Frances McKay Illustration

Hack and Whack

I love Norse mythology, Icelandic sagas, and am fascinated by all things Viking, so it’s been a joy for me to write my first picture book featuring the worst Viking children…ever.

Hack and Whack are the terrible twins terrorizing their village, and I’ve loved imagining a Viking world where children are told off for sword-fighting on the table, but essentially run wild. All the normal constrictions of modern kids are brushed aside—these are Vikings.  They fight, they steal, they’re bold and they’re rude.  Children need a safe outlet for their emotions and aggressive feelings—what better way to explore their riotous natures than through literature?

 

was delighted when Faber’s Leah Thaxton suggested Charlotte Cotterill to illustrate, as I needed an artist with a wild sense of humour, and Charlotte has brilliantly captured all the antic fun of this book.  Long may Hack and Whack be on the attack.

 

Francesca Simon 

Hack and Whack was published by Faber and Faber on 5th October 2017.

 

 

Splendid Silliness: Elys Dolan's Knighthood for Beginners

Daily Mail, Best Summer Books
“Better known for her picture books, this first foray into young fiction by Elys Dolan is a laugh-out loud triumph. With plenty of wildly imaginative black-and-white illustrations, this is the perfect step up from picture books.”

Mail on Sunday, Best Summer Books
“This laugh-out-loud delight for young children is about Dave, the dragon who wants to become a knight.”

The Sunday Times, Children’s Book of the Week
“The inventive, zany text and captioned pictures are laugh-out-loud funny, and if you are not amused then, as Albrecht would say, you are probably a ‘dummkopf’.”

The Guardian, Children’s Book Round Up

“Full of splendid silliness, Elys Dolan’s Knighthood for Beginners will have readers cackling from start to finish. A highly illustrated hoot, full of outrageous medieval mash ups.”

The Financial Times

“Elys Dolan, who illustrates as well as she writes, seems to know just what tickles a kid’s funny bone, while imparting the message to be yourself, no matter what.”

The Press Association (syndicated in over twenty regional newspapers)
“Author and illustrator Elys Dolan (Steven Seagull Action Hero) has penned her first young fiction book –an epic David vs Goliath tale, that’s sure to treat the imagination and tickle the funny bones of all young readers. At its heart, it’s a story of friendship, finding your strengths and the love of books.”

The Guardian, Independent Bookshop Week
“Full of quirky detail and laugh out loud pictures.”

The Bookseller, “One to Watch"
“One of my favourite picture book creators (I’ve read Weasels and Nuts in Space aloud hundreds of times and they’re still funny) now turns her genius to young fiction with great aplomb. Both words and pictures zing with her distinctive bonkers humour; children will adore the slapstick silliness and there are crossover jokes aplenty for their parents.”

 

The Booktrust
“This book will make a fabulous first chapter book for a child to read alone. It is also a real laugh to read out loud, particularly the words spoken by Dave’s ‘trusty steed’ Albrecht.”

LoveReading4Kids
“In a nutshell: hilarious courtly adventure from one of our funniest, most inventive writer-illustrators. There’s something funny on each page either in the text or illustrations and this will have every reader laughing. Underneath the humour is a lovely message about being true to yourself.”

Books For Keeps
“Readers will love the fact that this hero is a dragon hooked on books. They will love his dedication to his quest. Most of all, they will love that he is called Dave.”

Parents in Touch
"A laugh-aloud book for newly confident readers, or for sharing aloud, this will have kids in fits of giggles - guaranteed!"

 

Frances McKay Illustration

"Champion!"

 

Daisy Doodles

I am delighted to announce the publication of my second picture book, Daisy Doodles (OUP) which has been a truly collaborative project.

 

Take one original idea from Pete Marley at OUP; add story and words by award winning author Michelle Robinson; have a day on location with photographer Tom Weller; mix together with my illustrations and digital wizardry to make a lovely little picture book!

 

 

The story centres on a real little girl, 'Daisy', who just loves to draw, finding herself stuck inside on a rainy day inventing a little friend in the shape of a very creative mouse, Pipsqueak. When magically comes to life, they embark in whirl of creativity which spills over into a fantasy world where they join their creations as illustrations themselves for an adventure, before they arrive home again to a bit of an untidy room and an understanding mum!

 

 

It was decided from the start that we would use photography for the 'real' world where we see Daisy drawing and playing, employing soft muted tones to reflect the rainy day mood, then switching to illustration in vivid colour when we enter little girl's imaginary play.

