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2016-08-02 2:31 PM

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Expert
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St. Louis
Subject: Crowdsourcing illustration ideas for a book

Tri friends,

My name is Brandon.  Haven't been on here in a long while!  I basically burned myself out training for Ironman in 2008.  Hey, I'm still recovering!  Huge respect to folks who keep tackling that challenge.

But I digress... I wrote a children's book called Daddy Tries several years ago. I sent it to dozens of publishers, but none saw the same potential I did.  So after being disheartened and disappointed, I have rekindled my enthusiasm and decided to publish it myself.  I engaged the services of a professional illustrator that is going to make the story come to life.  See her work on Hammer and Nails and you can see why she is doing this project with me!

Sure, I have plenty of ideas about what certain scenes might look like, but I'm just one person.  So I am turning to the collective BT to see what resonates with the very crowd the book is aimed to entertain.  Who knows, you might have the idea for an element or illustration that makes it to the final draft.

To give you an idea of what we're working with, here are a couple early concept sketches.  The plan for illustrations in Daddy Tries is to highlight a child watching and helping a role model (dad) hit his proverbial stride.  Gangly dad turns into fit guy.  Lots of fun moments between the two main characters.  And plenty of opportunities to poke fun at triathletes in a "you know you're a triathlete when" kind of way.  Think excessive amounts of quinoa and nutella in the pantry, a red bike, a car that looks like an official transition zone, and getting in a quick core workout while the kids are at soccer practice.

For example:
My daddy tries a bath with ice. His legs are feeling battered.                                                                                                                                                               I bring him cocoa in the tub.  His teeth just click and chatter.

- what might be going on in the background? what quintessential thing does the triathlete have in the bathroom that makes you chuckle?

I'm documenting progress of the project at Daddy Tries . I set up a FB page as well so I can leak storyboard sketches or thumbnails along the way. I hope there's an interactive feel to it at some point. I hope you might feel like participating in my little humorously insightful quest to make a beautiful book.

If you read this far... thank you very much!!

~B





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2016-08-02 3:38 PM
in reply to: getsome

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Deep in the Heart of Texas
Subject: RE: Crowdsourcing illustration ideas for a book

I have no creativity at all, so I can help much.  Good luck with your project!  Soon you'll have the makings for the sequel - Daddy tries to publish a children's book.

And it's Assistant to the Regional Manager, right?

2016-08-04 8:07 AM
in reply to: Hook'em

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Subject: RE: Crowdsourcing illustration ideas for a book

Thanks, Hook'em!  I've been told that if people find out you've recently moved to Texas, the best answer you could possibly give is, "I got here as soon as I could."

But in other news... I got some more preliminary sketches back and things are really taking shape.

 

Here's a specific question for the group: 

In the book, the main character hears about triathlon, and wants to try.  What is the scene that depicts his "Aha!" moment?  A flyer in a mailbox?  Road closure during a Sunday drive? 

Thanks,

B

 





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2016-08-04 9:09 AM
in reply to: getsome

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Subject: RE: Crowdsourcing illustration ideas for a book
My personal "aha" moment to do a triathlon was after drinking too much rum with my brother and letting him talk me into it....so probably not good for a children's' book.

Triathletes tend to be quite proud of themselves; give them lots of fodder to feel that way, and you'll sell a lot of books (that's not meant to sound as snarky as it probably does, but it's honest).

Finally, the picture below was on my Instagram feed quite a while back and it always struck me. I think it is a powerful image and perhaps one you can illustrate in your book.



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2016-08-05 2:16 PM
in reply to: 3mar

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Subject: RE: Crowdsourcing illustration ideas for a book
I vote for the sign announcing road closure.

Love the pic above and it reminds me of something I saw and still laugh about from IMFL (where I was a spectator only). I was at the finish line and saw a man's daughter helping him step down from a curb. We thought, "Bless him. He made it 140.6 miles but that 4 inch curb is a killer."

My "aha" moment was watching 11 to 15 year old boys and girls wear pink socks at a cross country championship in memory of the coach's late wife who passed away from breast cancer. Decided that if young boys would voluntarily wear pink socks and teenage fashion-conscious girls would risk clashing with their blue and gold uniforms, then I could run a race in memory of her.

Good luck on the book!
2016-08-05 2:20 PM
in reply to: #5193771

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St. Louis
Subject: RE: Crowdsourcing illustration ideas for a book
Thank you for the thoughts and feedback. Duly noted!
~brandon


2016-10-24 2:21 PM
in reply to: getsome

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St. Louis
Subject: RE: Crowdsourcing illustration ideas for a book

Back with an update!

Lots of progress has been made.  Illustrations are coming along great, and I am slowly making progress in sorting out the best Print On Demand (POD) options for me and Daddy Tries.

enjoy the sneak peek.

Thanks,

Brandon





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