{"id":2460,"date":"2013-01-07T00:06:50","date_gmt":"2013-01-07T06:06:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2460"},"modified":"2013-01-08T19:20:06","modified_gmt":"2013-01-09T01:20:06","slug":"seven-questions-over-breakfast-with-stephen-savage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2460","title":{"rendered":"Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Stephen Savage"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2F88A9eslSQ\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_3410 edit_2a-open.jpg\">See that video? Those are outtakes from my attempt with author\/illustrator <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stephensavage.net\/\">Stephen Savage<\/a><\/strong> (pictured left with Trinka in his studio) to do a video interview. He had the great idea of doing a breakfast interview with video or iPhone cameras&#8212;just me and him, back and forth&#8212;but you can see how well that went. At least we had fun with finger puppets and Play-Doh. <\/p>\n<p>We eventually gave up the idea of a video chat, but I found all our old videos last night, all our failed attempts, and created this, not really knowing what I was doing at <em>all<\/em> with the movie-making software, as you can tell by the absence of good things like music and smooth transitions. (When our back-and-forth questions and answers were done, had we actually pulled it off, Stephen&#8212;who knows what he&#8217;s doing with video&#8212;was to create the video interview.) The choppy, clumsy nature of what I made above shows you one of the reasons we never pulled it off. One day. One day, I say, I&#8217;ll learn all about makin&#8217; movies. Watch your back, Scorsese. <\/p>\n<p>But, hey, it was <em>really<\/em> fun chatting with him face-to-face for a while there. Plus, as a friend said, it&#8217;s impressive how we get nothing accomplished in the nearly four-minutes of footage. Also, it&#8217;s seriously fun to witness Stephen&#8217;s changing hairstyles here. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Polar Bear Morning jacket lrgltusefinal.JPG\" style=\"float:right;\">Stephen&#8217;s here this morning instead for the old-fashioned, regular breakfast interview at the 7-Imp salon. His timing is good, given that he has a new illustrated title out. <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2441\">Lauren Thompson&#8217;s<\/a><\/strong> <strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780439698856\">Polar Bear Morning<\/a><\/em><\/strong> was just released by Scholastic this month, and it&#8217;s the follow-up to 2004&#8217;s <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Polar-Night-Times-Illustrated-Awards\/dp\/0439495245\">Polar Bear Night<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (also by Lauren), which was one of the <em>New York Times&#8217;<\/em> Best Illustrated Books of the Year. <em>Polar Bear Morning<\/em> has already been met with a starred review from <em>Kirkus<\/em>, who praises its &#8220;clever composition,&#8221; noting that the &#8220;deceptive simplicity of the playful graphic design masks great sophistication.&#8221; Indeed. What they said. <\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s good to have Stephen here, given that at the release of 2011&#8217;s <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780439700498\"><em>Where&#8217;s Walrus?<\/em><\/a><\/strong> (Scholastic), which he both wrote and illustrated, I was hankerin&#8217; for him to visit over coffee. (Turns out that simply &#8220;coffee&#8221; is his breakfast-of-choice, too.) If somehow you missed this acclaimed book in 2011 &#8230; well, there are some spreads from it featured below. It&#8217;s a visually delightful, &#8220;incongruously silly&#8221; (<em>The Bulletin of the Center for Children&#8217;s Books<\/em>) keeper. Last year&#8217;s <strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781596436480\">Little Tug<\/a><\/em><\/strong> (Neal Porter\/Roaring Brook) was also a visual treat; as you can see with the art he shares in today&#8217;s interview, Stephen has a background in editorial illustration, and his crisp, bold artwork is well-suited to the big, round eyes of the youngest of readers. <\/p>\n<p>See what I mean? See these beautiful spreads from <em>Polar Bear Morning<\/em>, rendered via linoleum block printing? <!--more--><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/SuddenlyTEXT.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/SuddenlyTEXTsmall.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>&#8220;Suddenly, a snowy something tumbles down a little snow hill. The polar bear cub sees a snowy face. She sees snowy fur and snowy paws. It is a snow cub!&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/sealsTEXT.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/sealsTEXTsmall.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>&#8220;The two bear cubs sprint beside the sea, swiftly, swiftly.<br \/>They race past the seals.&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/birdTEXT.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/birdTEXTsmall.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>&#8220;The polar bear cubs pause at the ice&#8217;s edge.<br \/>Before them, the waves toss and flash.<br \/>The sea spray salts the air.&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/jumpTEXT.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/jumpTEXTsmall.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>&#8220;All at once, the two little bears jump into the sea &#8212; together.&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\nLet&#8217;s get to the interview already so that we can see more art. I thank Stephen for visiting &#8230; <\/p>\n<p><center><font size=4><strong>* * * * * * *<\/strong><\/font><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Meet_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/orange_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/orange_2small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Savage Little Tug 6_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Savage Little Tug 6_2small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>&#8220;But when the tall ship is still &#8230;&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/littletug-cover.JPG\"><\/p>\n<p><center><em>Spreads and cover from <\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781596436480\">Little Tug<\/a><\/strong><em><br \/>(Roaring Brook\/Neal Porter, 2012)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you list your books-to-date?