{"id":3827,"date":"2015-08-25T00:01:45","date_gmt":"2015-08-25T06:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3827"},"modified":"2015-08-27T07:54:22","modified_gmt":"2015-08-27T13:54:22","slug":"seven-questions-over-breakfast-with-daniel-miyares","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3827","title":{"rendered":"Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Daniel Miyares"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/danielmiyaresinterview.jpg\" style=\"float:right\">Author and illustrator <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.danielmiyares.com\/\">Daniel Miyares<\/a><\/strong>&#8212;whose most recent picture book is <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3780\">Float<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, published by Simon &#038; Schuster in June (and the subject of my <em>Kirkus<\/em> column <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kirkusreviews.com\/features\/new-beginnings\/\">here<\/a><\/strong>)&#8212;visits for breakfast this morning. Normally, he tells me, he has merely a hot cup of Earl Grey tea with a splash of milk in the fabulous mug his wife gave him, pictured below. (&#8220;She gets me,&#8221; he adds.) If he&#8217;s taking the time to sit down and eat in the mornings, he says, he goes with biscuits. &#8220;I grew up in South Carolina,&#8221; he tells me. &#8220;It\u2019s kind of a requirement.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Hey, I&#8217;m in Tennessee and <em>get<\/em> this, so biscuits and tea it is. <\/p>\n<p>Daniel is relatively new to picture books, at least in the grand scheme of things, and I thank him for visiting today to tell me and my readers more about his career, his books thus far, and what&#8217;s next on his plate. <\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s get right to it. <\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><center><font size=4><strong>* * * * * * *<\/strong><\/font><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/Breakfastuse.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Daniel&#8217;s breakfast mug-of-choice<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Are you an illustrator or author\/illustrator?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: Author\/Illustrator, but my entry point into a story idea is usually the visual narrative.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/07\/03large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/07\/03small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>(Click to enlarge spread)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/07\/05large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/07\/05small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>(Click to enlarge spread)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmfcoverlarge.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmfcoversmall.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Spreads and cover from <\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3780\">Float<\/a><\/strong><em> (Simon &#038; Schuster, June 2015);<br \/>Visit <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3780\">this 2015 7-Imp post<\/a><\/strong> for sketches from the book<\/em><br \/>(Click each to enlarge)<\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you list your books-to-date? (If there are too many books to list here, please list your five most recent illustrated titles <em>or<\/em> the ones that are most prominent in your mind, for whatever reason.)<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: I\u2019ve illustrated: <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781936140138\">Waking Up Is Hard To Do<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (Imagine Publishing, 2010) and <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781580892728\">Bambino and Mr. Twain<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2012). <\/p>\n<p>As author\/illustrator: <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3439\">Pardon Me!<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (Simon &#038; Schuster, 2014), <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3780\">Float<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (Simon &#038; Schuster, 2015) and <em>Bring Me A Rock!<\/em> (to be published by Simon &#038; Schuster, Summer of 2016)<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your usual medium?<\/font><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/Screen Shot 2014-11-04 at 1.44.24 PMlarge.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/Screen Shot 2014-11-04 at 1.44.24 PMsmall.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/Screen Shot 2014-11-04 at 1.45.07 PMlarge.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/Screen Shot 2014-11-04 at 1.45.07 PMsmall.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/Screen Shot 2014-11-04 at 1.45.24 PMlarge.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/Screen Shot 2014-11-04 at 1.45.24 PMsmall.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/Screen Shot 2014-11-04 at 1.45.32 PMlarge.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/Screen Shot 2014-11-04 at 1.45.32 PMsmall.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm15large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm15small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Spreads and cover from <\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3439\">Pardon Me!<\/a><\/strong><em> (Simon &#038; Schuster, 2014);<br \/>Click <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3439\">here<\/a><\/strong> to see early sketches and development work from the book<\/em><br \/>(Click each to enlarge)<\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<strong><font size=4>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: I use inks, watercolors, gouache, acrylics, and digital tools to build my images.