2 Book Characters Come Alive

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One of the most exciting thing about writing books, is playing 'god' when it comes to creating characters. You can create absolutely anything you like, in whatever colours, styles, moods, personality traits. It's like imaginary play for grown-ups.

Extending characters by creating 3D models is a whole lot of fun, and how could I resist creating crocheted caricatures of Piglet, Bunny and Cat from my upcoming book, Smile Cry? These beautiful critters came to life from the paintbrush of the gorgeous jessesmess/" target="_blank">Jess Racklyeft, then hopped onto the end of my crochet hook. They'll be coming along to my Canberra launch in early March! (see taniamccartneywebspot.au/p/events.html" target="_blank">EVENTS for more)

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Another delightful surprise regarding book characters came from my dear friend and facebook/groups/418616991575037/" target="_blank">52-Week Illustration Challenge admin member, Lisa-Marie Kerr, who has started a business that will blow your socks off if you're into gorgeous interiors for kidlets. bearandsparrow.au/" target="_blank">Bear and Sparrow. You simply must check it out.

Lisa-Marie surprised me with this beautiful peg doll, based on one of the characters from my first self-illustrated book (our November 2016). Can you believe how gorgeous she is?

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Creating anything, in any form, whether it be painting or cooking a cake, is such a fine way to feel happy, connected and at one with life.

What are you creating today?

0 Cover Reveal - Smile Cry!

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Absolutely delighted to reveal the cover to my latest book--created with the amazing jessesmess/" target="_blank">Jess Racklyeft, out this March in NZ, UK, USA and Canada, and an April release for Australia. 

I simply adored working with Jess on this book for little ones--her illustrations so perfectly convey my words and the emotion behind them.

Huge thanks to Mark Thacker who typeset the book and designed these amazing covers, and endless thanks to my publisher Anouska Jones for yet again making book publication not only a joy, but a breeze.

Below are the book's details, and look out for my book launch to be held at Harry Hartogs, Woden (Canberra) on Saturday 5 March (click poster below for more). You might get to meet these hand-crochets characters from the book!

taniamccartneywebspot.au/p/events.html" target="_blank">

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Smile Cry OUT MARCH/APRIL 2016
(March 2015, EK Books, $19.99, hard cover, 9781921966989)
exislepublishing.au/Smile-Cry.html" target="_blank">BUY

A fun, flip-over picture book for children that reads from both front and back, Smile Cry is an innovative picture book for young kids, showcasing the full emotional range of their formative years.

Readers follow three adorable characters--piglet, bunny and cat--as they react emotionally to a variety of events and circumstances from everyday life. From an 'ate all the pies' smile to an 'ice-cream plopping down cry'; from a 'cosy under blanket smile' to a 'need a band-aid quick cry', children will empathise with the tear-jerking calamity of a popped balloon or lost toy, or feel the smiley warmth of a being tickled.

It's the little things that touch the hearts of children the most, and Smile Cry typifies both the small joys and challenges that are the essence of childhood. Younger kids will respond to the soft whimsical illustrations, while older readers will learn more about the range of their emotions--how it's possible to cry with happiness and also smile with trepidation.

The clever 'flip book' format means that the Smile story reads from front to back, while the Cry story reads from back to front, with both delicious narratives meeting in the middle.

A heartfelt picture book that will be treasured for years, Smile Cry is perfect for ages 3 and upwards.

Teachers' Notes -- coming soon!