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780439698856\">Polar Bear Morning<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, words by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2441\">Lauren Thompson<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781596436480\">Little Tug<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780439700498\"><em>Where&#8217;s Walrus?<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780689833458\">The Fathers Are Coming Home<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, words by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.margaretwisebrown.com\/\">Margaret Wise Brown<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Polar-Night-Times-Illustrated-Awards\/dp\/0439495245\">Polar Bear Night<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, words by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.laurenthompson.net\/\">Lauren Thompson<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/1-COVER_2ww.jpg\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/fountain_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/fountain_2-small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/store_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/store_2use.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/dance_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/dance_2-small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/park_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/park_2small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Spreads from <\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780439700498\">Where&#8217;s Walrus?<\/a><\/strong> <em>(Scholastic, 2011)<\/em><br \/>(Click each to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_0182_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;I&#8217;m joined by my <\/em>Walrus<em> editor, David Saylor (in the middle).<br \/>Editor Ken Geist is on the left.&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your usual medium, or\u2013\u2013if you use a variety\u2014your preferred one?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: Linoleum block printing and the computer. Sketchbooks are an integral part of my process, too, and I usually have a pocket sketchbook with me at all times. I find that my best ideas start as thumbnails in those books.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/sketchbook2_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/sketchbook2_2small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Early sketches for <\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780439700498\">Where&#8217;s Walrus?<\/a><\/strong><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If you have illustrated for various age ranges (such as, both early readers and picture books) can you briefly discuss the differences in illustrating for one age group to another?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: All my picture books have been for very young readers, but my editorial work is for adults. There&#8217;s more in common than you might think &#8212; for me it&#8217;s all about trying to invent simple images for things that are hard to put in words.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Big Lucy_2a.jpg\"><br \/>\n<center>New York Times Book Review <em>cover, 2003<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/evolutsonia_2_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Felt applique portrait of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, 2009<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG0001_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center>The New Yorker Magazine<em>, portrait of Harrison Ford<br \/>(in the action movie <\/em>Air Force One<em>), 1997<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/sizzle_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/sizzle_2small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Op-ed illustration, <\/em>New York Times<br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/russia_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/russia_2small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center>New York Times Book Review<em> cover, 2010<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/hibernating_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center>New York Times Book Review <em>cover, 2006<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/PWFinalcover_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/PWFinalcover_2small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center>Publisher&#8217;s Weekly <em>cover, 2012<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/rightshadow_2smallf.jpg\"><br \/>\n<center><em>Obama cross-stitch, 2008<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Where are your stompin\u2019 grounds?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: I live in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with my wife Stefanie, our daughter Chlo\u00eb, and our dog Trinka.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/savageVisit_2use.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_4838_2a.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Lox_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;My very first picture book, age 11&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/my wire_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;Wire sculpture, age 12&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/13-my dad_2a.jpg\"><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;Drawing of my father, age 14&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/hockey2_2_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/hockey2_2_2-small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;Team line-up then&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/literacy_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/literacy_2-small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;&#8230;team line-up now! I joined fellow Scholastic artists for a literacy event in 2011 &#8230; Left to right: <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jon_J_Muth\">Jon J Muth<\/a><\/strong> (<\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780439339117\">Zen