Walker Éireann first week!

Its been a great launch week across the country for Walker Éireann, a huge thank you to Easons and to Hodges Figgis for the amazing displays!

Laureate na nÓg!

My lovely medal

Happy Niamh!

I am thrilled and honored to announce today that I am to be the new Laureate na nÓg! It will be a day that I will always remember. Surrounded by friends and family I was inaugerated by President of Ireland in the Arts Council Offices this morning.

Heres what is in store for me... Mags Walsh, Director of Children’s Books Ireland said: “In the two years since its establishment, the position of Laureate na nÓg has been able to highlight and celebrate the incredible talent and passion which exists in the Irish children’s books community. By bringing national and international attention to Irish children’s books, Laureate na nÓg has demonstrated the central role that books can play in every Irish childhood.”

Mu publisher Deirdre McDermott said: “Walker Books are so pleased and honoured that Niamh Sharkey has been appointed the second Laureate na nÓg. We have worked with Niamh since 2004 and have made five picture books with her, the most recent On the Road with Mavis and Marge winning the 2010 Irish Book Award. During her tenure, Siobhán Parkinson has done a tremendous job of establishing the role of Laureate na nÓg and promoting Irish children’s literature abroad. I know that during Niamh’s laureateship she will be also be the perfect ambassador for Irish children’s books and will particularly bring attention to Irish picture book makers worldwide. We couldn’t be more delighted!”

And I said... 'It is a great honor to be chosen as the next Laureate na nOg. I am a picture book maker so my focus as Laureate will certainly be visual as well as literary. I am going to get to do even more of what I love most – promoting quality children’s literature and encouraging children to read, write and draw. I have lots of ideas that I hope will inspire creativity in children of all ages. I’m very excited and can’t wait to get started!’

You can find our more about my exciting new role here. You can hear all about my day on the Laureate's Blog! Some lovely coverage from Children's Books Ireland, The Arts Council, Inis, Illustrators Ireland, Brown Bag Films and a clip from new Today on RTE Player and we made the six one and nine o clock news too! 

Exhibition At The Ark!

Explore the curious and creative world of books at the fantastic Picture Book Exhibition, it's 

on at The Ark for the month of April called Telling Tale and Tiny Tales.  

There's some fantastic Picture Book illustrations there including Marie Louise Fitzpatrick, Oliver Jeffers and myself. 

You can see behind the scenes of what goes into making a picture book including rough doodles, original concept artwork and a teeny tiny dummy book from The Ravenous Beast. It is open every weekend! For booking contact The Ark on 6707788.

 Original art from The Ravenous Beast

  Original art from The Ravenous Beast

original concept and doodles 

Mini dummy and roughs...

Eve Mc Quillan enjoys the show...

World Book Day 2012

Bob from The Gutter Bookshop along with Children's Books Ireland organised a fantastic World Book Day yesterday at Wood Quay! Myself, Sarah Webb and Gerry Boland helped launch the Biggest Book Show on Earth live link from London where 750,000 children from the UK and Ireland tuned in online.  RTE Junior came and covered our event,  go check it out here. 

Bob The Book Wizard!

Me and fellow book lover Sarah Webb

St. Audeon's NS see first sketches and doodles of Henry Hugglewug, then we then drew lots of Monsters together. 

Have you read these Picture books :)

Finished with a bit of Nonsense Smonsense!

Kenny Gave Obama A Book!

There is so much excitement today for Michelle and Barack Obama's visit to Ireland. Wonderful that our Taoiseach Enda Kenny gave them a first edition of 'Legends of Hawaii' that was written by an Irishman, Padraic Colum. Enda's commented that it was not for Obama but for his daughters Malia and Sasha. I loved Obama's reaction, "If you need someone to do some good writing...hire an Irishman!'

'Let me through security or I'll eat you up! '

Due to high winds, torrential rain, and tight security, Ravenous Beast might not make it through the barriers and I'll have to post Tales from Old Ireland to Malia and Sasha at the White House!

There has been such excitement here today. Here's a clip of US President Barack Obama and First Lady, Michelle Obama having a pint of the black stuff down in Ollie Hayes pub in Moneygall, Co. Offaly. They are such an awesome couple, kissing babies and shaking hands all over Ireland! They look like they are having a great day and the street party is yet to begin!

Sláinte Obama!

Missing Picture Book Characters after Easons Event?

The David O'Callaghan rounds up the Illustration Easons Bash...

