{"id":4254,"date":"2017-01-31T00:01:42","date_gmt":"2017-01-31T06:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=4254"},"modified":"2017-03-14T09:16:21","modified_gmt":"2017-03-14T15:16:21","slug":"seven-questions-over-breakfast-with-david-soman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=4254","title":{"rendered":"Seven Questions Over Breakfast with David Soman"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\nAuthor-illustrator David Soman visits 7-Imp this morning for a cyber breakfast and gives just<\/em> the right answer to my question about what he would like to have on our cyber-table. “Coffee,”<\/em> he says. “Coffee and blueberry banana pancakes. With coffee. Sweet Sue\u2019s<\/a><\/strong>, a great breakfast joint in somewhat nearby Phoenecia, New York, calls blueberry banana pancakes ‘blue monkeys,’ which is what we call them at home. I love them on the weekends. With coffee. Did I mention coffee?”<\/em><\/p>\n

Coffee it is, and I’m pleased to say that David shares a whole bunch of art and preliminary images today. Pictured above is an illustration from last year’s The Monster Next Door<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, released by Dial in September. David both wrote and illustrated this one, though he’s most well-known for the series on which he collaborates with his wife, author Jacky Davis — the bestselling Ladybug Girl<\/em> series. (If I’m counting correctly there have been over 20 sequels to the opener in the series, Ladybug Girl<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, published in 2008.) Let us also not forget 2014’s beautiful Three Bears in a Boat<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, one of my favorite picture books from that year. <\/p>\n

But David’s first illustrated picture book, written by Angela Johnson<\/a><\/strong>, was published in 1989. He’s been making picture books for a while, in other words, and so it’s a pleasure to talk to him today about his work, his technique, his teaching, and much more. Let’s get to it, and I thank him for visiting today. <\/p>\n

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

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

David<\/font><\/strong>: Technically, I guess I am an author\/illustrator, but in my heart of hearts, I still really think of myself as more of a visual artist. Which makes sense, as there\u2019s really no comparison in terms of the amount of time that I put into each of these endeavors; it\u2019s like 40 to 1 illustrator. Or more. Probably a lot more.<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

David<\/font><\/strong>: I\u2019ve been a part of quite a few books, some that I\u2019ve written and illustrated, some co-written and illustrated, and some that I only illustrated. A few of my favorites are:<\/p>\n