Shorts<\/a><\/strong><em>), <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.marygrandpre.com\/\">Mary GrandPr\u00e9<\/a><\/strong> (<\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/triviana.com\/books\/harry7art.jpg\">Harry Potter<\/a><\/strong><em>), <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Norman_Bridwell\">Norman Bridwell<\/a><\/strong> (<\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Clifford_the_Big_Red_Dog\"><strong>Clifford the Big Red Dog<\/strong><\/a><em>), <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/goraina.com\/\">Raina Telgemeier<\/a><\/strong> (<\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780545132060\">Smile<\/a><\/strong><em>), <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bruce_Degen\">Bruce Degen<\/a><\/strong> (<\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Magic_School_Bus\">The Magic School Bus<\/a><\/strong><em>), <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.barbaramcclintockbooks.com\/\">Barbara McClintock<\/a><\/strong> (<\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780439925488\">Our Abe Lincoln<\/a><\/strong><em>), <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=1701\">Ed Fotheringham<\/a><\/strong> (<\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780545231350\">Tony Baloney<\/a><\/strong><em>), <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/David_Shannon\">David Shannon<\/a><\/strong> (<\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780590930024\">No, David!<\/a><\/strong><em>), <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.boneville.com\/\">Jeff Smith<\/a><\/strong> (<\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780439706407\">Bone<\/a><\/strong><em>), <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=1653\">Sean Qualls<\/a><\/strong> (<\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Dizzy-Jonah-Winter\/dp\/0439507375\">Dizzy<\/a><\/strong><em>), <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mark_Teague\">Mark Teague<\/a><\/strong> (<\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780439206631\">LaRue<\/a><\/strong><em>), and me &#8230;&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you briefly tell me about your road to publication?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: I was an art history major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduation, I moved to New York and worked in publishing for five years. During this time, I became interested in children&#8217;s books and published two pop-up books. By then, I was serious about becoming an illustrator, so I enrolled in the MFA Illustration program at the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sva.edu\/\">School of Visual Arts<\/a><\/strong>, graduated, and subsequently worked for many years as an editorial illustrator (still do). <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_8797_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;Walrus has a godfather: Scholastic editor\/creative director David Saylor.<br \/>He also edited\/art-directed <\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Polar-Night-Times-Illustrated-Awards\/dp\/0439495245\">Polar Bear Night<\/a><\/strong>.&#8221;<\/center><\/p>\n<p>In 1999, I began working with David Saylor and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2441\">Lauren Thompson<\/a><\/strong> at Scholastic. Lauren wrote <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780545485586\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Polar-Night-Times-Illustrated-Awards\/dp\/0439495245\">Polar Bear Night<\/a><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/em> with me in mind as the illustrator, and David edited, art-directed, and designed the book. In 2004, it was named a <em>New York Times<\/em> Best Illustrated children\u2019s book, an ALA Notable Book, and a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/36489853.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/3- sleepy seals_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/3- sleepy seals_2-small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>&#8220;She sees the seals. They are all sleeping.&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/whalers_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/whalers_2small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>&#8220;She sees the whales. They are swimming as they sleep.&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><center><em>Spreads from <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.laurenthompson.net\/\">Lauren Thompson&#8217;s<\/a><\/strong><br \/><\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Polar-Night-Times-Illustrated-Awards\/dp\/0439495245\"><strong>Polar Bear Night<\/strong><\/a><em><\/strong> (Scholastic, 2004)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Gaang_2a.jpg\"><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;This is the Korean edition of the book, and the reader is Gang Yum,<br \/>who is the son of illustrator <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2080\">Hyewon Yum<\/a><\/strong>,<br \/>a former student of mine at the School of Visual Arts.&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you please point readers to your web site and\/or blog?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stephensavage.net\">www.stephensavage.net<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_6960_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;My second picture book was <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Margaret_Wise_Brown\">Margaret Wise Brown&#8217;s<\/a><\/strong><br \/><\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780689833458\">The Fathers Are Coming Home<\/a><\/strong><em>.<br \/>Here I am at <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/bookcourt.com\/\">Bookcourt<\/a><\/strong> in Brooklyn.&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/pigs_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/pigs_2small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Spread from <\/em>The Fathers are Coming Home<em>:<br \/>&#8220;The pig father wallows over to his little piglets<br \/>that live in the pigpen and grunts at them.&#8221;<br \/>(Simon and Schuster\/Margaret McElderry Books, 2010)<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/fathersarecominghome.JPG\"><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If you do school visits, tell me what they\u2019re like.