'Mass Doodling from the Audience! 3 Sad Tales of Loneliness (perfect for kids), one of a Cow 'n Chicken Thelma & Louise (and we all know how that ended) .. and An OWL RUG that made peeps go OOOOOHHH ! Yep, another nite at the Eason mothership = Happy Happy Times ! Thanx to Niamh, David (NOT The David), Chris & Chris.'

It was really lovely to meet some of the Mums and Dads who brought their kids along that night. And a great turn out from the IGI! Thank you also to Caoilfhionn who did an excellent job on the poster for the event!

The Ravenous Beast really enjoyed his trip on the train, ate a few passengers on the way. There was breaking news that a Lonely Beast, some lost Owl and a bear called Douglas were missing after the event in the picture book dept. When questioned about the disappearance, the Ravenous Beast had no comment but belched loudly. MMM?

Win Free Books!

All you've got to do is do a doodle!

Win The Ravenous Beast and lots of Walker Picture books here!

Five Hearts Review!

Something really cheered me up this morning!

I am so very, very fragile today. Yesterday I had a horrible tummy bug. All I wanted was my Mammy. For her to rub my back and say ' Aw poor Niamh, don't worry, you're going to be ok.' But she's in Spain, so it's a bit unreasonable to fly home! Today I feel like my head is floating, not quiet connected if you know what I mean?

But thanks to Steve Simpson I feel much better. Thanks Steve! He'd thought I'd might like to take a peep at his daughter's reading record. Sadhbh is seven and she's in second class at Loreto Dalkey.

Steve said that Sadhbh's starting to take a real interest in reading, 'Although there are a lot of new words for her in The Ravenous Beast she loved getting her tongue around them - fun words:)'

Thanks for the fantastic review Sadhbh! The Ravenous Beast loved it and so do I.

The Ravenous Beast at The Garter Lane Gallery!

My exhibition officially opened yesterday at The Garter Lane Gallery as part of the SprOg Children's Festival.

Alas, I was foiled by a dribbling monster when I tried to escape on time! The monster heard that marshmallows and Jammie Dodgers were to be served instead of the usual wine and cheese. And he would not let me GO!

In case you get a chance to drop out of the sky and go along, the show runs until 28th August at Garter Lane Gallery, in Waterford.

I have eight pieces of original art from The Ravenous Beast.

Annie West, Adrienne Geoghegan, Bruce Ingman, and Oisín McGann are in the exhibition too.

Save me a Jammie Dodger if you go along!

Voting Open for The Never Too Young Book Award!

The Ravenous Beast is thrilled to be shortlisted for the Never Too Young Prize from Coventry City Council. The public can vote and comment for thir favourite picture book. If you loved The Ravenous Beast you can find him here!

Notebooks and Ideas!

Ideas! 

All my ideas started life in my notebooks. Publishers love notebooks! Fill them with doodles, anything that interests you, overheard conversations, ideas. They don't have to be totally worked out. Publishers and editors will look through your notebooks and if they have a good eye they can spot ideas that could make a great picture book.

If you are getting a portfolio ready for college, start keeping notebooks. They will be the first thing Tutors will look at when they open your portfolio. They give tutors an idea of how your creative mind works. How you get ideas, develop them and finally work them out.

If I am starting a new project and looking for ideas and I get stuck I go back and look through my old notebooks. The Ravenous Beast started as a card design called Ravenous Monsters I painted in 1994. When I first went to Walker Books they spent most of the time looking through my notebooks. Amelia the head designer saw this painting and said mmm... interesting. It started from there.

Then I started to develop the idea. First I do lots of writing...basically anything that comes into my head. And I doodle a lot, very scientific. You have to be completely open, the story could go in any direction and sometimes in the wrong direction!

Then I work on character, you have to get to know your characters so draw them over and over again.

Next, I make up a mini dummy book in black and white to see if it's readable, that it works when you turn the page. Then I read it to my kids or anyone who will listen! Then I keep improving the original dummy book, at this stage I work with my editor.

Here is a copy of the original Ravenous Monsters card and my first thumbnails for the Ravenous Beast it gives you an idea of how rough the original idea was.

So no excuses get doodling!

Are you the hungriest animal of all?

Gobble up the new edition of The Ravenous Beast with DVD. Available now, it’s animated by King Rollo Films and narrated by Kevin Whatley. Now that’s what I call hungry!
Amazon