my travelin’ eye is a real book!
April 4, 2008
Woohoo! My Travelin’ Eye is out! It’s a real book, hard bound and all. Hee. hee. It’s so surreal. I still remember the day my editor left the message on my machine. She called the day she got my dummy to say she wanted to publish it. I kept that message for almost 2 years for times when I thought I was dreaming (yes, I’m a dork). Patrick had her message memorized and could impersonate her New York accent to a t. He’d just blurt it out from time to time to make me laugh.
I remember thinking, “This is a huge responsibility and honor–to make a book for kids.” (I also remember praying a lot that I’d do my best.)
The first thing I did was made a Jenny Sue doll…oui…I am a pathetic doll maker. She turned out akward and goofy and wobbly (I had to stitch a small tree branch to her back and head to keep her head upright). AND, she was the oh-so perfect companion for months of painting. (Plus, she was fun to talk to and make talk and pose.) The process of painting the book was SO fun, really. Mostly smooth. I giggled a whole lot. Only had one freak-out moment when I couldn’t paint to save my life, but luckily it passed.
I had the BEST experience with my editor, too. She ROCKS. She saw my vision from the beginning and had tons of faith in me, even though I’d never written or illustrated a book before. It really helps to have an editor who believes in you.
And Patrick…he was my NUMERO UNO support. And my parents, my best cheerleaders. So many people were apart of it in some way, inspiring and energizing me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I’ve received so many fun emails and calls from friends this week who already have my book. It just makes me SOOO happy! So, so, happy. (I’d LOVE to hear from you, too, when you read it!) Sharing it–finally–is the best part of it all. And, I can tell, the fun is just beginning…
xo, jenny sue
25 Responses to “my travelin’ eye is a real book!”
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© 2010 jenny sue kostecki-shaw · coloredsock@mac.com · 575 586 1726
HELLO!
April 4th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Congratulations!!! I would have kept that message too. I can’t wait to see the book in person. The doll is adorable as well, and I can already tell I’ll love the story. You deserve it!
April 4th, 2008 at 11:14 am
yahoo! congrats jen! proud of you :) i’ll look for your book next time i’m at the bookstore – yay!
April 4th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Jenny, I laughed for five straight minutes when I saw this photo of the Jenny Sue doll reading your book. You already know how much I love your new book, you rock! Honestly, I think your publishers should consider a companion Jenny Sue doll with the book.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
wow! congrats jen.
i loved this most too. as funny as the jenny sue doll.
:-)
April 4th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Again , Congratulations jenny. Congratulations !! You are an author now!
April 4th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Wow .. how lovely! Congratulations! I hopped over here from Priya’s blog, to see who this dancing elephant was and am glad I did.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Oh Congratulations! I want one!
April 5th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Congratulations on your book! I collect children’s books and will look your book up when i go to the bookstore next! How exciting!
April 5th, 2008 at 7:44 am
thanks everyone! it means a lot to me. it’s so fun to ’see’ new people here, too. thanks for checkin’ in. i’ll check out your sites soon. if anyone lives in the midwest, i’m going to be doing book events in May in Omaha, St. Louis, and Kansas City at bookstores and libraries. i know it will be a lot of fun! i’ll post the events soon.
April 5th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
blue ribbon for your Jenny Sue doll.
SO excited for you and can’t wait for you to come to Reading Reptile bookstore next month. We have reservations for the BIG event !!!!!
xo K + R
April 5th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 7th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Congrats Jenny! That is sooooo exciting and I think hearing from friends who just got your new book is the best part:) I love the doll…she’s great.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Oh, Jenny! My Amzon box just arrived and Ellis is napping, so I curled up in the sunshine on orange velvet couch and had a moment all to myself with the birds chirping and My Travelin’ Eye.
It’s SOOOoooo wonderful! I laughed, I teared up, I reminisced, I got all stirred for whimsy! I’m speechless.
I definitely lingered on the classroom page trying to see if I recognized anyone. :)
Just think of all the kids you are going to encourage, and those you will help to empathize, and those you will inspire (like me!) and… I really don’t have words for all my happy emotions so here’s a pathetic – YAY YOU!
I think I’m going to go cavort about the house now and then read it again. Wheeeeee!
April 7th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Heather, you are so so sweet. you’re makin me all tear up. hee. thanks for your nice comments. i’m so happy you like it! and yes…in the classroom, those people definitely have names.some are mixes, but there are other exacts(in my memory) like mary beth, tisa and joe b. can you tell?
April 7th, 2008 at 9:44 am
ooh, congratulations! I will rush over to Powell’s and get a copy for Kiran.
When are you coming to do the reading in Portland? We want to see you in person!
April 7th, 2008 at 10:33 am
This looks beautiful, can’t wait to read it… any chance you will be coming to Denver?
April 7th, 2008 at 11:12 am
oh, i hope Kiran loves it! i had to postpone the west coast trip because my Spring got too full with others. Maybe in the Fall! i’d love to get out to Portland and Seattle again…and meet you 2! and kdunn, too…
also, thanks Gwen. yes, i’m hoping to set something up in Denver and Boulder in the not too distant future. i’ll post it when i know–my new site is almost up and will have all scheduled events on it. thanks for visiting!
April 7th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
I’ll keep it brief so as not to hog the blog… Tisa in the front row, braids and hand up, Joe in the back on the right with his tongue out, Mary Beth with the curls and loving big brown eyes? How’d I do? :-)
I have so much more to say… I’ll save it for your visit.
April 8th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Congratulations!!! I cannot wait to buy your book. My yoga schedule just widened a bit to include a kids yoga class, and I know this will be a book I’ll share again and again there.
*
April 9th, 2008 at 6:51 am
BINGO, Heather…and thanks Kelly! i LOVE doing yoga with kids! let me know how they enjoy the book…
April 9th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
My own rock star. I am so happy for you and this book – and I too love the doll [and I think your sewing looks superb [of course that's coming from me the messy raggedy doll maker]…Reading this gives me some hope of being published and finding an editor that gets me and Pino…you’re an inspiration.
April 10th, 2008 at 6:27 am
I am a long time lurker, I love the look of this book, and will make a trip to the bookstore to see it and buy it! I have loved your style, and I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the doll! I seriously wish that the doll was available just as it is to go with the book.
I love dolls, and this one is one of the most original and lovely ones I have ever seen!!
April 10th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
you gals are sweet with the jenny sue doll comments. i have to admit, i love her. i think i’ll take her around to school visits in May. hee.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
[...] Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw (on JOMB) Illustrator: Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw Published: 2008 Henry Holt (on JOMB) ISBN: [...]
August 16th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!