<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: The key always is to involve your audience. (Who doesn&#8217;t like to do &#8220;the wave&#8221; at a sporting event?) Q&#038;A sessions are great for 2nd and 3rd graders. Kindergartners love songs or chants. <\/p>\n<p>The first time I presented my wordless book, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780439700498\"><em>Where&#8217;s Walrus?<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, I totally panicked, thinking the students would be bored out of their skulls. As it turns out, <em>Walrus<\/em> is the most fun of all of my books to present, because it&#8217;s all about the students. Without a text, I&#8217;m free to do whatever. I remember I stood up in front of 300 kids in a school auditorium outside of Chicago with a microphone strapped to my face and had the students &#8220;vogue&#8221; the various poses in the book. I was like an aerobics instructor.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_1769_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>At the Brooklyn Museum Children\u2019s Book Fair<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Indonesiaa.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;Students from Tegal Jaya State Primary School 2 in Kampung Nagrog, Bogor (Indonesia) [with <\/em>Where&#8217;s Walrus?<em>], donated by Scholastic. &#8230; Books for Asia partners with the Indonesian non-profit Dompet Dhuafa to provide books to rural schools,<br \/>such as this one, which only recently established a library.&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>7-Imp<\/font><\/strong>: If you teach illustration, tell me how that influences your work as an illustrator.<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: I teach at the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sva.edu\/\">School of Visual Arts<\/a><\/strong> in Manhattan, which is great because it keeps me in &#8220;student mode.&#8221; I&#8217;ll hand out an assignment and tell students, &#8220;I want four thumbnails, two roughs, one color sketch. THEN you can do the final art.&#8221; Then, I&#8217;ll think to myself, &#8220;I&#8217;ve gotten lazy. I don&#8217;t even follow that regimen anymore.&#8221; Teaching forces you to &#8220;practice what you preach.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/schoolwalruses_2use.jpg\"><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;This art school drawing was the seed for [<\/em>Where&#8217;s Walrus?<em>].&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Any new titles\/projects you might be working on now that you can tell me about?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: <em>Ten Orange Pumpkins<\/em> for Dial Books will be out Fall 2013, and I am hard at work on a few other projects, one involving a (playful, plucky, lively) Walrus.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/coffee cup8.jpg\" title=\"Mmm. Coffee.\" alt=\"Mmm. Coffee.\"><font color=\"000066\">Okay, the coffee&#8217;s on the table, and it&#8217;s time to get a bit more detailed with seven questions over breakfast. I thank Stephen again for visiting 7-Imp.<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>1.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What exactly is your process when you are illustrating a book? You can start wherever you\u2019d like when answering: getting initial ideas, starting to illustrate, or even what it\u2019s like under deadline, etc. Do you outline a great deal of the book before you illustrate or just let your muse lead you on and see where you end up?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: I&#8217;ve worked as JUST the illustrator on three books, and that process is pretty straight-forward. I read the text a bunch of times and begin doodling ideas, trying to establish a &#8220;look&#8221; for the book. I experiment with setting and &#8220;audition&#8221; three or four different characters for the lead roles! I make a few finished pieces of art, too, to give everybody a sense of what the book is going to look like. Then it&#8217;s 1) rough dummy 2) tight dummy and 3) final art. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/notes_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/notes_2small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Thumbnails for <\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Polar-Night-Times-Illustrated-Awards\/dp\/0439495245\">Polar Bear Night<\/a><\/strong><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p>The process of writing and illustrating is a lot more difficult in that you are both coming up with the problem and the solution simultaneously. You start with an idea and ask a &#8220;What if&#8221; question. For example, &#8220;What if a hat fell onto the head of walrus and everybody mistook him for a man.&#8221; Often times, story ideas don&#8217;t make it past this initial phase. But if they do, you&#8217;re ready to attempt a dummy. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_2661_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_2661_2-small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;The art for <\/em>Polar Bear Night<em> was linocut.&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_2646_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_2646_2-small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;Ink is applied to the carved blocks&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/allanimalsfinal_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/allanimalsfinal_2-small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;The blocks are then pressed onto rice paper.&#8221;<br \/>A final spread from the book:<br \/>&#8220;The stars are like snowflakes, falling, falling.<br \/>They light up the snow and the ice.<br \/>They light up the lapping waves of the sea.<br \/>They light up the walrus and the seals and the whales.&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s where you can tell if your book has &#8220;good bones&#8221; (a term Neal Porter taught me). You (and others) can have the experience of reading the book and taking delight in the movement of the story from beginning to end. Making a dummy can take years and countless drafts (as in the case of <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780439700498\">Walrus<\/a><\/strong><\/em>) or it can take weeks (<em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781596436480\">Little Tug<\/a><\/strong><\/em>). And throughout this maddening process, you&#8217;re pulling your hair out wondering, &#8220;why isn&#8217;t this working? Does my idea suck? Or is the idea fine, but my solution sucks? Or does it all suck?