The Publishing Game

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Comment by Bhob on June 26, 2008 at 7:42am

Zina, looking at Illo, I can see that the "Art Talks" layout clearly displays Nancy Stahl's name large. However, in the online version, no name appears "above the fold" and the name in the text is not bold, so it's not easy to identify the artist at first glance. Further, there are no links to see work by these artists. I have an interest in Steven Guarnaccia because I once liked a book jacket by him to the degree that I read the entire book! However, I made several clicks before seeing that he was not on Drawger, and many more clicks in Google Image Search before finding his portfolio. I think you should provide links to alleviate such frustration. Btw, I have sent a half-dozen emails to zina@zinasaunders.com and they all bounce back. I can't figure why.

Bhob @ Potrzebie [currently have Anton Kelley tribute]

Comment by Zina Saunders on June 20, 2008 at 2:33pm

Cool comic, Bhob, thanks for the link. And the comparison!

Comment by Bhob on June 20, 2008 at 9:50am

The playful kitten reminds me of Patrick McDonnell's Mutts, which I read every morning in email (thanks to DailyINK).

Bhob @ Potrzebie

Comment by Zina Saunders on June 17, 2008 at 2:29pm

Just got turned down by a literary agent.

Phooey on the publishing game. I don't even know why I try so hard. The web is the new publishing source and you don't even have to get any suits to approve you to publish on it.

Comment by Zina Saunders on June 16, 2008 at 11:35am

Ha! Thanks Bhob and Mizzus!

I'd really like to do more illos in the cat style. It's really fun to do and I made up the technique, so I haven't seen other stuff like it. But maybe I'm all wet.

Frankly, I'd be thrilled to do any book!

Comment by Bhob on June 9, 2008 at 9:10am

I think if you do a book of your cat illustrations, you'll sell a million copies.

Bhob @ Potrzebie>

Comment by Zina Saunders on June 8, 2008 at 5:25pm

I'm sorry it's taken me such a long time to reply to your nifty comments! I still don't quite understand the way the site is organized.

Thanks, Carol, for saying such nice stuff about my various projects!

To address your idea about including examples of the subject artist's work in a printed version of
Art Talks, Bhob: first off, I'm really glad the profiles spark an interest in seeing their work, so thanks! I was thinking that it would be cool to have a website associated with the book, if ever the book was actually published, with links to a website with their work, or to their own websites. Or perhaps the book could come with a CD with each artist's work on it.

Overlooked New York is my series of portraits and interviews with ardent New Yorkers about their joyous obsessions and the informal communities these enthusiasts form. They range from bike messengers to carnival costume designers to park fishermen to Puerto Rican Schwinn Club men to guys who raise pigeons on their rooftops. I think I've done about 100 profiles so far and I'm always adding to it.

Back in 2001, I did a children's book called Fearies. Here's the first poem in the (unpublished) book, which describes what it's all about:

Let me introduce to you
A group of not-so-gentlefolk,
Who think that making you afraid
Is just the most delightful joke.

The Fearies have one simple wish:
To scare the daylights out of you,
So when a chill goes up your spine,
They’ve done just what they wanted to.

But there’s an antidote, you’ll find,
For every Fearie that you meet.
Use these magic remedies
And send the Fearies on retreat.

Here's a link to some of the art of The Fearies

Comment by Bhob on June 6, 2008 at 8:30am

Zina: You certainly have enough solid past material for several books. Art Talks seems like something Abrams should publish. When I read one of your interviews with an illustrator and look at your accompanying portrait, I usually want to see work by that artist. So would that be a component of such a book?

Bhob @ Potrzebie

Comment by Zina Saunders on June 6, 2008 at 6:31am

I would like to join the publishing game, but nobody's picked me for their team. I keep trying, but to no avail.

More and more, it seems that celebrity is a necessary ingredient in getting a book published.

Grrrr.