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Date: 03 September 2009 07:42:47

Big Book Draw...

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I've planned out much of the Book Draw now: what people will be doing, where, who with etc. and with all of the gubbins sort of sorted that brings me on to the fun stuff: writing and drawing the start and end of the story for everyone to get in there and finish it off.

So: this year the Dragon and his Princess are back but, for new readers (and with a very nice mention at justiphone art here maybe a couple of new faces'll swing by) here's a brief re-cap.

Five years ago in July I met up with the organisers of the Guildford Book Festival (in the office of the arts and events co-ordinator for Guildford Borough Council). By that point I'd been youth working for them off and on for three years or so and they saw it as a good fit - I worked with young people and that was an area that the GBF wanted to strengthen that year. They asked me what I'd do and I suggested mini-books and we did that but, as a side project to see what would come from it we did a huge collaborative book as well. I think it was year 1 that a manga workshop led by Tokypop didn't happen through a mix up of dates and I was shipped in with five minutes to plan and think. Fun. Actually it was fun, but a bit too drive by the seat of pants for comfort.

Anyhow the big book draw turned into the most fun thing I'd done - and 100 or so people agreed on the first one and then the next had 120 and then so on to 200 - so they asked if I'd do it the year after and then the year after that and that brings me to this year. 2009 is the 20th Book Festival (no mean feat) and the fifth Book Draw (less so in the grand scheme of things but not an unhappy milestone) so I thought I'd mix it up a little.

((Although last year it did get mixed up a little: for the first three years we did HUGE books, each page a piece of thick, coloured, painted card giving a good solid canvas for people to work on. Then, three years in, so many people joined in that we had to buy more stuff at the mid point, wrecking the budget somewhat, and I did my back in carrying it home. So from that moment on we were in the mini-books business. This year, I hope, will be a good hybrid of the two we'll see)).

So mini-books. Shrink plastic, matchbox books, mini-card covered books, key-ring books the whole kit and kaboodle. We'll also be doing bigger books for the littlies to colour and masks as well as a few extra things that get tied up closer to the time. I really want to do a perspex wall to write on - it's a fab thing to do - but the budget for the whole day stands at £250 so I'm guessing it may be beyond me. Maybe next year...

The most exciting thing for me this year is the inclusion of doodles from various people which wil be included into the book. So far the yes' include Neil Gaiman, Paul Cornell, Mr Scruff, Tom Merritt, David Petersen, Jan Pienkowski, Kieron Gillan, Siku, FargalEx, CoUk, Minkee, Emma Dodd and Jon Lambert and more and that's MAHOOSIVELY exciting for me because I'm a big fan of them all. Basically they've all agreed to doodle 8 images that fit in with the book which kids who participate can use in their books. If I'd had the chance at, I dunno, 12 or so to write a mini book and say it was written by me and illustrated by any of the above names I'd have been Uber delighted. Hoping the day inspires that feeling in others too.

Hmmm apart from that? Youth Centre started back this week, college next so I'm a bit busy. Couple of pieces of art and logos to be doing, finishing off a book pitch and final draft of something else. Busy days. Back to work I guess but if you're new to the site hi, and, yes, it is this waffley a lot of the time :)