{"id":2141,"date":"2011-06-02T00:01:15","date_gmt":"2011-06-02T06:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2141"},"modified":"2011-06-07T11:06:03","modified_gmt":"2011-06-07T17:06:03","slug":"seven-questions-over-breakfast-with-james-ransome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2141","title":{"rendered":"Seven Questions Over Breakfast with
James Ransome: Or, How Creating a
Picture Book is Like Making Banana Walnut Bread"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Readers will likely marvel at why such a compelling figure has not received more attention,” writes Publishers Weekly<\/em> about the subject of one of the latest illustrated titles from James E. Ransome<\/a><\/strong>, Before There Was Mozart: The Story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (Schwartz & Wade, January 2011), written by Lisa Cline-Ransome<\/a><\/strong> (who happens to be James’s wife). This picture book biography tells the story of violinist Joseph Boulogne, the son of a white plantation owner and a black slave in the West Indies, born in 1745. Joseph eventually studied music in Paris, became a conductor and composer of his own operas (not to mention quartets, concertos, and ariettas), impressed Mozart himself, and played for King Louis the Sixteenth and Queen Marie Antoinette. (“Never before had a man of color entered the palace to perform for royalty!”) <\/p>\n

James, who is visiting me for breakfast this morning to discuss his books and art, rendered this story of an often-overlooked African American figure in rich and colorful mixed media illustrations, several of which are featured below. <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n

“Under Joseph’s direction, <\/em>les Amateurs outgrew the salons and moved into the H\u00f4tel de Soubise, in the heart of the Paris district called the Marais. Only those wealthy enough to play the five <\/em>livres for admission could enter the building
to hear the orchestra perform.”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

James’s very most recent picture book, released after Before There Was Mozart<\/em> and which he both wrote and illustrated, is one I haven’t read yet, but he discusses that below. He’s had a busy 2011, making books, and it’s a pleasure to have him visit me for breakfast this morning; I’ve followed his work with interest over the past few years. <\/p>\n

When asked about his meal-of-choice, I discover that I’m cyber-eating my cyber-breakfast with a fellow Southerner. “Being from the South,”<\/em> he said, “my favorite breakfast would have to include grits, along with scrambled eggs<\/font>. The choice of a side of meat is a toss-up between what my grandmother used to call ‘patty-cake sausage’ or bacon. And if it was my most favorite breakfast, there would have to be a biscuit on the side. I know: It’s really Southern, and now I mostly just have cereal with skim milk for breakfast.”<\/em> {Note: James is pictured below with his grandmother.}<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Well now. I was raised in Tennessee. I’m all about that heavy Southern breakfast. Let’s have at it, and I thank James for visiting today. Let’s get the basics, while we set the table for some good Southern biscuits . . . <\/p>\n

* * * * * * *<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Are you an illustrator or author\/illustrator?<\/font><\/p>\n

James<\/font><\/strong>: I’ve been illustrating books for 21 years and I’ve always considered myself an illustrator, although people would often refer to me as an author. Finally, this year (2011) I’ve had two books published, which I’ve both written and illustrated (Gunner<\/a><\/em><\/strong> came out in the Fall, and in March New Red Bike<\/a><\/em><\/strong> was released), so I’m happy to finally introduce myself as an Author\/Illustrator. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you list your books-to-date?<\/font><\/p>\n

James<\/font><\/strong>: About four years ago, my wife Lesa Cline-Ransome<\/a><\/strong> completed the manuscript for our most recent book: Before There Was Mozart<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, the story of an incredible musician, Joseph Boulogne, Le Chevalier de St. Georges<\/a><\/strong>, born to a slave mother and her master, who flourished as a classical violinist and composer, even performing for and giving lessons to Marie Antoinette. After the manuscript was finished, I began working on the book dummy. My wife and I went on research trips to Guadalupe, the island in the Caribbean where St. Georges was born, and the following year we went to Paris. I spent close to a year painting the images. This book is at the top of my list. As an artist, I was really attracted to the period clothing. I put a lot of time into getting it just right.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Anyone who spends time with me understands I’m a true football fan. The idea for the book Gunner<\/a><\/strong><\/em> came to me while doing school visits. I was shocked during a conversation with a group of elementary school students when I realized how important winning was to them. That’s what inspired me to write a book which deals with this topic: to try to give students some perspective, that there are different ways to win. It’s not always just the numbers on the scoreboard. For the illustrations, I reverted back to the way I used to work when I was in high school and influenced by the artists in Mad<\/em> magazine<\/strong><\/a>: Mort Drucker<\/a><\/strong> and Jack Davis<\/a><\/strong>. I tried to show my sense of humor in my book, {Angela Johnson’s<\/a><\/strong>} The Girl Who Wore Snakes<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, but I think Gunner<\/em> is the first true example of humorous illustrations.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The idea for my most recent book, New Red Bike<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, came from my desire to write something for very young children: pre-school and kindergarteners. I wanted to use the simplest to tell a story about sharing and the joy of riding a bicycle, an activity that I can’t find the time to enjoy as much as I’d like to.<\/p>\n

Some of my all-time favorite books I’ve illustrated are:<\/p>\n