Sarah Gives Thanks has been officially released! WOO!
I spent most of the official release date at the car repair shop. So, um, woo?
To celebrate (the release date, not the car repairs), I am posting my interview with David Gardner, the book’s incredible illustrator and a fellow I am truly blessed to be associated with. When I first saw his rough sketches for Sarah, I knew this book was going to be something special.
A while back, I held a contest asking you to suggest questions for David and, boy, did you folks deliver. Every interview question here was submitted by a reader. I would highly recommend that, after you finish this post, you click on the links to the questioners’ blogs. I follow every one of them and you should, too.
As you peruse this, you will note that many of the questions are silly. So if you would like to learn more substantial things about David, I would suggest going to his website.
And now on with the interview!
Vanessa Chapman: If you weren’t David Gardner, which David would you like to be?
David Copperfield. Not the Dickens character, but the magician. Because, well, he’s a magician, which is cool in itself, and he can fly (on stage, at least). Oh, and he owns an island. What’s not to like?
LJ Clayton: I can’t draw noses, they all look the same when I try. Have you a tip for drawing a really good nose?
Well, noses are tough, right up there with hands. I break it down into simple geometric shapes. The tip of the nose is a bulb of sorts, so I start with a circle. then the triangle, sort of an elongated pyramid, for the bridge, then two circles for the nostrils. Then I erase everything I don’t need. Sometimes I’ll just start with the triangle-pyramind thing, to place it on the face. One tip: Almost never draw the nostril holes. Even if you see them there, they look piggy when you draw them, unless you’re very close to your subject and at a very low angle. Or unless, of course, they are a pig.
Erin Brady Pike: What best describes your attire while illustrating?
Casual. Sloppy, depending on mood or the weather. Usually barefoot. Short sleeves, or sleeves rolled way up (they get in the way of making big moves with the pencil). I tried drawing naked once, but I found it distracting, and constantly worried that someone would walk in and catch me.
Wendy Lawrence: What was your favorite thing to draw as a kid?
Cartoon characters, any of them, really, but especially Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Fred Flintstone, Jiminy Cricket and most of the Seven Dwarfs. In the second half of first grade, I drew nothing but the characters from a strange movie called Pinocchio in Outer Space, which my dad sat through twice with me, bless his heart.
Lauri Meyers: Your interpretation of Sarah’s face and body language shows us the hardship this 30-something widower has already faced. Did you try on a corset and bonnet to get into the character?
The short answer is, No. The long answer is No, too, but my jeans are pretty tight these days, so it’s not much of a stretch to imagine squeezing into a corset. I guess I’ve seen Gone With the Wind so many times that imagining myself in a corset and bonnet just feels like my subconscious default. I’m glad you picked up on Sarah’s weariness!
Nancy Tandon: Have you ever been so engrossed in a project that you almost forget to stop and take a bathroom break, dashing to pee at the last second and barely making it?
Yes. I tend to be a bit obsessive, not wanting to stop until I solve a problem. But bathroom breaks are inevitable, unless you’re on a hunger strike, and I find they’re good at easing the obsession, forcing me to step back, walk away, and come back to the painting with a fresh eye. Sometimes, its not obsession, but simply being in The Zone, which feels like a gift of grace, so I like to milk that grace whenever it comes. It’s precious, like sighting a doe in the woods.
Cathy Ballou Mealey: If Sarah Hale were to throw a pie in your face, what kind of pie would you want it to be?
Not pumpkin, like on the cover, that’s for sure. That would hurt, and it would have been in a crockery pie pan, so blood would be involved. I’d pick a lemon meringue, and in a flimsy aluminum plate, please.
Kaleidoscopebrain: What is a secret, really weird thing you love or love to do?
I’m a Virgo, so I don’t do weird things. Or, if I do, I like to keep it a secret. Sorry.
But I’ll fess up to this: Lately I love to watch the Cloud Atlas movie trailer online and cry at the exact same place every single time, when Susan Sarandon says in a voiceover, “Our lives are not our own,” and then, “every act of kindness,” as somebody pulls a blanket over a shivering, sleeping Halle Berry – it gets me every time.
Madame Weebles: If Mike were going to write a children’s book about you, and you could choose someone to illustrate the book (anyone except yourself, that is), who would you choose and why?
Trina Schart Hyman. I love the way she handled people, the flow of her line, so elegant. She wasn’t afraid to be honest and expressive and she hit the full range of emotions head-on, from happy to heartbreaking (just like my life!) Also, she would make me look good, like a real character, and she could paint my life to look more interesting and romantic and mysterious than it has actually been.
Anne Woodman: Which interview question about being an artist or illustrator irritates you the most?
I like mostly any question – it means the work is being talked about, at least. But I do find it irritating when someone asks something like, “What was Harvey Milk like as a boy?” because I don’t know the answer. I research as much as I can, but I’m not as much of an expert on the subject as the writer will be, generally. I’d rather they ask me how to draw a nose.
Hey, Look! A Writer Fellow! 
What a fun, entertaining, and informative interview. The nostril tip is great. Best wishes on your book!
Many thanks, Maddie!
David is a great fellow, that’s for sure.