<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>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><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm12large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm12small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<strong><font size=4>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: I\u2019ve gotten to try a variety of book-type projects. I\u2019ve made picture books, did a novel cover, and when I was first starting out I got to illustrate some serial books for the <em>Kansas City Star<\/em> newspaper. No matter who the book audience is, I try to use the same approach to visual storytelling. The principles of design and timing speak to all age groups, I think. I have learned, however, that young children have an easier time appreciating where a story wants to take them. Something about getting older dulls our ability to imagine and tolerate the absurd. I\u2019ve found that in the picture books I make I can paint what something feels like and not just what it looks like. Sometimes to tell a proper story you need the freedom to break with truth and reality. Kids get that in a big way.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/tinyselfuse.jpg\"><br \/>\n<font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Where are your stompin\u2019 grounds?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: I live in the middle of the map as they say, the city of Overland Park, Kansas. It\u2019s just south of Kansas City. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/danielage4ishuse.jpg\"><br \/>\n<center><em>Daniel, age four<\/em><\/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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: My first book gig was a collaboration with Singer\/Songwriter <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Neil_Sedaka\">Neil Sedaka<\/a><\/strong>. He was working with Imagine Publishing to bring some re-works of his hit songs to life as picture books. The first one they wanted to do was <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781936140138\">Waking Up Is Hard To Do<\/a><\/strong><\/em> [pictured below]. It was 2009. I had just finished building a portfolio with my artist rep (Studio Goodwin Sturges), when they said there may be an opportunity for me, but &#8230; you would need to do a sample piece for the story on spec. It wasn\u2019t like I had another project going on at the time, so I said sure. I\u2019m assuming they had a handful of other artists contending for the book as well. We went a few rounds on the samples to define my take on the story, and in the end I got to do the book. For a young illustrator, it was like jumping off the end of the pier to learn how to swim. The stakes felt high. The deadlines were tight. I learned so much about who I was as a book maker, as well as who I might want to be going forward. Also, I realized just how amazing of a creative family I had in my Studio Goodwin Sturges partners. They really gave me an education on the nuts and bolts of bookmaking. <\/p>\n<p>Neil was a force. I really admire his passion for music and passing that on to his grandchildren. You could tell he was totally smitten by them. Before I knew it he was on the <em>Today<\/em> show talking about our book with Kathie Lee and Hoda.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm18large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm18small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>(Click to enlarge spread)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\nIt was a wild first adventure as a book illustrator. Pretty soon after that, I started to feel the pull to tell my own stories.<\/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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.danielmiyares.com\">danielmiyares.com<\/a><\/strong>m or on Instagram @danielmiyaresdoodles &#8212; and on Twitter @danielmiyares. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm10use.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If you do school visits, tell me what they&#8217;re like.<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: I try to tailor my presentations to the audiences.<\/p>\n<p>If it\u2019s a large school-assembly kind of situation, I\u2019ll do a slide show and discussion that starts with when I knew I wanted to be an artist (at about age four).<\/p>\n<p>I also like to share what I think an Author\/Illustrator really does. No matter what the age group is, if I ask what an Author\/Illustrator does, I get the same answer: &#8220;They write the words and draw the pictures.&#8221; Technically, they\u2019re right, but I\u2019m convinced there\u2019s a lot more fun and adventure in it than that. To prove it, I share an example of a three sentence story that I wrote for a children\u2019s book class I taught a while back at the Kansas City Art Institute. First I share it with just the words and I ask if it\u2019s a good story. Usually I get a resounding NO! Sometimes I get a boo or two. (Kid-honesty is the best.)<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/simple story example1.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/simple story example2.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/simple story example3.jpg\"><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\nNext, I share the same story again, except I\u2019ve added some rough sketches to it. This time I usually get belly laughs and cheers. Really I just want to share that words and pictures don\u2019t have to be serious, intimidating business. Telling stories can be a lot of fun.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/simple story example4large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/simple story example4.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/simple story example5large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/simple story example5.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/simple story example6large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/simple story example6.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>(Click each to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\nI also do readings of my books. The kids are usually so respectful and well-mannered. I invite them to take part in the readings. They help me figure out what\u2019s going to happen next or shout out questions or suggestions. I\u2019ve learned so much about my books through those interactions. Secretly, my goal is to get them whipped up over a story. I want the students to have as much joy and excitement as possible around the reading experience.<\/p>\n<p>My finale is usually a live drawing demo. I make the wild claim to the crowd that it\u2019s possible to make any animal in the world out of basic shapes. Mostly they don\u2019t believe me, so I ask for a shape suggestion from the audience. I draw that on the pad of paper. Then I ask for the animal. If all works out, we end up with some pretty fun stylized animal drawings. As time allows, I\u2019ll get some other brave souls up there to convert shapes into animals, too.  <\/p>\n<p>For smaller groups (like the size of one classroom), I\u2019ll change it up to be more  hands-on. I like having an activity where we make something together. If they\u2019re on the older side, I break out the three-sentence story assignment for them. It\u2019s a lot of fun, plus I like leaving things behind that they can keep working on or do again in their own way with their teachers.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/That Neighbor Kid Series1.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/That Neighbor Kid Series2.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/That Neighbor Kid Series3.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/That Neighbor Kid Series4.jpg\"><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/That Neighbor Kid Series5.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/That Neighbor Kid Series6.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/That Neighbor Kid Series7.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/That Neighbor Kid Series8.jpg\"><br \/>\n<center><em>Daniel&#8217;s That-Neighbor-Kid series<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If you teach illustration, by chance, tell me how that influences your work as an illustrator.<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: When I\u2019ve had the opportunity to teach classes, I\u2019m always amazed at how much I grow personally. There\u2019s something about taking on the responsibility of helping others connect dots that inevitably leads to my own dot-connecting.<\/p>\n<p>I was teaching a children\u2019s book class at the same time I was working on <em>Float<\/em>. When we covered basic principles, like pacing and composition, I would bring in-progress art from my book to speak to. They enjoyed talking about real world examples, and I got some straightforward feedback on how things read. There\u2019s a wonderful accountability that goes along with being transparent.<\/p>\n<p>Also, the student\u2019s passion and curiosity for art and design is infectious. It\u2019s really hard to replicate that energy outside of a classroom.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm13.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm13small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Cover art for <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/leahpileggi.com\/\">Leah Pileggi&#8217;s<\/a><\/strong> <\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781580895606\">Prisoner 88<\/a><\/strong><em> (Charlesbridge, 2013)<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: I just wrapped up the art on my next book with Simon &#038; Schuster. It\u2019s called <em>Bring Me A Rock!<\/em> It will be released Summer of 2016. It\u2019s about a megalomaniac insect king on a power trip and the little bug who saves the day.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/BringMeARockSketches01large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/BringMeARockSketches01small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/BringMeARockSketches02large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/BringMeARockSketches02small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Sketches<\/em><br \/>(Click each to enlarge)<\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\nAlso, I am in the middle of illustrating a new book that <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bookinaday.org\/\">Kwame Alexander<\/a><\/strong> wrote for North South, called <em>Surf\u2019s Up<\/em>.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/Surfs Up Coverlarge.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/Surfs Up Coversmall.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>(Click to enlarge cover)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/coffee cup8.jpg\" title=\"Mmm. Coffee.\" alt=\"Mmm. Coffee.\"><font color=\"000066\">Okay, we&#8217;ve got our tea (despite the contrarian coffee cup pictured here), and it&#8217;s time to get a bit more detailed with seven questions over breakfast. I thank Daniel 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><font size=4><strong>Daniel<\/strong><\/font><\/strong>: In describing my process, I have to mention <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Uri_Shulevitz\">Uri Shulevitz\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> book <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780823059355\">Writing With Pictures<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. A friend turned me onto it when I was building my first book concepts as an author\/illustrator. In the second paragraph of the first chapter, Uri says, &#8220;A picture book says in words only what pictures cannot show.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This simple idea helped the tumblers fall into place for me. Don\u2019t let your words try and do what your pictures are doing and vice versa. The magic for me is that space in between word and image. Now when I\u2019m working on a book idea, I do rough loose thumbnail drawings and write at the same time. I also like drawing and writing quickly so nothing is too precious in early stages.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf11dummy.jpg\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf11large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf11small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Dummy and final spread<\/em><br \/>(Click final art to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf12dummy.jpg\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf12large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf12small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Dummy and final spread<\/em><br \/>(Click final art to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\nMy ideas for stories come from all over the place. I wish I had a clean formula for generating a great idea. As best as I can tell, I usually start with a personal struggle or anxiety. I know that doesn\u2019t sound very uplifting, but I believe that if you can show real human struggle and how it\u2019s overcome or redeemed, people will connect to it. <\/p>\n<p><em>Float<\/em> was a different one for me. I didn\u2019t start with an idea at all. I was flying home from my aunt\u2019s funeral, and on the plane I did a small drawing of a boy floating a paper boat in a puddle. As I looked at it I wondered what happened just before that moment &#8212; and I drew it. Then I wondered what happened after and I drew that. I went on like this until I found the beginning and end of the story. It felt like carving something out of stone. The plot line was in there already; I just needed to knock off what didn\u2019t belong to uncover it.