Good Monday, everyone!
(Doesn’t that sound so Shakespeare-y? It’s like Good Morrow :))
I know none of you has gotten a minute of rest or a wink of sleep for days, what with the torturous anticipation of finding out who the winners of the contest are!
You’ve probably gnawed all the erasers off your pencils, bitten your nails to the quick, and lost 5 pounds from being unable to contemplate the idea of sustenance whilst in such a heightened state of suspense! (That’s okay, it means you can have triple helpings of chocolate on Wednesday when you stop by for Would You Read It :))
So I will not keep you in suspense any longer!
(I would not want to be responsible for one more brow wrinkle or gray hair of consternation and anxiety! :))
I just have one quick thing to say, which is that EVERYONE who entered this contest should be very proud of themselves. You all showed up, put in the work, produced GORGEOUS book covers (which our authors are all so thrilled about!), followed guidelines, and worked to a deadline – all very important skills to practice when illustrating and/or writing is your profession 🙂 Even if you didn’t make the finals, be assured that your illustrations were greatly enjoyed by many upon many! Seriously! I am not making this up. The contest post with all your links had around 3 thousand views, which means lots of people were visiting you, even if they didn’t all comment! So we are giving you a round of thunderous applause – clapclapclapclapclap!!!!! – and you should pat yourselves on the back and have an extra slice of chocolate cake – you did good! 🙂
Also, I had a lovely time at the Hudson Children’s Book Festival on Saturday. I got to see my dear friends Iza Trapani (she of illustrious judging fame :)) and Nancy Furstinger, and I had the honor of being placed at a signing table right next to none other than Jane O’Connor (you know, Fancy Nancy Jane O’Connor!) I felt like I was very much in the wrong place next to all that famousness!
And then I spent all day Sunday driving to Boston…
What?
You don’t care?
That’s kind of rude, don’t you think? When I was about to tell you about how I was forced encouraged to listen to Pink Floyd’s The Wall straight through from start to finish at the crack of dawn on Sunday morning? Which is not the most uplifting set of tunes, let me tell you, even though there’s a lot of great music involved. And I can tell you that by the end of the entire day of driving, certain parts of my anatomy were unComfortably Numb…
What?
Oh gosh! Right! I was supposed to be telling you about the winners! Sorry. My bad!
DDDDDRRRRRUUUUUMMMMM RRRRROOOOOLLLLLLLLLL PLEASE!!!!
The winner of the First Ever Pretty Much World Famous Illustration Contest and a portfolio critique by Michael Garland!!! is:
Congratulations, Julie! That is some cover! It knocked a lot of socks off! 🙂
In second place, winner of a $50 gift certificate to Dick Blick Art Materials is
Congratulations, Donna Marie! Your cover was absolutely fabulous!
In third place,*
Congratulations, Louis! Your cover was arresting! 🙂
In fourth place,*
Congratulations, Colleen! Your sweet cover made us feel sorry for the naughty Goldi 🙂
In fifth place,*
Congratulations, Anne! Your cover was so appealing!
In sixth place, winner of a Canson sketch pad and a small set of Derwent or Faber Castell colored pencils is
Congratulations, Tiemdow! Your cover was such fun!
* Third, fourth, and fifth place winners each have their choice of any one of the following books:
Winners, please email me so we can talk details 🙂
Thank you again to all the illustrators who participated in this contest and treated us all to such beautiful artwork; to our wonderful judges, Iza Trapani and Lisa Thiesing, without whom we could not have done this!; and to all the readers and viewers who visited, commented, and voted to celebrate these talented artists! It is all of you who make these contests fun and worthwhile! Hear! Hear! What the heck! Even though it’s not Wednesday, let’s have a little chocolate all around! 🙂
Have a magnificent Monday, everyone! 🙂
Thanks for your support, Teresa 🙂
I agree wholeheartedly, Tracy! So much talent! 🙂
Those were 2 pretty awesome covers, weren't they, Elliah? You must feel good that your story inspired them! 🙂
It really was! So many gorgeous entries!
I couldn't have said it better, Alayne! They really all were wonderful!
I know, Sue. Everyone did such a fantastic job! It was a real treat to see all those beautiful illustrations!
And congratulations to you too, Catherine! Your entries were wonderful!
Bravo indeed! They are all amazing! 🙂
It's absolutely terrific, isn't it, Romelle? I could totally see that cover on sale anywhere right now!
Isn't it funny how it worked out? With 3 for his story and 2 for Elliah's? They are both lucky! 🙂
I'm so glad you enjoyed the contest, Laura! We certainly loved your entries! It was such a pleasure to get to see so much great art from so many talented people!
Congrats to you to for entering your wonderful cover, Teresa! Enjoy the chocolate and good luck catching up. There's no hope for me. I'm so far behind I'm just following Dory's advice… “Just keep swimming…” 🙂
Woopy doop doo! I love it – so festive! 🙂 We had a talented group participating here, but that was really some piece of work by Julie 🙂
I'm so glad you enjoyed the contest, Donna! Thank you for your enthusiastic support! And your entry was just superb, so I'm glad you got the votes to validate that! It's been such a treat to see all this talent! (And you're only as old as you think you are, so jump for joy, but do it carefully because we certainly don't want you in traction! :))
They're just beautiful, aren't they, Linda! I was so impressed by the level of talent across the board, and so glad that this time I wasn't responsible for choosing the finalists 🙂
What a delightful thought, Coleen! And how convenient, because if it becomes an annual contest The Second Annual Pretty Much World Famous Contest for Children's Illustrators is kind of a mouthful so it will be helpful to remove a couple words 🙂 Thank you so much for joining in the contest on all levels!
Congratulations, Julie! Your cover is simply amazing, and your win is well-deserved! I'm glad you enjoyed the contest – we're certainly all glad you entered 🙂 Hope your son's final went well!
