I have two non-fiction books coming out in 2013 from Annick Press. 

Showtime is a look behind the scenes at big theatrical events. It's a kind of sequel to Game Day, which took a similar look at sporting events.

And


Follow Your Money! Michael Hlinka and I look at where the $$$$ actually goes when you buy everything from shoes to cars. (Yes, that Michael Hlinka, from CBC and UofT!)  
Here's a sneak preview of the artwork. 

There's also a pic up on my Facebook page.  Make sure you LIKE the page when you visit!

Neil in London

I'm pouring over old maps of London (and even Londinium) as I write Neil Flambe #5. I'm steeped in the history of the place.

No ETA for the book as of yet, but it will involve Shakespeare, London theatre and (of course) great British food... and tea! (Not poisoned this time, I promise)

Stay tuned...

2013 Eustace Tilley

Here's my pic for this year's Eustace Tilley contest for the New Yorker.

I figure Tilley was the original disinterested hipster type... so he can't even be bothered to look at the butterfly. And he's a little rude.

I hate flying, but love it when I'm in the sky. Here's the view from the flight out of Phoenix (location for Neil Flambe #6)

"Merry" Christmas...

The great folks at Simon and Schuster asked me to do a festive neil pic for the holiday e-card. 

The words "merry", "jolly" and "happy" rarely find their way into descriptions of Neil, so even a red nose can't cheer him up too much... he's probably wondering if Rudolph would go better with a wine sauce or an elderberry reduction...

Tilley Endures

The New Yorker has launched its Eustace Tilley contest for another year.

Here's my 2012 submission (which was also the very first blowncovers.com winner!)

What shall I do this year.......?

SCBWI

Tomie dePaola is one of my all-time faves, as both a writher and illustrator.

So imagine my joy when I saw that his annual Illustrator Award for the SCBWI members was looking for black and white work.

The challenge is to pick a bit from one of three classic books. I choose Tom Sawyer, a great book... full of kids behaving badly, or perhaps just naturally.

This is Tom during his prolonged absence from ordinary life. I kind of see him as (a) confused by the words on the facing page - he plays hooky a lot (b) perplexed by the mystery sound in the text and (c) beginning to feel the metaphorical deepness of life, which Twain represents as the Mississippi River.