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf13dummy.jpg\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf13large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf13small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Dummy and final spread<\/em><br \/>(Click final art to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf14dummy.jpg\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf14large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf14small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Dummy and final spread<\/em><br \/>(Click final art to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf15dummy.jpg\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf15large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf15small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Dummy and final spread<\/em><br \/>(Click final art to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\nWhen it comes to making art, I usually always make a quick rough sketch to start from. I try not to overdraw my sketches. Many times I\u2019ve fallen in love with a drawing that says it all and then proceeded to choke the life out of a finished painting of it. Now I try to let my sketches give me the energy and spirit I want in my finished piece but not take it too far. I think I have the best outcomes and the most fun when I make some discoveries in my finished paintings. <\/p>\n<p>I use a variety of media. I use inks, watercolors, gouache, acrylics, and digital tools. I paint the elements for my pieces separately and compile them digitally. It allows me to focus on mark-making, edges, and surface texture in a free way. So, for instance, in <em>Float<\/em> I painted most of the backgrounds with inks and watercolors wet into wet. I wanted it to feel rain-soaked throughout, but for the little boy I cut shapes out of some of my hand-painted textures on the computer. You know how rain slickers are kind of stiff and have those harsh distinct creases in them? It seemed like a fun contrast to those deep, washy, rolling neutral greys.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf16dummy.jpg\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf16large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf16small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Dummy and final spread<\/em><br \/>(Click final art to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf17dummy.jpg\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf17large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmf17small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Dummy and final spread<\/em><br \/>(Click final art to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\nAside from the hours upon hours holed up in my studio drawing and painting, making books for me has to be a team sport. The collaborations with my reps, editors, and design partners have truly helped to make my books the best they can be. I hope I never feel like I\u2019ve got it all figured out.<\/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>Daniel<\/strong><\/font><\/strong>: My workspace now is a studio\/office in the lower level of my house. We moved in not too long ago, and I\u2019m thrilled to have a separate room set aside to make stuff in. Up until now, our finished attic doubled as our bedroom and studio. My wife is some kind of saint for putting up with all those late nights.<\/p>\n<p>I like painting on this old reclaimed library table a friend of mine gave me when I first moved to Kansas City many years ago. Painting flat suits my love of wet media. Since I use digital tools, too, I like to be just a chair-swivel away from my Mac.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmworktablelarge.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dmworktablesmall.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\nI have realized that when I\u2019m cooking up ideas for stories and concepting new projects, being out and about works well for me. I spend lots of time in coffee shops and libraries with my sketchbooks.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/sketchbookslarge.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/sketchbookssmall.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Sketchbooks<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<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>Daniel<\/strong><\/font><\/strong>: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shel_Silverstein\">Shel Silverstein<\/a><\/strong> really ignited my imagination as a kid. In the third grade, I had a teacher read to us from <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780060256739\">A Light In the Attic<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. I couldn\u2019t believe we were allowed to read things like that in school. It seemed unfair, like we were getting to skip our school lessons.<\/p>\n<p>Later on, it was <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mark_Twain\">Mark Twain\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> short stories that got me. And poetry &#8212; <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Langston_Hughes\">Langston Hughes<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/E._E._Cummings\">E.E. Cummings<\/a><\/strong>, and the imagist poets. I quickly saw that language could evoke the most visceral of feelings.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm16large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm16small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm17large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm17small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/bambino-and-mr-twain-cover.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Spreads and cover from <\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781580892728\">Bambino and Mr. Twain<\/a><\/strong><em><br \/>(Charlesbridge Publishing, 2012)<\/em><br \/>(Click spreads to enlarge)<\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<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><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/the silver pony cover.