Some of the best interview questions ever – hurrah for your readers. I think my favourite was: Have you ever been so engrossed in a project that you almost forget to stop and take a bathroom break, dashing to pee at the last second and barely making it?
Very amusing. Thank you!
I have the best readers ever, that’s for sure. I’m so glad you’re one of them!
And props to Nancy for that bathroom question. She came out of the woodwork to suggest it — and I am grateful.
Lovely book! So it’s a BIG WOO!! And your illustrator ain’t bad, either. Nice questions. I can tell they are all professionals.
I thank you for your WOO!
I do know that a few of those fine folks conduct interviews regularly, and, God bless ’em, they saved their weirdest questions for this post.
Great interview, and big congratulations Mike and David.WOO WOO WOO!
A troika of “WOOs”!
I am not worthy.
OK then, Woo Woo.
🙂
I just ordered your book! Congratulations! 🙂
YOU deserve a WOO!
Thank you so much, Ms. Alamode! You made my day!
Congratulations to you both on the book and nice to have the car repairs over — Woo hoo.
Many thanks, Stacy!
I’m just glad I didn’t have to blow my advance on those car repairs. A writer’s gotta eat, ya know.
Nice interview! And congrats on having the book out there in the universe. I will have to check it out! I will hand out another WOO! YIPPEE! And WOW!
Holy cow, that’s a lot of enthusiasm, Anne! Many thanks.
Here’s hoping you like the book!
Congratulations Mike and David. What a fab interview! I think we need an illustration of a shocked face being caught painting naked, too funny!
That’s a great idea!
David, please get to work on that sketch, won’t you?
Will do, Mike. And thanks for the suggestion, Catherine. I’ve been waiting YEARS for this request! But, Mike — is this blog G-rated??
I was hoping you might include a “conveniently placed” drafting table in the sketch to maintain this blog’s G-rating.
Hysterical. Congratualtions on the release.
Thank you!
David is a good sport, a great illustrator, and a funny guy! Congratulations on the book release!
Thanks, Lauri!
David is great, isn’t he? I’ll be including another illustration or two in future posts so keep your eyes peeled.
Thanks, both of you! I’m blushin’!
I CANNOT wait to get my copy of your book in the mail. WOO HOO!! Cute interview (uh oh, there I go with ‘adorable’ and ‘cute,’ again). But the questions are wacky and fun, and the artists did a great job of taking them as seriously as possible. But I heard the hints of the true creative spirit in there, being in the ‘zone,’ (just like a writer) and owning up to being emotional, even for a movie trailer – all artists need to be open and honest, and that’s not easy. Besides, if David has watched Gone with the Wind more times than me (which would be difficult), I know he’s brilliant.
Glad you liked the post, Pam!
Do let me know what you think of the book once it arrives.
Congrats on your book! Well now I want lemon meringue pie…
So you want the pie but not the book?
Then I have failed.
Yup . . . I like him.
Way to go, Mike. You made me look good.
Knew you would.
Congratulations! I’ve forwarded your book info to every children’s librarian I know, and ordered two for myself!
How’s your car?
My car is great — as is my mood after reading your comment!
Thank you SO much, Sarah! I am so very grateful!
Having your readers ask the questions is an awesome idea! I may just have to steal this one. I’ll probably put a little spin on it.
The illustrations look outstanding. No wonder you are so excited. Congratulations.
Thanks so much, Jennifer!
And feel free to steal away! It was a really fun experiment.
Seemed to work.
Yay! My question was asked! Congrats on the big book release, Mike. 🙂
Hey, it was a good question!
Thanks for the kind words, Erin!
Congrats on the release! And thank you for a darn fine post (love the nose tips :P)
Many thanks!
Ooh I almost missed this post, and it’s got my question in it! You posted this while I was away in Corfu – did I mention I went to Corfu? 😉 I knew I wouldn’t be able to catch up on all the blog posts I missed while I was away, but I wanted to at least catch up on the latest posts from my favourite bloggers…and the ones from your blog too 😉 (Is it too indulgent to have two winky smilies in the one comment?).
Oh SNAP!
I’m, of course, delighted to see you back in my comments section, Vanessa.
By the way your question was so popular that an interviewer “borrowed” it and asked me the same thing. So! Further evidence of your awesomeness.
I just received your book, thanks to David, and it is WONDERFUL. Well written, beautifully illustrated, important fascinating history, and a MUST HAVE for parents and grandparents to read to their children. I’m saving mine (and buying another) to display during Thanksgiving, but yes, I’ll read it year-round to my little ones. You must be extremely pleased and proud to have published a wonderful addition to children’s literature. CONGRATS!
Oh, that’s wonderful, Pam! I’m delighted to hear that you enjoyed it!
Thank you for your very kind words.
Congrats on the release of your book! I had to see if you had written any more posts on donkeys and saw the good news. Great interview 🙂
Glad you lied the post, Khaula!
I only have two burro stories, I’m afraid. I guess I better head back to the petting zoo.
Fantastic, amusing interview – very entertaining! Your followers came up with some great questions and thanks for revealing a few more of his illustrations, Mike. They are wonderful, David. 🙂
How did I miss this one??? I’m glad you linked to it again otherwise I would have missed it. Mr. Gardner is an excellent interview.