Drabble: No Ordinary Woman

The competition was fierce, but Cindy knew she would win with her smoky looks and witty personality. She felt confident, but she couldn’t stop all six of her legs from shaking.

She heard her rival’s song end and mentally prepared herself, “…So don’t you bring me down today.”  

Cake’s song played next and Cindy spun violet strands of silk about her like feather boas. The crowd made entranced sounds whilst she stomped her black stilettos across the stage. She toyed with her jacket’s lapels and let the air dance under her short skirt. She would show them true monstrous beauty.

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Side note: Working on the title, but just wanted to share with you some thoughts. I didn’t realize just how many songs make women sound like they’ve got a secret monstrous side. Just go and have a listen at Billy Joel’s ‘Just Another Woman’ which I literally stumbled onto today.

http://youtu.be/UHfBXHari34

*Drabble: A story of exactly 100 words.

Drabble: Something Funny Walks This Way

Sherbet the burlesque clown ran for his life, chased by two blurry figures cackling in the night. There was little hope for escape, as his opaque makeup streamed down his face onto the pavement leaving a steady white trail behind him.

Suddenly the shadows become solid and gore down on his throat and wrists. One of them stops and furiously spits out Sherbet's hot blood. "Adrian, don't ingest its blood!" but it was too late for his friend. His nose blooms red and spherical, his hair frizzes bright orange whilst his feet rupture his leather shoes. He had become...a Were-Clown.

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*Drabble: A short story that is exactly 100 words.

Drabble: Elf Checkout

‘Every little helps’, Taffy beams her elfish smile to her last customer, whilst she massages the back of her short aching legs. Her shift was almost over and the night was starting to creep in.

 A middle aged pot bellied man lurches up her lane with aged booze in tow and slams it down on the counter. The glass bottles quake and jingle as the man lets out a toxic belch. Taffy wrinkles her nose in utter disgust. "Well pardon me. Sorry for wantin' a bit of 'Elf Help," the man chuckles heartily. "Actually Sir, I'm a Munchkin.," Taffy growls. 

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*Drabble: A short story that is exactly 100 words.

Drabble: Complicated Vehicle Love

“He just never listens to me anymore, why can’t men take simple directions? Even when I ask nicely, “Please turn left….in….500….yards. He never takes the hint and tells me to ‘Shut the BEEP up!’ Mercedes’ eyes glower hotly towards her man who struts away.

“You think you got problems?” growls Harley. “I’ve seen my man try on another woman right in front of me! She may be a younger model, but at least I’ve got class, reliability and experience…” Harley winks at Mercedes.

Mercedes sighs loudly,“Uh...Men! why do they like to drive us crazy?!”

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*Drabble: A short story that is exactly 100 words.

2013 Bologna Children's Book Illustration

Strange to think that my trip to the Bologna Children's Book Fair and time with the Cambridge School of Art  is all over now. I saw so many fantastic illustrations and received great (if sometimes curt) advice from publishers. What have I learnt so far? Well...I'm not 'commercial' enough, that's for sure. I really need to travel a bit more in terms of my 'style'. The whole trip taught me that simplicity is a child's best friend when it comes to learning the world around them, and how to engage stories with them. I guess it explains why there are so many picture books where characters are living in a constant flux of white limbo (ahem... Emily Gravett's 'Orange Bear Apple Pear', you have been poked). Seriously though, I need to learn how to tone down the texture, but that's going to be so hard as I adore it so much. Some of the publisher's liked my work, but they said it wasn't for them as it was too 'mature' (which they assured me isn't always a bad thing). I don't know if I'll get a contract or anything out of this, but it's really opened my eyes. 

 

Book cover for "Guzzler The Greedy Dragon"

It's been a long journey with Guzzler, I still don't know if children will take to him, but he's flying off to Bologna next week. I'm going to the Bologna Children's Book Festival and will be trying to catch the publisher's eyes, which will be incredibly difficult! I know I haven't added a name down the middle where the spine would be, but this is just to show you what it looks like. Please tell me what you think about this. I take criticism to heart and I really do want to improve. 

Flying my dragon.

Quick little sketch of a mini-me flying Guzzler the dragon from my children's book. It looks weird without its scales, hehe.