7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #363: Featuring Lori Nichols

h1 December 29th, 2013 by jules

Author/illustrator Lori Nichols isn’t new to 7-Imp (she visited back in 2010), but at this 2013 visit she’s well on her way with an agent and a picture book scheduled to be released in February of next year by Nancy Paulsen Books. I’ve seen this book, called Maple, which Kirkus has already given a starred review. It’s charming, just like Kirkus says, and I hope to cover it here soon at 7-Imp when it hits bookshelves. So, more on that later (but the cover is pictured below).

Today, I’m sharing images which Lori created last Fall and which I really like. Lori is working on some ideas for Nancy Paulsen using some of these characters, but I secured her permission to share a small handful of them today.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.













 

And here’s the cover of Maple:

 

All images are copyright © 2013 by Lori Nichols and used with her permission.

* * * * * * *

Note for any new readers: 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome.

* * * Jules’ Kicks * * *

1) I get to see Eisha and her boyfriend today.

2) That is worthy of some repetition: I get to see Eisha today!

3) I discovered the novels of Elena Ferrante.

4) I sat down with trepidation to practice piano after about a week away from it, due to holiday busy-ness, and my brain creaked a little (along with my fingers), but I’m not too bad off.

5) I can now play a version of Brahms’s Lullaby. (RUFUS, HERE I COME.)

6) My best Christmas gift was a home-made pop-up book of cats from my girls.

7) I’m reading grant applications today. I’m wrapping up my second year of a two-year term as a member of the ALSC Grant Administration Committee for the American Library Association. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: It’s inspiring to read about what many innovative and enthusiastic librarians across the country are doing.

What are YOUR kicks this week? Also, Happy New Year to all!





21 comments to “7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #363: Featuring Lori Nichols”

  1. Hi all! I’m sorry I didn’t make it in last week as it looks like there were some great kicks shared! I was busy hosting my family’s Christmas gathering (early, obviously).

    Jules, SAY HI TO EISHA FOR US! HI EISHA!

    I love the sound of your pop-up-book gift.

    1. My immediate family’s Christmas celebration was great as usual. It’s low stress as we all just bring the food we feel like eating, and then we all hang out eating that food.
    2. Watching the baby’s face as we opened up the presents, he loves paper so much.
    3. My partner’s family celebrations was also relaxed and nice, and of course the baby was the star.
    4. A large family gathering at my Nan’s for the couple of days after Christmas was so much fun. I got to catch up with relies I haven’t seen in a while. Lots of kids and babies now too. So much nice noise!
    5. Swimming at the beach. Bliss.
    6. Catching up with friends who have a cute 6 week old baby today.
    7. A great storm has just passed through.


  2. Emmaco, of course the baby was the star, ’cause he’s obscenely adorable and BRILLIANT! (So, I haven’t met him in person, but I just know that he is brilliant.)

    Glad you had a great time. Happy near year!


  3. Make that happy NEW year, but “near year” works too, I guess.


  4. I love Lori’s combo of natural materials and ink(?)drawings. Love the ginkgo leaf as umbrella.
    Jules, hi to Eisha and I bet the pop- up book is something else.
    Emmaco, babies and Chistmas, can’t get better than that. Also swimming.
    My kicks:
    1. Christmas Eve with oldest daughter and family.
    2. Christmas Day so low key and quiet.
    3. Time to read.
    4. Time to nap.
    5. Time.
    6. Breakfast with a friend.
    7. Hanging with friends.
    Happy New Year.


  5. I’ve been following Lori’s images as well. It’s been fun to watch and I can’t wait to get my hands on her book. Lori is such a lovely person and illustrator.

    Jules – Homemade gifts are the best! Say,”Hello” to Eisha for us all.
    emmaco – Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday. It’s so nice to have all that love around you.

