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Mary Joy Harris's Page
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Profile
- About Me
- I am now an almost published children’s illustrator. I graduated last year from North Wales School of Art and Design with a BA Honours 2:1 specialising in illustration for children’s publishing. When I'm not writing or drawing I work at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire and Severn Beach Antiques and Collectables in Alveston.
I like nothing better than spending the day singing and painting in my studio at the bottom of the garden.
- What are you working on at the moment?
- I’m currently working on three reading scheme books for Midsea Books, a leading publisher in Malta.
- If you were asked to recommend just one children's book published this year, what would it be?
- I'd recommend the magical wonder that is 'Leon and the Place Between' by Graham Baker-Smith, I believe it may have been published last year but the paper back was this year! It's amazing, I can't stop looking at all thw wonderful detail.
- What is the most important thing you learned about writing or illustrating this year?
- Not to give up, to believe in myself and to keep reading and drawing and examining the work that is being published.
Links to my website and blog ...
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Happenings
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Illustration: Michael Foreman's War Boy Exhibition
November 10, 2009 to December 23, 2009 – National Army Museum, Chelsea
Exploring some of the complex themes of the World Wars and the civilian connection with the British Army, War Boy is a unique opportunity to see original artwork by leading children's illustrator Mic…
Organized by National Army Museum | Type: exhibition
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Amazon Breakthrough Novel Competition is open to YA
January 25, 2010 to February 7, 2010 – International
YA is a new category. and previously self published novels are accepted. Read about it here. Submissions are accepted between 25 Jan 2010 and 7 Feb 2010
Organized by amazon in the United States | Type: competition
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FEDERATION OF CHLDREN'S BOOKGROUPS CONFERENCE
April 9, 2010 at 4pm to April 11, 2010 at 4pm – Bradfield College - Reading
READ IT AGAIN!! Conference 2010 The Conference will be opened by Anthony Horowitz, celebrating 10 years of Alex Rider and will be closed by William Nicholson. In between we will be delighted and ente…
Organized by Jackie Marchant | Type: conference
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Festival of Writing, York
April 10, 2010 to April 11, 2010 – York
http://www.festivalofwriting.com/index.shtml Good line up and worth going if anyone is in the area - workshops, one-to-ones, agents, publishers, authors. They're taking bookings from tomorrow - firs…
Organized by The Writer's Workshop | Type: writing, festival
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London Book Fair 2010
April 19, 2010 to April 21, 2010 – Earl's Court, London
The London Book Fair is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. Taking place every spring in the wo…
Organized by London Book Fair | Type: book fair
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Children's Writers Conference in Italy
June 18, 2010 to June 21, 2010 – Duino, Italy
Do you have an interest in writing for children or young adults? Whether published or unpublished, you are very welcome to join us at an exciting new Conference. The Children’s Writers’ Conference w…
Organized by Ruth Eastham ruth_eastham@yahoo.com | Type: conference
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I received my picture book back at the weekend from Walker Books. My heart sank when I saw the package as I knew it must be a rejection. But there were some words of encouragement and insistence that I send it off to other publishers. So Bug Belly was only in the house for 2 days and is now whizzing his way to Little Tiger Press.
Meanwhile I have been working on the illustrations for Helen Bonney's Woppapotamus, between other jobs.
I like the look of your sketches, I forget now what you said you listened to whilst working, is it still the same or have you summoned up new music for this new commission?
cheers, Paul.x
Sorry to hear you're not going to Winchester this time.I'm going but didn't think I'd be able to for the same reason as you but have somehow talked myself into being able to scrape it together, oh well no food for a couple of weeks! I'm just kidding thankfully.
I feel a wee bit in limbo at the mo waiting for the publisher I mentioned and trying to do up a proper portfolio. Unfortunately have lots more ideas but haven't put them down yet as have had loads going on, e.g boiler blowing and our daughter being assessed for autism. Hopefully this week will be a bit more productive.
The new fairy Tales looks good,all beautiful work and for a really good cause.Speak soon,
Jamie x
Just wondered if you're going to the conference. love your new work by the way! x
With the Blogspot (another question coming up!) can alter the position of your images once they are loaded? Would like some of my work to be shown on the current page but because I put it on first it takes some scrolling through to find it. Thought i might put some of it on a slideshow on there too. Speak soon, Jo x
I've been thinking a lot about what I got out of my MA and I do think it was worth it. Not for the reasons you may think, but more for finding out more about myself and how I work, or need to work, and being okay with that. I was always comparing myself to others, and you do need to look at how your work stands up professionally, but I judged myself in a more personal way that wasn't conducive to being an artist. It's a funny thing - you need to know what is out there and how what you do may be marketable, but you also have to not pay attention at the same time. That was one of Chris's words of wisdom on the way to the train. So yes, the MA helped get to know myself better, what I really wanted to do, and it definitely stretched me.
Couple more questions! Want to add some of my old work onto blog spot, do I have to put work on in any order or can I jostle it about and put in categories (like book jackets, editorial etc) for example?Also how did you get the SCBWI logo on to Blog spot?
Hope all ok and you're enjoying the sunshine. Can get my head around work tomorrow as my little one starts nursery, um where do I start???
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Thanks, glad i have spots! How did you do your header? Thought I would just stick to my name to keep it simple. Just going to keep experimenting really with diff techniques. I put pressure on myself to come up with the finished article all the time due to lack of time and pressure to try to make money, keeping at it, like you said yourself on here-is the way you see yourself develop and improve. I was pleased to get actual feedback it makes a difference, although I think everyone has a different opinion so you have to make your own mind up in the end.
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