Prize winner?

In my view a book is a dead thing after I'm done with writing it. It's just paper and board... until someone reads the story and created their own view of my world in their mind.

And I am always inspired by how that world comes alive.

So, this week breakfast with me was the "prize" for a group of school kids who competed in the Kids Lit Quiz Canada.

But they treated ME with a whole menu made up of Neil Flambe inspired foods!

Quiche!
Capers!
Chai! (not poisoned... I think)
Scones!
Grape and Cheese!
AND... they gave me a bag of home-made preserves!

I realized pretty quickly that I'd WON the prize!

Inspiration

I'm often (always) asked at schools "where do you get your inspiration?"

With writing, it comes from the thrill of hearing and (I hope) telling an exciting story.

With drawing, it's a bit different. I try to explain to kids that my brain looks for patterns everywhere - in wood grain, in the curve of a dark hair on white tile flooring, in shadows in clothing.

I was at Hillcrest School this week, and saw a perfect example of what I'm talking about. This basketball hoop in the school gym is clearly a cat.

Here's what my brain sees... and then I just have to draw that face.

And the bars on the top could even be the antennae on an alien kitty!

It's not the only place I find inspiration, but it does illustrate the maxim that inspiration often finds you.

Neil Flambe in a pot

From today's visit to Second Street School!

daily doodles

Over on my Facebook page I'm putting up daily doodles. Little exercises to practise my computer drawing skills.

Here's today's doodle - just to show you what's up.

Feel free to LIKE my page when you are there as well.