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_3813_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen and Neal Porter at Book Expo 2012<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>2.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Describe your studio or usual work space.<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><font size=4><strong>Stephen<\/strong><\/font><\/strong>: I work in a room in a warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn. I&#8217;m on a floor with about a hundred other artists, mainly painters and sculptors. May I add that our building was spared by Hurricane Sandy.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/lil-artsist_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>At the drafting table then &#8230;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/studio_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/studio_2small.jpg\"><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>&#8230; and now.<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>3.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: As a book-lover, it interests me: What books or authors and\/or illustrators influenced you as an early reader?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=4><strong>Stephen<\/strong><\/font><\/strong>: My favorite picture book as a kid was <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/The-Whales-Go-Fred-Phleger\/dp\/0394800095\">The Whales Go By<\/a><\/strong><\/em> by Fred Phleger, illustrated by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paul_Galdone\">Paul Galdone<\/a><\/strong>. I also loved <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dr._Seuss\">Dr. Seuss<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aliki_Brandenberg\">Aliki<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Beatrix_Potter\">Beatrix Potter<\/a><\/strong>, and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/P._D._Eastman\">P.D. Eastman<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/whales go by_2small.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;My favorite picture book as a kid &#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/WHALES3_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/WHALES3_2small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;Illustrations by the great Paul Galdone &#8230;&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>4.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If you could have three (living) authors or illustrators&#8212;whom you have not yet met&#8212;over for coffee or a glass of rich, red wine, whom would you choose? (Some people cheat and list deceased authors\/illustrators. I won\u2019t tell.)<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: I have admired the work of <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.williamjoyce.com\/\">William Joyce<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Donald_Crews\">Donald Crews<\/a><\/strong> for years. The two are very different, but I really connect with both. I&#8217;m hoping to run into <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Patrick_McDonnell\">Patrick McDonnell<\/a><\/strong> soon. I&#8217;m a huge fan of <strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2090\">Me&#8230;Jane<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Influential authors and illustrators for me: <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.leonardweisgard.com\/\">Leonard Wiesgard<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksu.edu\/english\/nelp\/purple\/index.html\">Crockett Johnson<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Feodor_Stepanovich_Rojankovsky\">Feodor Rojankovsky<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lois_Lenski\">Lois Lenski<\/a><\/strong>, and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paul_Galdone\">Paul Galdone<\/a><\/strong>. <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.richard-mcguire.com\/\">Richard McGuire<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/stevenguarnaccia.com\/\">Steven Guarnaccia<\/a><\/strong> were mentors of mine and have always been guiding lights.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/CALDERcover_2a.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alexander_Calder\">Alexander Calder<\/a><\/strong> was my hero.&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/labelers_2a.jpg\"><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;These are what made me want to become an illustrator:<br \/>mid-century luggage labels.&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>5.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is currently in rotation on your iPod or loaded in your CD player? Do you listen to music while you create books?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: I have the worst taste in music. It&#8217;s best described as &#8220;discarded pop tunes from the 1970s, often heard in the supermarket.&#8221; Artists like <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Carpenters\">The Carpenters<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.neilsedaka.com\/\">Neil Sedaka<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bandboston.com\/\">Boston<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Captain_%26_Tennille\">Captain &#038; Tennille<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/England_Dan_%26_John_Ford_Coley\">England Dan &#038; John Ford Coley<\/a><\/strong> &#8230; You get the idea. It&#8217;s the music I heard on the radio, growing up.<\/p>\n<p>I also like public radio interview shows, like <strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/programs\/fresh-air\/\">Fresh Air<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/programs\/tell-me-more\/\">Tell Me More<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pri.org\/bullseye.html\">Bullseye<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, or local programs here in New York, like <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wnyc.org\/shows\/lopate\/\">Leonard Lopate&#8217;s<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wnyc.org\/shows\/bl\/\">Brian ehrer&#8217;s<\/a><\/strong> shows. Sometimes I&#8217;ll pop a film into the computer and listen to the director&#8217;s commentary. I&#8217;m a sucker for that process stuff.