{"id":3932,"date":"2015-12-01T00:01:25","date_gmt":"2015-12-01T06:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3932"},"modified":"2015-11-30T21:48:01","modified_gmt":"2015-12-01T03:48:01","slug":"seven-questions-over-breakfast-with-kate-samworth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3932","title":{"rendered":"Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Kate Samworth"},"content":{"rendered":"

Author-illustrator Kate Samworth<\/a><\/strong> is joining me for a cyber-breakfast today with a big cup of black coffee and, she said, “since it’s a special occasion, an almond croissant.”<\/p>\n

Kate’s debut picture book, Aviary Wonders Inc.: Spring Catalog and Instruction Manual<\/strong><\/a><\/em>, was released last Spring by Clarion and went on to win the 2014 Kirkus Prize<\/a><\/strong> in the category of Young Readers’ Literature. <\/p>\n

I wrote here<\/a><\/strong> at 7-Imp last year about this book (clearly, I was in my Sherlock<\/em> phase), and here’s an excerpt:<\/p>\n

“Now, this is one of the most bizarre picture books I’ve seen in a while, which at the very least brings to my mind this guy<\/a><\/strong> exclaiming things like ‘DON’T BE BORING.’ This book definitely has that goin’ for it. <\/p>\n

This one is slightly macabre in spots, though I’ve sat here for entirely too long at my keyboard, thinking that ‘macabre’ isn’t precisely the word I want. How about this: The <\/em>Publishers Weekly review (one starred review of several) calls it ‘unsettling and unforgettable.’ <\/em>Booklist describes it as ‘original, somewhat disturbing, and wholeheartedly bizarre (but in a good way!).’ Yes, all those things, and I like it. … This is surely one of the most offbeat picture books I’ve seen in recent years.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The book, a pretend futuristic catalog that sells bird parts so that you can build your own bird (“Renewing the World’s Bird Supply Since 2031”), shows off Kate’s immense talent with oils. Today, she’s here to share some art from the book, as well some early sketches, and she’s also going to talk a bit about what’s next for her. I thank her for visiting. <\/p>\n

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

Kate<\/font><\/strong>: Illustrator\/author.
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\nJules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you list your books-to-date?<\/font><\/p>\n

Kate<\/font><\/strong>: Aviary Wonders Inc.<\/a><\/strong><\/em> is my first book. It was published in 2014 by Clarion.
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\nJules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your usual medium?<\/font><\/p>\n

Kate<\/font><\/strong>: My preferred medium is oil paint, but it’s probably the least practical for illustration, since it dries so slowly.
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Art from <\/em>Aviary Wonders Inc.
(See more art at this<\/a><\/strong> earlier 7-Imp post)<\/em>
(Click last image to enlarge)<\/center>
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\nJules<\/font><\/strong>: Where are your stompin\u2019 grounds?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Kate<\/font><\/strong>: I live in Takoma Park, Maryland, on the outskirts of D.C. I left the area in 1992, lived in New Orleans, Philadelphia, and rural Virginia, and moved back \u201chome\u201d last year to be near family and friends.
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Sculptures<\/em>
(Click each to enlarge)<\/center>
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\nJules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you briefly tell me about your road to publication?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Kate<\/font><\/strong>: I’ve always been interested in telling stories with my art and have painted \u201cnarratives\u201d for years. Once I began taking print-making classes, I tried turning some of my images into complete stories. I intended to make the Aviary Wonders<\/em> catalog as a series of lithographs bound by hand. I was taking an illustration course with David Wiesner<\/a><\/strong> and brought some of the drawings to class. He loved the concept and introduced me to an editor, Marcia Leonard, who showed it to the agents. I was thrilled and surprised that Clarion bought it. I know it’s a weird book, which is why I thought I’d have to just make a few of them by hand.
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Aviary Wonders Inc. sketches<\/em>
(Click first four to enlarge)<\/center>
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\nJules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you please point readers to your web site and\/or blog?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Kate<\/font><\/strong>: http:\/\/katesamworth.com\/<\/a><\/strong> — and a link to my experiment in stop-motion animation, just for kicks:
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