How to Make a Book

I often get asked about my book making process, so during the making of The House on Hare Hill I took lots of photos, so I could blog them and show you how I do it. This was via the 'make lots of mistakes and learn' route.

In October last year, I had this idea and did a quick sketch. A hare that takes up Yoga for a New Year's Resolution.

I liked the idea a lot - it made me laugh; as I have been Yoging (I made that word up, I do that a lot) since my early 20's, I didn't have to do much research. However, I knew from past experience that tying an idea down to a particular time of year brings a few challenges. So I ditched the 'New Year's Resolution' idea and decided that she would give up boxing and take up yoga instead. After all, it's much better for you.

Above is my thumbnail sketches. As you can see, sometimes I leave a page blank and wait for inspiration to strike, or scribble some words as I can't quite see what the layout is going to look like yet. Next, it's the layout for each page. For some reason I did all Hare Hill layouts in purple. I don't even like purple - it's my worstest colour, but I really liked the texture of the graphite, so I ignored the colour.

Then, as they are drawn, they get stuck up around my studio so I can keep a visual reference to where I am and exactly what happens next in the story. Sometimes things change at this point, if something doesn't flow or quite make sense.

More picures of the story around my walls. It's usually tidier than this. (Not true.)

 











 Developing the characters is a really important job - and making sure you refer back to the original as the book evolves. The face needs to be the same proportion; if one page has eyebrows, ALL pages need eyebrows!! I know this. I've had eyebrow problems before.

One of my favourite things to fiddle about with is paint texture. In my latter dotage I have gone all 'mixed media', especially watercolour and soft chalk pastels combo. I love it! Get the big brush out and makes loads of mess. That's a great day's work for me!

Then for the serious stuff. I was in two minds about going back to the trusty old dip pen method and put aside my waterproof staedler pens. It got the thumbs up from the focus group, so I stuck with it, despite the long wait for the ink to dry. I found lots of ironing to do while each pic dried. I now have the flattest clothes on the Isle of Wight.

Then it's a case of scanning in the (dry) black and white drawing and start digital colouring. You may be able to see the sky and background are used from the paint textures picture, above.

The writing and editing of the words comes last when I'm doing picture books. I love picture books because it's almost like telling two stories - or maybe one story from two perspectives. It's almost as if I think about the child when making the pictures and the grown up when writing the words. I try to make it a bit silly and fun to read.

So there you go! The process of book making, Jules-style. Then it's a question of doing the other pages, the covers, sending it off to the printer, checking a proof and making any changes, ordering the books and putting them out there!

My next story is called Bluebell's New School and is a proper 9-11 year old novel with fewer pictures. I often get asked for older fiction, so here it is. This will be a 'words first' way of working though and I have just finished editing it. I have no idea how this will work so watch this space. EEp!

Have a grooverooni week

Jules x