Before and After...

Here's a little example of how I've been playing with many of the poems in the book, in terms of adding more life to the form and structure of the words, and the layout of how they interact with the illustrations.

See my rough "before" version of the poem, just laid-out with the words more or less as-is and the illustration....and my "after" version once I've been playing with the formatting so it all ties in better.

(This poem, by the way, is based on a true story of something that happened in our house, with our daughter Ariel.)

Back to the Drawing Board

On to printed "Dummy Book" Version 3, which is saying a lot to its "Dummy Author" at present, and he is very glad.

The last couple weeks have been earth-shattering-ly (is that even a word?) eye-opening for the process of putting this book together. After valuable feedback from trusted colleagues and friends, and spending hours of mad-obsessive thought and revision...

Remember that post from a few months back saying all the drawings were finished? Well, they're close, but not quite. A few revelations of late will be causing me to re-jig a few illustrations....and on the writing side, let me just say there have been many, many changes afoot.

BUT...these changes are opening up entire worlds to me that are blowing my mind, and I think it will result in a much better book that is worthy of its audience. I shall keep you in suspense for the time being - lest I jinx myself further - but hold on to your hats...I'll let you know when it's safe. It's all part of the process.

Many thanks go out to my friends David Robinson (for his word-smithing suggestions) and Laura Thomas, who gave me lots to think about in terms of revising and editing. Check out Laura's books and workshops for young writers...you'll be glad you did.

Thanks also go out to S.D. (Sam) Smith of Story Warren, who offered me some very valuable insight for the book. This weekend in North Carolina he is hosting the annual INKWELL Conference for young writers & artists, and I really wish I could be there! But part of me is, as Sam also kindly invited me to submit a few poems for their "Story Warren Reader" publication, which will be handed out to attendees there. This makes me happy.

Stay tooned, friends...

A Reading in the Woods

I'm re-arranging my bi-weekly schedule on the blog because something fun related to the book has just been posted online.

My office at VanArts is right next to the Acting Department, and one of their instructors, Gabriel Carter, asked if I'd be up for reading my poems on his online, low-tech & one-take talk/variety show Dog's Breakfast, which features a "surreal segment" in each episode.

I agreed, but with an additional thought: What if I could get a goblin puppet to read them? Gabriel, a big Muppet fan, got very excited, so he took me out to the wilderness of Vancouver for a fun little film shoot with my "friend" Skraboonikus the Moss Goblin.

Here is Episode 3.1 of Dog's Breakfast featuring slam poet Mike McGee, musical guest The Population Drops, and "A Reading in the Woods" (which starts at 16:53). Enjoy, and thanks to Gabriel and his lovely fiancee & co-host Nhi Do for sharing this!