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/H_2a.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/I_2-s.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/J_2a.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/K_2a.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/L_2a.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/M_2a.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/N_2a.jpg\"><br \/>\n<center><em>Early sketches from <\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781596436480\">Little Tug<\/a><\/strong>,<br \/>including a video (below) of early images<\/center><\/p>\n<p><center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/71K6ir0sOcY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_4480_2a.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>6.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What&#8217;s one thing that most people don&#8217;t know about you?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: I&#8217;m messy and unorganized.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_2520_2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/IMG_2520_2-small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen: &#8220;Barcelona, acylic painting&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>7.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>7-Imp<\/font><\/strong>: Is there something you wish interviewers would ask you &#8212; but never do? Feel free to ask and respond here.<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: Everybody always asks you about your strengths as an artist, but I&#8217;m constantly dwelling on my weaknesses. Which are: I&#8217;m terrible at drawing the figure (my drawing skills in general are &#8220;so-so&#8221;). And I&#8217;m really bad with complexity. It&#8217;s hard for me to juggle a lot of stuff in a picture.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/alfred.jpg\"><center><font size=4>* * * The Pivot Questionnaire * * *<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your favorite word?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: The word &#8220;cool&#8221; is over-used but is just so direct and efficient &#8212; and works with everybody.<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your least favorite word?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: &#8220;Ciao.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: A good story. <\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What turns you off?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: When someone says to you, either through their actions or words, &#8220;I&#8217;m more important than you.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>7-Imp<\/font><\/strong>: What is your favorite curse word? (optional)<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: &#8220;Bullsh&#8211;.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What sound or noise do you love?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: Sorry to sound like every other parent out there, but I LOVE the sound of my daughter&#8217;s laughter. It makes me SOOOO happy.<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What sound or noise do you hate?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: The sound of someone popping and cracking their gum on a New York City subway.<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: Movie director. <\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What profession would you not like to do?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: Accountant. <\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Stephen<\/font><\/strong>: &#8220;Relax, Steve. Breathe.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Stephen Savage Poster Final_2use.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Stephen&#8217;s 2012 poster for <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/store.scholastic.com\/webapp\/wcs\/stores\/servlet\/LandingPageView?storeId=10052&#038;catalogId=10051&#038;jspStoreDir=SSOStore&#038;pageName=deluxposters\">this<\/a><\/strong> global literacy campaign from Scholastic<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><center>* * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><em>POLAR BEAR MORNING. Copyright \u00a9 2013 by Lauren Thompson. Illustrations \u00a9 2013 by Stephen Savage. Published by Scholastic Press, New York. Spreads reproduced by permission of Stephen Savage.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>LITTLE TUG. Copyright \u00a9 2012 by Stephen Savage. Published by Neal Porter\/Roaring Brook, New York. Spreads reproduced by permission of Stephen Savage.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>WHERE&#8217;S WALRUS? Copyright \u00a9 2011 by Stephen Savage. Published by Scholastic Press, New York. Spreads reproduced by permission of Stephen Savage.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>POLAR BEAR NIGHT. Copyright \u00a9 2004 by Lauren Thompson. Illustrations \u00a9 2004 by Stephen Savage. Published by Scholastic Press, New York. Spreads reproduced by permission of Stephen Savage.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>All other artwork and images used with permission of <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stephensavage.net\/\">Stephen Savage<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The spiffy and slightly sinister gentleman introducing the Pivot Questionnaire is Alfred, \u00a9 2009 <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mattphelan.com\/\">Matt Phelan<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; See that video? Those are outtakes from my attempt with author\/illustrator Stephen Savage (pictured left with Trinka in his studio) to do a video interview. He had the great idea of doing a breakfast interview with video or iPhone cameras&#8212;just me and him, back and forth&#8212;but you can see how well that went. At [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogger-interviews","category-picture-books"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2460"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2460\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}