The Star Fairy is CANCELED

As many of you know I was working three months straight on a book in my time outside of work titled "The Star Fairy" by Chris Zuschlag. Well the finished illustrations were sent to him in August. In mid September I received an email about changes that he wanted, thinking that they were minor changes what he didn't think is even minor changes are DRASTIC in paintings. Some of the changes could have been asked for when I sent him the line drawings but I was told that they were great so I moved forward.

Now the author of the book actually wasn't a writer he was a landscaper and snowboard instructor. So honestly the book wasn't up to great par... it had some major flaws. Then because he didn't know much about publishing children's books he didn't actually know that illustrators have to be paid... >.<. Yeah... I know you're probably wondering why I even took the deal, huh? Well I wanted to be published before I was 25 (which is tomorrow so that won't happen) and I thought if I didn't take it I could lose my one shot. So I made an arrangement that he'd only have to reimburse me for my supplies along with some other demands. 

Anyways when I told him that I wouldn't make those changes, he told me then they won't go to print. When you've made a great deal like that with an artist (a $1000 dollar minimum job for $80.94)... do you really want to test them? No. First off he set a fast deadline for someone that actually has a day job to pay the bills. Then afterwards... he said they he had no deadline and you rather have it exactly how he'd like it. I'm sorry but I even dislike the book A LOT but it was a rushed job (there are some things I love which are the things he wanted changed) and time isn't endless for me when there isn't actual money coming in. So I wrote him a long letter of disapproval and advised him to find another generous illustrator because even if I redid the book I would not be doing the sequels that he's planned. So as of yesterday... the book is officially canceled.

The Oracle

This is a concept painting for one of my own children's books called Milo's Study. It's a mini series of 40-page children's books. The concept started with just doing 3 books (called Buttons, Bobbles, and Beads)... but it soon grew into this massive project that I'm in love with. I plan for it to be a book series of about 8... each having it's own mini adventure but they add up to being apart of one big one.

The idea behind them is for kids that aren't just yet into young reader's novels but ready to get out of the simpler children's books. It's based around teams of families that have discovered creatures of myth... so I'm intertwining it with some of my own creatures (like the oracle). Most of the creatures for the story will be from world myths such as the gnoll/ goblin, fairies/ pixies, kappa and inari, and so on. Each somewhat having a connection to the deadly sins (why... don't ask... it's a common theme used and I thought it would be fun to play with even though it's rather complex for kids). Some of the team members are on the good side... trying to protect the creatures, their treasures, or what they represent while others are corrupted by greed and are abusing those they once went in search for when they weren't tainted by their desires. I have the books scratched out so far but not to the point of fully explaining each of them.... or want to hahaha. All I can say is that I hope that it will be great... at least in my head it sounds like a rather enjoyable and profitable project.

As for the Oracle (from book one and possibly reoccurs in all of them)... I can at least explain her. An Oracle is generally one that can foresee what will be. I thought an octopus (being that it is a smart and nurturing creature that it would make a GREAT visionary (no the octopus can't talk))... she possesses a massive pearl (crystal ball idea) that can show hints and images. She grants use of it to one of the team members (Milo- the seen as "crazy" grandfather), who is sworn to protect it from all that is corrupt. It is one of the most powerful items of the bunch due to the fact that it can show you what you question about and even don't question about. When Milo comes up missing the granddaughters are able to use it. It is what is left in the picture.

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