    I had a wonderful Christmas as well but the day after I got the Christmas-Crash-Cold. The upside to being sick was I got some time to start reading, “The Goldfinch” (one of my favorite gifts) and have been binge-watching “House of Cards” with my hubby.
    I am also using this time to ponder my past, present and future. I’m not loving all of the the thoughts passing through my cold medicine induced mind but letting them float around freely feels good.

    My kicks this week are seven wishes for you and yours and me and mine.

    1. Good Health
    2. Love
    3. Adventure
    4. Wealth (not just the money kind)
    5. Challenges
    6. Successes
    7. Time to read

    Happy New Year!


  6. Moira,
    We must have crossed in cyber space…hope you feel better. I love your 7 wishes.


  7. They are truly wonderful and I can’t wait to see the book! 🙂 e


  8. Good morning, Imps!

    Lori Nichols: I love the combination of black-and-white sketches with full-color real-life items. The moose, the tutu, and the stargazing are my favorites!

    Jules: Say hi to Eisha for me! I hope you have a wonderful visit with her and hers, and I hope that you and yours are doing well. That sounds like an awesome, one-of-a-kind gift. Kudos on your piano work.

    emmaco: I second your caps lock for EISHA GREETINGS. Glad that you had catch-up time with your relatives. The gift wrap or boxes the gifts come in are a great delight to little ones and critters.

    Jone: Sychronistic events happen to me all of the time. I was not surprised when I read “time” on your list as I was typing the word “time” AND the voiceover on the TV commercial said, “Time.”

    Moira: I hope you feel 100% well soon. Rest up.

    Hi Elizabeth!

    My kicks for the past week:
    1) Closing night
    2) Calm
    3) Family
    4) TV
    5) Mail
    6) Opportunities
    7) Safe


  9. Oh, how much do I want an Italian-parsley tutu! Or maidenhair fern hair? Or a ginko-leaf umbrella! These images strike such a wonderful whimsical-but-why-not? balance. Thank you for sharing these fun images Lori! (Thx for showing us Jules.)

    jules – those #3 novels look compelling—I’ll have to take a peek. Tip of the hat to Eisha. Would love to see a pop-up cat—what a cool gift! G’luck with your grant choices.

    emmaco – what a cozy family (both sides!) you have. Thanks for the baby-wrapping paper scene; took me back to my boys’ Christmases—forget the toys, gimme boxes and paper.

    jone – Time, it seems, was on your side this week. Glad you enjoyed it. HNY to you, too.

    Moira – feel better (but sick-bed binge watching is sometimes the greatest thing. No guilt just the next episode…) ha-ha. And what nice wishes.

    LW – applause for closing night. And (2 – 5) nice to see that even you take a break sometimes. 7 – is a rare emotion given the shark-infested tides of your career. Stay safe.

    Well, I pulled off my annual “Christmas in three days” decorating and shopping binge; it’s not for everyone, I know—but I rather enjoy bustling shopping malls at midnight and wrapping presents like a fairy tale Shoe Elf (while everyone else in the house sleeps).

    I have a few kicks and a few wishes (per Moira’s lovely example) to share:

    K1. candlelight, card games and candy on the table to munch on when you’re losing.

    K2. trimming the tree with my family; putting up our odd collection of ornaments.

    K3. hubby’s surprise gift: 1st ed Peter Rabbit. No wonder he was smiling.

    K4. moonlit walk along the bluff cliffs with my son’s little dog.

    W5. that anyone discouraged finds a blustery second wind in the New Year.

    W6. that I (we) run into 7-Imp kickers in person somewhere in the kidlit world in 2014.

    W7. that your New Year resolutions… resolve like you hope.

    Have a Happy New Year everyone!


