Carolyn: Grandpa’s Stars was the fastest book I’ve ever written, taking about one month from concept to acquisition, although there was a long wait between signing the contract and actual publication. Once the idea for this story took hold, it spilled out of me in a rush. By comparison, my first picture book took me over a decade to write! The inspiration behind Grandpa’s Stars came from something one of my kids said near the end of a long, dark drive to Haliburton (although I can’t remember which one of my kids said it now). Whoever it was, mentioned something about knowing we were getting close, and I was surprised, thinking they had recognized a landmark in the dark. But when I asked how they knew, they replied, “I can see Grandpa’s stars.” That simple line burrowed into my brain, a tiny seed of an idea, waiting for the right conditions to bloom. Samantha: Grandpa's Stars is the first book I've illustrated that has been published! In my career it's very common to have projects that never see the light of day, so I'm very excited to have something I can actually show people and have a copy of. I previously worked on an unpublished graphic novel that had some similar themes, the relationship between grandchild and grandfather was very prominent and it also took place partially in a cabin in the woods. I grew up in a log cabin in small town BC, so it's a very familiar environment. My family and I would often lie on the dock and watch meteor showers. So for this project I drew inspiration from previous work, my childhood spent in a rural environment and my current life in the city. Grandpa’s house in the woods Carolyn: There’s something magical about seeing your story come to life through illustrations for the first time and getting a glimpse of how another person interprets it. I remember the day I saw the initial sketches for Grandpa’s Stars; that was the day the book started to feel real. One of the early drawings that got Carolyn so excited Samantha: I've been a digital illustrator for most of my career but I hadn't updated my equipment in a long time and was tied down to a desk with a huge old Cintiq and photoshop. For this book I treated myself to a new iPad and started messing around in Procreate. It quickly became my favourite software to work in and I loved how portable it was. I was able to work on the book from everywhere I went, deadlines were short and I was helping my brother move, so I would draw in the truck and on the plane. The whole book was done digitally in Procreate including the sketches. The completed illustration from the final spread of the story. Carolyn: In addition to writing picture books, I also write novels, and usually have between 2-5 projects on the go. Right now, I have three novels and two picture books in various stages of completion. I get up early to write, when the house is quiet and the busyness of the day hasn’t yet taken over. As a full-time grade seven teacher, at the end of the day, I simply don’t have the energy to be creative. Plus, there’s usually a lot of other stuff going on at the end of the work day: dinner prep, kids’ activities, new episodes of The Voice.
Samantha: I'm a full-time freelancer and I do a bit of everything! Illustration has always been my main passion but I learned early on that it wasn't going to pay all my bills. Currently I’m doing a lot of graphic design, animation and motion graphics. In the past I did a lot of editorial illustrations for magazines and newspapers but I've pivoted in my style a bit and am currently seeking more kidlit projects. I recently started teaching continuing education classes in illustration and design at my alma mater and I'm really enjoying sharing my passion and knowledge with an eager audience. I work from home with my partner and my cat Joan in a very old house that backs onto a lovely old cemetery where we frequently go for walks. Grandpa’s Stars (Fitzhenry & Whiteside) was released on March 15, 2023. You can learn more about Carolyn and Samantha by visiting their websites or following them on social media: carolynhuizingamills.ca Instagram @carolynhuizingamills Twitter @huizingamills samanthalucy.com Instagram & Twitter @samanthalucyh Comments are closed.
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