<\/p>\n
This is the spellbinding opening of Chapter 4 in author\/illustrator Rosalyn Schanzer’s<\/a><\/strong> Witches! The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, published by National Geographic Children’s Books in September of this year. Two terrified men think they see a beast fly up into the air and turn into the spirits of three witches, while the three accused \u201cwitches\u201d are in jail at the time. <\/p>\n The Society of Illustrator’s<\/a><\/strong> 2011 Original Art Opening Reception and Awards Presentation<\/a><\/strong> will be next Thursday, October 27th, in New York City, and you can bet Rosalyn will be there, as she was awarded the Gold Medal<\/a><\/strong> for the aforementioned nonfiction title. Though I was a jury member this year, I can’t make it to the reception, but the least I can do is feature Rosalyn here at 7-Imp right before her big night. (To be fair, I should point out that the two Silver Medal winners, Kadir Nelson and Lane Smith, have previously visited 7-Imp — here<\/a><\/strong> and here<\/a><\/strong>, respectively.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When I asked Rosalyn about breakfast this morning, she first responded with, “uh-oh\u2026really?” Should I be scared? Turns out no. “It\u2019s not exactly your typical bacon and eggs: Shredded Wheat with walnuts or pecans, a lot of fresh blueberries, a lot of fresh strawberries, a West Virginia peach from the farmers’ market (in the winter, sub one banana), some raisins, and skim milk. Then I eat some chocolate. My excuse is that I\u2019m a competitive swimmer and I have to carb-load.”<\/p>\n I can deal with this, especially the chocolate part, as long as she lets me brew some strong coffee. <\/p>\n I’m happy Rosalyn visited today (and not just ’cause she’s originally from Tennessee). She’s been making engaging nonfiction titles for children for years, and it’s lovely to see her awarded by the Society of Illustrators for her arresting scratchboard art in Witches!<\/em> … Without further ado, here she is, and I thank her for visiting. <\/p>\n Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Are you an illustrator or author\/illustrator?<\/font><\/p>\n Rosalyn<\/font><\/strong>: Both -\u2013 gives the control freak in me the most control over my own books. <\/p>\n Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you list your books-to-date?<\/font><\/p>\n Rosalyn<\/font><\/strong>: Here are the books in print, starting with the most recent and working backwards (OMG, three titles include exclamation points, something I never noticed. That\u2019s supposed to be bad, but hey…): <\/p>\n These are not in print, but I like them anyway:<\/p>\n Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your usual medium, or–\u2013if you use a variety—your preferred one?<\/font> <\/p>\n Rosalyn<\/font><\/strong>: I am easily bored, so I\u2019ve tried out almost every media known to man and beast, except for oil paint, because it takes too long to dry. I change styles all the time, too (not a good way to be recognized as an artist). <\/p>\n As an aside, I\u2019ve been using talk balloons in my illustrations for a good million years, give or take a few. Problem is, this means you can\u2019t hang your paintings on a wall, because the words in the balloons are almost always set in type, so the balloons in the original art have to be empty. Talk balloons used to be frowned upon by everyone but me and the comics-addicts, but now they\u2019re spoze to be cool.<\/p>\n If you want an actual list of mediums (abbreviated), I\u2019ve painted entire books on wood veneer and on rough canvas and on various and sundry kinds of paper with every possible texture (but mostly cold press Strathmore Bristol Board). I use gouache or acrylics or acrylic gouaches or concentrated analine ink dyes, like Luma, which they don\u2019t make any more. Beware: they also fade. I do lots of outlining with various kinds of pens or even archival magic markers (another bad thing I love). I add texture with colored pencils or Cray-pas. I also use cut paper and have done a few collages and some fake woodcuts using, um, potatoes, among other stuff. <\/p>\n Color is my fave; sometimes it saves my bacon if the art isn\u2019t perfect enough. But Witches!<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, my latest book, was done in black and white on Ampersand Scratchbord (yes, “bord”) with small spots of red added digitally.<\/p>\n Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If you have illustrated for various age ranges (such as, both picture books and early reader books OR, say, picture books and chapter books), can you briefly discuss the differences, if any, in illustrating for one age group to another? <\/font> <\/p>\n Rosalyn<\/font><\/strong>: At one time or another, I\u2019ve illustrated tons of books, posters, pop-up books, games, and magazine and newspaper articles for every age group on the planet, from toddlers through adults, and except for about fifteen simple board books for very tiny kids, the styles I use work well for most everyone.<\/p>\n Subject matter is a horse of a different color. My new YA book uses a lot of symbolism that younger kids might not get, and one or two of the pictures are way too evil for little people.<\/p>\n Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Where are your stompin\u2019 grounds?<\/font><\/p>\n Rosalyn<\/font><\/strong>: I stomp around in Fairfax Station, VA, outside of D.C.<\/p>\n Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you briefly tell me about your road to publication?<\/font> <\/p>\n Rosalyn<\/font><\/strong>: After college, I worked in that large famous greeting card company in Kansas City for seven entire years in the humorous greeting card department and the book department, till I decided it was high time to freelance. You\u2019d be very surprised to hear who else used to work there, but they ain\u2019t talking. <\/p>\n Anyway, I instantly wrote a children\u2019s book, called The Beggar\u2019s Treasure<\/em>, did a sample illustration, and mailed it straight to New York right over the transom to Holt Rinehart and Winston. Then they instantly accepted it. This was so easy that I thought I was home-free, even though I still lived in Kansas City, Missouri. <\/p>\n Not. I ended up illustrating other people\u2019s books and junk via a New York agent for the longest time. The pay was great, if you became an Art Ho and illustrated five pages a day, but needless to say, I like what I\u2019m doing now a whole lot better. <\/p>\n Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you please point readers to your web site and\/or blog?<\/font> <\/p>\n Rosalyn<\/font><\/strong>: www.rosalynschanzer.com<\/a><\/strong> (my personal website) and inkrethink.blogspot.com<\/a><\/strong> (I.N.K.: Interesting Nonfiction for Kids<\/em>, which features a slew of the best nonfiction writers around). I\u2019m also part of this related site<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n And here’s<\/a><\/strong> a link to my Witches!<\/em> trailer (also included below here): <\/p>\nRosalyn, pictured here in disguise, has been writing and illustrating books for years now, and—as you can see in the Q & A below—is very passionate about nonfiction and bringing history to life for young readers. As she explains this morning, she is also very involved in I.N.K.: Interesting Nonfiction for Kids<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, a site which features nonfiction writers and illustrators and offers opportunities for others to see how they practice their craft. (If you haven’t visited I.N.K.<\/em> yet, by all means, take some time right now to go have a look at this impressive site. Rosalyn and I will wait patiently here for you. I can whistle.)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/10-BEN-cover-a.jpg\")
\n<\/a>
\n
The Adventures of Lewis and Clark<\/a><\/strong>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n\n
![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/15-John-Smith-cover-a.jpg\")
\n
\n<\/a>
\n
(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<\/a>
\n
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<\/a>
\n
minus the title and boxed area,” Rosalyn says.<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n
\n<\/a>
\n<\/a>
\n
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n
\n
Those are Ben’s drawings of his inventions in the background.”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<\/a>
\n
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n