Sunday, December 11, 2011

Ozzie and the Art Contest is Gonna Be Published!

I can finally spill: Sleeping Bear Press has sent me a contract to publish "Ozzie and the Art Contest"!!! My wonderful and amazing Agent Anna Olswanger will be explaining the bigger words of the contract to me tomorrow, but it essentially says final art is due next September and I better get off my butt and start drawing.



















Some of you have asked me about how this whole publishing thing works. Well, we're gonna learn about it together. As of right now, I have a completed manuscript (the words) and a 32 page dummy book of mostly rough pencil sketches and a few color pages to show what my final art might look like. I say my manuscript is completed, but Anna O and I went back and forth a few times with edits and I would be surprised if Sleeping Bear didn't have some changes as well. And don't even get me started on how long Ms. O and I went back and forth on the art! So that whole fun and serene process will probably start all over again with Sleeping Bear's editor and art director. But first I gotta sign that contract and get it back to Sleeping Bear so we can get started. I hear that a picture book takes about a year to get published from from the time a contract is signed to printing. We're about to find out. Meanwhile, I want to thank Vicki for, well, everything. I couldn't have even thought about doing this without her love, confidence and support. Thanks to the Seattle University ELP program for getting me started, Peggy King Anderson and the close friends I made in her writing classes, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, my pushy sister Cait, my even pushier friend Tina and the amazing Anna Olswanger. And, of course, Max.

Here are some photos of the dummy (with his book)




31 comments:

  1. Yay! I'd like to order a copy please! Congratulations!!!!

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  2. Awesome news!! Congratulations, can't wait to order!

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  3. This is SO EXCITING!!!
    can't wait to buy your published book! CONGRATS

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  4. Yahoo, and Congratulations, Dana!
    Now comes the fun part!
    and of course, Happy Holidays to you and yours,
    Karen

    karenleeschmidt.net

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  5. This is FABULOUS NEWS, Dana! I am clapping and cheering and hugging. Hooray!!!

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  6. So excited for you to get on that horse and ride it. And to see the book! Congratulations - your hard work and dedication earned you this.

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  7. Can I say I told you so? ; ) You are so deserving. This is such wonderful news, and I'm going to start celebrating right now! Big hugs...

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  8. A W E S O M E news Dana!!! You deserve this big break.....all your giving giving giving...it's coming back at ya! Congratulations & can't wait to see the sleeping bear awake!?! whoo hoo, here's to big arms open wide : )~

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  9. That is sooooo exciting!!!! Yay for YOU! What a great holiday present! Are you doing the dance of joy?
    Let me know when I can order a copy!

    GIANT Namaste Fist Bump!
    --Dorothy

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  10. that's so freakin' awesome dana! yay! so happy for you!
    can't wait to get a copy!!! xoox

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  11. Me & all of the chickens are doin' the Happy Dance over here for you! Can't wait! Thank goodness someone out there came to their senses and signed YOU!

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  12. Choo. Choooo. We thought you could. We thought you could. :)

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  13. you all have been so supportive and enthusiastic! No wonder I love you!

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  14. Oh my gosh this is SOOOO EXCITING! Congratulations to you! I can't wait until it comes out! AND I will have a new little baby to buy it for!!!! Yeay!

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  15. Woot, woot! Congratulations, Dana. How exciting!

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  16. WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
    You couldn't have done it without me!

    Seriously: You worked your bike butt off on this project and you deserve every accolade you get. Sleeping Bear is lucky to have you. Let the promotions (by your friends and family) begin!

    Love

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  17. Congratulations, Dana! How fabulous!!!!!!!!!! When it's published, you'll sign my copy...yes?? ;) :)

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  18. You are Amazing Dana! I am so happy for you. All my best, Erik

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  19. Yay! So excited for you, Dana! You worked so hard for it and you deserva all the goodness that follows!

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  20. YOU DID IT!!! CONGRATULATIONS, DANA! You deserve a cookie. :)

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  21. So happy for you, Dana! Fantastic news!

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  22. Congratulations and big hugs! We can't wait to see the results.

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  23. Congratulations to my most successful student!

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  24. Yay, Dana! I'm so happy for you. This will be just one of many, many more successes!

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  25. awesome, dana. woohoo to you and vickie too!

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  26. Congrats, Dana! Way to go Ozzie! Looking forward to seeing it on the shelves. :)

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  27. A belated congrats Dana. So well deserved for all of your efforts and enthusiasm. Happy drawing!

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  28. Great job speaking at our school! cant wait to buy the book!!! :)

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