a relentless deadline.

Ho, ho, ho... the tree is my favorite part.

Piggles favorite movie...

About this book:
On his first day of school Piggles worries about everything. But Piggles learns to think for himself as he outsmarts dinosaurs, a witch, a goblin, a UFO, a dragon and a pirate. Filled with puzzles and interactive fun, Piggles loves school once gets there.

'Piggles Goes to School' challenges children to think for themselves and overcome problems as they travel with Piggles on his way to school. Touching objects initiates sounds, actions, animations. Help Piggles solve a variety of puzzles to make his way safely to school.

As an illustrator and writer of more than 50 children's books I had a great time creating this app. You can download this app in the InteractiveTouchBooks.com bookstore, which is an iTunes store

'Piggles Goes to School'

When a book-maker gets a book in a box on the porch it's always a thrill to open it up and see it 'for real'... finally. This same rule applies to e-book apps... only more so.

I had the long awaited opportunity to download my 1st copy of 'Piggles Goes to School' onto my iPod touch.

To savor the experience I quietly stole away to my favorite cafe to plug in my headphones and push the 'Read to Me' button on my iPod. On the scale of the quiet joys of book-making this first reading rates up near the top. It's the first time ever that you get to be 'the reader'. I was not disappointed - in fact I liked it a lot.

This new book is an actual book, whereas Mousey the Explorer was sort of an improvised idea on a theme. 'Piggles Goes to School' has an actual storyline, plot, resolution and all that.

On his first day of school Piggles worries about everything. But Piggles learns to think for himself as he outsmarts dinosaurs, a witch, a goblin, a UFO, a dragon and a pirate. Filled with puzzles and interactive fun, Piggles loves school once gets there.

A very good day...

Well Piggles is pleased... he seems to have misplaced the 'W' - but he does not miss it much.

:0)

It's that time again...

It's that time again... Halloween! It's just such a rich topic to create images for. Something about barns and haylofts and hoe-downs. I saw that amazing PBS program 'The Hayloft Gang' and it reminded me of this old illustration I made years ago.

I'd never seen 'The Hayloft Gang' before, but it's got everything that's good about America in it. That's what I think.

p.s. Now I'm adding in the voices to my new app. It's interesting how it calls for a whole new set of skills. Theatrical and voice articulation. Too bad my voice sounds like a paper bag full of sawdust with a head cold. Oh well... Garageband helps.

A work in progress...

One reason I like digital coloring so much is that it's unpredictable... therefore more interesting. I think it's a fun game of cat and mouse to take a chance on a new brush or try a new technique. There's always the undo button.

So on any given day, the digital artist is free to try whatever they like. Today I've been choosing those natural media brushes that start around 750 pixels in size. It's always interesting to see what they might do!

The Pirate's Life for Me

Needless to say, being a Pirate was always my favorite Halloween costume. No contest.

Lucky me, I get to relive the glory of my favorite costume in my new ebook app. But in this version the characters all get to talk and bop around the screen and they have to find out clues to change the pirate. lol!

I still sting with indignation from the day my 2nd grade teacher took me aside and told me I couldn't wear a ribbon on my pirate costume! GRRRRRR!

Funny how those little things never go away.

You've got to enjoy the process

It all boils down to that maxim about publishing which is - 'You've got to enjoy the process'. I have to say I don't much enjoy the process much of regular paper book publishing anymore. I don't have decades left to wait another year for one more rejection that 'we just did a book like this'. I've lost my appetite for that sort of thing.

But I very much DO enjoy the process of making ebook apps. It has revived my spirit and joy in making books for children. It's lots of fun and it's like instant gratification compared to the old wait, wait, wait for years, reject, revise and resubmit process.

Yesterday I illustrated a page with a UFO that carries my PB character away to Mars... before that I drew pages with a witch, a page with a troll under a bridge and a page with dinosaurs. All of them doing things, making challenging puzzles and generally having fun.

What's not to like?

A new page fresh off the wacom

Here's a new page fresh off the wacom. I knew this scene was going to be fun. I can't wait to add all the dinosaur growls and sound effects. Grrrrrrr!

But of course Piggy is not about to be outdone by a few oversized reptiles. I used to imagine just such scenes when I was a wee tot.

Happily pigging away...

Happily pigging away on my new interactive e-book app. Coming soon to iPads everywhere... and possibly to one near you.

I can't wait to start doing the 'piggy' voice with GarageBand. My nickname as a earnest young lad was 'pig'... even though I was never the least bit fat.

What nicknames did any of you wind up with? (that can be disclosed for a G-rated audience)