5/28/2023 0 Comments Harry allard and james marshall![]() ![]() If you spend enough time with someone’s work you get a sense of their process in a way it’s the closest thing you can get to a mentorship. The University of Connecticut is one of these places, and through the James Marshall Fellowship I was given the time, space, and funding to spend time learning and luxuriating in their collection. ![]() Whenever I feel stuck I end up in a library and I’ve learned that some of the best libraries and collections contain public collections of children’s literature preliminary materials. ![]() Another aspect of the job requires constant learning, growth, and improvisation which can either be stressful or exciting and luxurious (if you have the time and space to fully devote to it). And one is paid as a freelancer, so (at least in the United States) there is no economic safety net and it’s hard to plan for a long term career. It can often feel competitive and lonely. The job walks the line between commercial and creative disciplines and requires a bizarre combination of skills: not only writing and illustrating books but being able to perform in front of large varied audiences (toddlers one day, fifth graders the next), deftness at publicity and social media, teaching, and generally being able to project an aura of success and expertise. There’s no one formula for, or definition of success. The job of a professional children’s book author and illustrator is challenging. ![]()
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