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/gflightcover.jpg\"><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<strong><font size=4>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: Ok, as long as it\u2019s between us. Let\u2019s see &#8230; I might have to do both living and non.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.williamjoyce.com\/\">William Joyce<\/a><\/strong> &#8212; I\u2019d love to throw around book ideas with him. I don\u2019t know him at all, but he seems like a great idea man.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alice_and_Martin_Provensen\">Alice and Martin Provensen<\/a><\/strong> &#8212; I\u2019m rather intrigued with how the collaboration worked, but really because <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780140507294?aff=PenguinGroupUS\">The Glorious Flight<\/a><\/strong><\/em> is one of my all time faves.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lynd_Ward\">Lynd Ward<\/a><\/strong> &#8212; Because his drawings are ridiculous! Maybe we could\u2019ve drawn together. A friend pointed me toward <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/614101.The_Silver_Pony\">The Silver Pony<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, and I can\u2019t stop going back to it.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm09.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm09small.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: I do listen to tunes when I work. Currently I\u2019ve got <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.davebrubeck.com\/live\/\">Dave Brubeck<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/remhq.com\/index.php\">R.E.M.<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sam_Cooke\">Sam Cooke<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thecure.com\/\">The Cure<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.spoontheband.com\/\">Spoon<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.drdogmusic.com\/\">Dr. Dog<\/a><\/strong>. &#8230;<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/dm08use.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: I\u2019m a huge <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Cusack\">John Cusack<\/a><\/strong> fan. Whenever he does a new movie&#8212;good, bad, or horrible&#8212;I have to see it.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/IMG_1978small.JPG\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/Daniel with boatuse.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Daniel: &#8220;A friend of mine recently saw <\/em>Float<em><br \/>and made me a plush paper boat.&#8221;<\/em><\/center><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>7.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>Jules<\/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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: I usually don\u2019t get asked about my family, but they\u2019re so much a part of what I do. My wife and I [pictured below] have a six-year-old daughter, named Stella, and a three-year-old son, named Sam. I didn\u2019t grow up dreaming about making picture books. After my daughter was born, it started to make a lot of sense to me. Seeing the world through my children\u2019s eyes has been a real privilege. I never expected they would have such an impact on my creative pursuits. Plus, they constantly remind me of what\u2019s important in life. If left to my own devices, I worry I would be all work and no play. They keep me in a healthy balance.<br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/08\/meandthewifeyuse.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<BR>&nbsp;<BR><br \/>\n<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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: &#8220;Quietude.&#8221;<\/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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: &#8220;BOGO&#8221; (not the deal, just the acronym). <\/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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: Good art, films, poetry, the fam, drawing just because, down time. <\/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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>:  Doing the same things over and over and small-mindedness.<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your favorite curse word? (optional)<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: Does &#8220;poop&#8221; count? In my house, it counts. <\/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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: Belly laughs. <\/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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: Silent cries. (You know, those out-of-breath kid-cries, where it takes the sound a minute to catch up to the face.)<\/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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: Teacher. <\/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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: Accountant. (No offense. It just ain\u2019t me.)<\/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>Daniel<\/font><\/strong>: &#8220;Welcome.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><em>All images are used by permission of <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.danielmiyares.com\/\">Daniel Miyares<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The spiffy and slightly sinister gentleman introducing the Pivot Questionnaire is Alfred, copyright \u00a9 2009 <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mattphelan.com\/\">Matt Phelan<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Author and illustrator Daniel Miyares&#8212;whose most recent picture book is Float, published by Simon &#038; Schuster in June (and the subject of my Kirkus column here)&#8212;visits for breakfast this morning. Normally, he tells me, he has merely a hot cup of Earl Grey tea with a splash of milk in the fabulous mug his wife [&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-3827","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\/3827","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=3827"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3827\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}