Actually, Yoda and I are approximately the same height and age, so it wouldn't be that much of a stretch 🙂
Thanks for all your support of the contest, Tina! 🙂
They were truly amazing, weren't they, Mike? And lucky you – 3 covers of your story! 🙂
We've got a talented bunch here, Heather, and Julie's cover is amazing! The only thing missing was you! I hope if we do this again you'll have time to enter – your art is fab!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Louis! I'm grateful that because of the contest I got to know you and your art. You're very talented!!! Thanks so much for joining in the fun!
It was quite a showing, wasn't it, Renee? I was so impressed by everyone! And I'm thrilled that Julie won 🙂
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Lauren! Thank you so much for participating. And we shall see… it might happen again one day 🙂
Thank you for all your support of the contest and the artists, Angela! 🙂
Julie's cover was terrific, and all the finalists and all the contestants did such amazing work! I'm just glad I didn't have to judge this one! 🙂
I know! Wasn't that amazing how that worked out, Lauri?! 🙂
They were an impressive bunch, weren't they , Robin? Thanks so much for all your support of the contest and the artists!
Thank you for your wonderful story which inspired 4 beautiful covers, Pen! I'm glad you enjoyed the contest! 🙂
Cheers to the brilliant illustrators and to the stories that inspired them!
This was great news to wake up to this morning Julie and I'll end my day by finally commenting. I love your JackRabbit. All the entries were wonderful. Thanks for another fun contest.
Thank you Susanna, it was fun to do. 🙂
Congratulations to Julie and all the winners- and for that matter, all the entrants. You did a wonderful job!
I just HAD to once again call attention to the words that inspired Julie's lovable sourpuss of a Jackrabbit, for without the story, he wouldn't exist. Let's hear it for Elliah Terry! (And all the other talented authors whose work these contest illustrations were based on!) *clap, clap, clap* *whistle* *roooar!* Yay! 😀 And thank you!
THE JACKRABBIT WHO CRIED GILA MONSTER
Torito’s brothers were sound asleep, but Torito . . . was as perky as a cactus.
Naps are no fun, he thought. He twiddled his ears until he got a wonderful idea.
“Help!” he cried. “There’s a Gila monster under our bed!”
Torito’s brothers jumped so high, they bumped the ceiling. Mama burst into the room, broom in hand. Torito giggled.
“Torito,” Mama said, grabbing the stuffed Gila monster he’d hidden, “YOU are supposed to be asleep.” She handed him the toy and left. Torito and his brothers snuggled into their bed. Soon his brothers were sound asleep, but
Torito . . . was as restless as a tumbleweed.
Naps are boring, he thought. I know . . .
“Help!” he cried. “There’s a Gila monster under our bed!”
Torito’s brothers cowered in the corner. Mama burst into the room. Torito laughed so hard, his sides ached.
“Torito J. Jackrabbit,” Mama said, grabbing the stuffed Gila monster, “YOU—”
“I tricked you!” Torito teased.
Mama crossed her arms. “It isn't nice to trick. Now go to sleep.” This time she kept the toy.
Torito and his brothers snuggled into their bed. Torito was as tired as a tortoise.
He closed his eyes.
Scritch-scratch!
Torito tore off his covers and peeked under the bed.
He gasped.
Two beady eyes stared back at him. Five sharp claws flexed on each hand. A long, purple tongue flickered out.
“Giiiiii-laaaaa monnnn-sterrrrr!” Torito yelled as he leaped into the closet.
His brothers didn’t move. They covered their ears and rolled over.
“Mama!” Torito screamed.
But Mama called back, “Go to sleep, Torito.”
The Gila monster stretched its jaws. Torito’s heart raced. Suddently, he got a wonderful idea—he knew Mama wouldn’t like it—but he didn’t know what else to do.
“Watch out!” Torito cried, “There’s a coyote in this closet!”
The Gila monster scoffed. “I’m not falling for that.”
Torito pulled the string on his stuffed coyote. Yarooooooooo! the toy howled.
The Gila monster hissed and scurried out the window. When he was far enough away, Torito called out, “I tricked you!”
“Torito . . .” Mama’s voice drifted from the kitchen.
“I know—it isn’t nice to trick.” (Unless it saves your life,) he thought.
Clutching his stuffed coyote, Torito snuggled between his brothers.
Soon, he felt as calm as the desert sand and drifted off into a peaceful jackrabbit slumber.
Excellent! Congratulations to everyone and thanks again Susanna. Your event caused quite a stir. You did it, you crazy kid! Thanks again to the judges and prize givers for your awesomeness.
To all of the illustrators…cudos to you! You guys did amazing! 🙂
I think we're going to be seeing them in the library before too long 🙂
Everyone did a terrific job, you included, Joanne! It was all of you who made the contest what is was 🙂
Thank you again for all you did, Iza! 🙂
Thanks for visiting, viewing, commenting, voting, and generally supporting the contest 🙂
They're an impressive bunch!
I'll be on the look out! 🙂
🙂
Yay to all the winners!! This contest was sure a lot of fun! Thanks for doing it Ms Hill!
Thank you, Susanna! I thought about entering, but garden work, building a chicken coop, and learning how to care for a 25 bird flock sucked up all of my brain space this month. I hope you do have another illustration contest again. You have the best ideas!
Congrats to everyone! You all deserve it! 😀
Hi Susanna! My name is Heather and I was wondering if you would be willing to answer my question I have about your blog! If you could email me at Lifesabanquet1(at)gmail(dot)com I would greatly appreciate it 🙂
It's going well! We did lose one and Ethan named a friendly chick Ethan2E which means she's guaranteed to die of old age. 🙂 Everyone is having fun learning about caring for them.