I edited two books written by a local author and then found my wonderful
illustrator online. I learned book publishing is not for the
faint-hearted.
Writing books is tough. Publishing books isn’t easy. And
promoting books is the biggest challenge.
I give credit to J.K. Rowling and her publisher Scholastic on
the unleashing of J.K. Rowling’s newest children’s book, The Ickabog.
Early during the pandemic, she
released the beginning chapters to kids. She invited children ages 7 to 12
years old to submit illustrations based on the text. She received 42,000 pieces
of art from children in the US and Canada from which 34 winners were chosen.
A separate call for entries was issued in the United Kingdom,
Ireland, India, Australia and New Zealand. It attracted another 18,000
submissions which illustrates the British edition with a second set of 34
winners.
Without any promotion she had a ready-made audience of 60,000
readers and their friends.
To see the winning illustrations visit https://www.theickabog.com/en-us/competition/
The story, which takes place in a kingdom known for its
delicious food but threatened by the mythic monster of the title, was developed
from a bedtime tale Rowling told her own children. (Reminds me of the Winnie
the Pooh saga where A. A. Milne told stories to his son which he later
published.)
Of the winners, two are from New York.
One winner is Isla Besha, a 12-year-old Altamont resident and
student at Woodland Hill Montessori School. Isla's image is of King Fred
the Fearless — the monarch of the land of Cornucopia — in bed, with covers
pulled up to his mustache.
According to the video taped by the Times Union newspaper, Isla
said that Rowling gave them tips on the type of illustrations they might consider
developing. And since this young illustrator loved doing figures, she chose to tackle
the drawing of King Fred in bed.
Interviews with Isla below:
https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2097592496564/digital-exclusive-the-ickabog-local-contest-winner-illustrates-portrait?s=fb.city.103384861120429
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Local-student-helps-illustrate-J-K-Rowling-s-new-15712436.php