  10. More tomorrow. Promise. Today got away from me.


  11. LOVE!!!!!!!!! Oh, my goodness, that book! Those pictures!!!


  12. Oh gosh, whizzing by while in Ohio with Hubby’s family for the Holidays, which has been a blast.
    LOVE the art. Can’t wait to see Maple! So grateful that there are such creative, CREATIVE people in this world.
    Adore the kicks and wishes. What a love bunch of people!
    And I agree – of course Emmaco’s baby was the star – how could he not be!?!?
    I love Denise’s W6 – that we run into fellow kickers somehow this year – this would be amazing and encouraging!

    My Kicks involve:
    1. seeing my Little and Hubby building 2 snowmen in the dark our first 2 nights here with just a few inches of snow – my son’s dream come true. He has the book and the movie The Snowman memorized.
    2. seeing our Tiny get so much love and attention from all the relatives. She is grinning ALL the time!
    3. seeing our Tiny play with my husband and brother’s matchbox cars that must be at least 50 years old!
    4. watching our Little go in circles after eating so much homemade fudge, pumpkin pie and cheesecake. We are pretty much a sugar free household. But hey – it is the Holidays and who wants to say no to Grandma!?
    5. visiting the Titanic artifact exhibit in Cleveland with family today and learning that my mother-in-law had numerous relatives on the Titanic, some of whom perished, but many of whom are the characters in the “legends” and stories that everyone has heard about. Will try to fill everyone in next week.
    Wishing the world peace and more art and creativity.
    Happy New Year to All!


  13. I LOVE the 2D + 3D effect! SO fresh and creative 😀


  14. Hi all! I wanted to pop in to say thank you to everyone for all your great comments! I was traveling yesterday and unable to connect with anything other than my phone.

    Here are my kicks:

    1) Getting a call from Jules asking if I’d be willing to share my artwork for 7-imp
    2) Getting the OK from my editor, Nancy Paulsen, to share these images on 7-imp
    3) Reading all your comments and kicks!
    4) My daughter asking for a cardboard box for Christmas.
    5) A flip book that Zoe made me for Christmas
    6) My sister moving here from OKC. We haven’t been in the same town together for 22 years.
    7) OK, # 1 again. Being featured here on 7-imp. Such a great honor.

    I hope everyone has a wonderful new year.


  15. Jone, glad you’ve had a good, restful holiday. I’ve been reading a lot, too, since I haven’t had to work for a bit.

    Moira, I hope you feel better really soon, and it’s good to slow down and think like that, I think, even if you don’t like some thoughts. … I love House of Cards and look forward to season 2 in February. Also, I love the opening music. … What lovely and considerate kicks. Thank you for that.

    Hi, Elizabeth!

    Little Willow, hope you’ve had a restful holiday, too, though I know you love working, love what you do, and generally don’t sleep a lot.

    Denise, also lovely, kind kicks. I particularly like wish #6 and hope it happens. And, oh, I like wish #5 too! And FIRST EDITION PETER RABBIT. Whoa. Yes, no wonder he was smiling. I bet he was smiling big.

    Hi, Tanita!

    Allison, so glad you had a good holiday — and I love that the baby was happy and loved. But of course! Kick #5 gave me chills. I wanna hear more.

    Hi, Donna Marie.

    Lori, thanks again for sharing, and that is really great news about your sister. Also, cardboard boxes are the best. The very best.

    Happy new (and near) year to all!


  16. Love these! SO creative, and I love Lori’s drawings. Can’t wait to read Lori’s new picture book in February!


  17. Loved Lori’s illustrations! It would be great to have students follow her model of using ink drawings mixed with natural elements.


  18. Love Lori’s work thanks for posting…just pasted this on to scbwi ww!! Cheers,
    Suzanne


  19. LOVE, love love Lori Nichol’s! Wonderful to see her flutter her leaves here, and can’t wait for MAPLE. xo


  20. Jules, I discovered Elana Ferrante recently too. Ouch, ooh, yow. Piercingly brilliant. I bow down.


  21. […] Seven Impossible Things post featuring debut author/illustrator Lori Nichols and a new perspective on leaves (just in time to […]


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