 

This was a very different type of book for me to work on as it involved not only the story boarding and and illustration, but for the photographic scenes, props were made, scenes planned, and photoshop skills employed alongside traditional drawing techniques to make the final spreads. Not to mention working with Kate and Pete at OUP, and the incredibly talented Phoebe who was perfect taking on the role of Daisy!

 

 

It was a real team effort which was a lot of fun, and has come together as 'Daisy Doodles', a lovely story which celebrates creative play and a child's imagination, whilst encouraging creative activities for young readers too.

 

 

Irene Dickson

 

Elys Dolan's New Series for OUP

As Charlotte Eyre reports in The Bookseller: Oxford University Press Children's has bought three young fiction titles by author and illustrator Elys Dolan.

The books will all be aimed at readers aged 7+. The first, Knighthood for Beginners, is about Dave the Dragon’s quest for knighthood with his trusty steed, a goat called Albrecht, and will be published in 2017. The second book Wizarding for Beginners will be published in 2018 and the third book will be in 2019.

Commissioning editor Clare Whitston, who bought world rights from Frances McKay at Frances McKay Illustration, said: “Brilliantly bonkers, always surprising, and never, ever boring – working with Elys is an absolute dream! I can't wait for kids to get their hands on Knighthood for Beginners and immerse themselves in the weird and wonderful world that Elys has created.”

This is the first fiction deal for Elys, who has published several picture books, including Steven Seagull Action Hero, Mr Bunny’s Chocolate Factory and Nuts in Space (Nosy Crow). 

 

Well done Elys from everyone at FMI.

 

 

 

Ludwig the Space Dog, Launched!

My new book, "Ludwig the Space Dog", is out! After having illustrated 40 books so far, this is the first book I've written myself. It's about Ludwig, a dog who lives with his friends in the two dimensional world of books. 

But he has read so much about the world and the universe, that his big dream is to fly into space, and to discover another dimension.

And one day, a visitor from another dimension pays an unexpected visit...

Well you will have to read the book to see if his dream comes true...All Ludwig's dreams and the other worlds he wants to discover are in 3D and can be seen with the enclosed space goggles. It was a very interesting process to learn to produce 3D imagery, and I still love putting the glasses on and off, now you see it (in 3D), now you don't. 

The book is published by Templar, who are known for doing well designed and produced books, so I was very happy when I got my printed copy the other day.

 

 

I have created some cut out figures, which will be part of some shop window displays, and who will all be there for the Bristol launch on Friday 30th sept from 6pm to 9pm, and Saturday 1.oct from 12pm to 4pm, at Centrespace, 6, Leonard Lane, Bristol, BS1 1EA. Come if you can.

 

Let your dreams lead your life, let your dreams come true!

Henning Löhlein

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Doughnut of Doom: A Food Town Tour

My new book, The doughnut of Doom, is out now! But what is it about? Well, it's another ordinary day in Food Town and Nancy McNutty, peanut butter sandwich and rookie reporter, desperately needs a big break. So, when news comes in of a monster doughnut on the rampage, she's straight on the case - she knew there was something dodgy about the superfoods down at Lemon Labs! And boy, is that doughnut hungry! It's EATING everything in sight and not even the police, the fire chiefs OR the military can bring it down. Whatever will President Bacon do?

If you want to find out how they defeat the doughnut you’ll have to read the book but today I’m going to take you on a tour of Food Town, pre doughnut destruction of course.

First stop on our tour is The Peanut Press, Food Town’s premier newspaper and the workplace of intrepid reporter Nancy McNutty. It’s editor is chief is Big Cheese who’s rumoured to be a pretty awful boss.

Next stop is Micro Tan. This is the place to go if you want to looked sun-kissed for the summer, but be careful not to overdo it.

If you want some classier entertainment you might be better off visiting the Food Town Theatre. Here they put on highbrow productions such as Ham-Let and A Midsummers Ice Cream.

If night life is what you’re after then the best place to go is the Chocolate Bar. With DJ Mushroom in residence the best nights out are always found here but be careful of the Allsorts, they’re wild.

Stylist Andy Floss will give you an all new look.

Want to see some local landmarks? By far the most famous is the Empire Steak Building which offers panoramic views of Food Town, That’s when it’s not occupied by a giant monster doughnut, of course.

Many tourists visit the Food Town park to see the iconic statue of local hero General Gauda, who distinguished himself in the Cheese Board wars of 1883.

And finally it’s worth stopping by City Hall to see if you can catch a glimpse of President Bacon, now in his second term. He’s always around for a photo op.

 

The Doughnut of Doom by Elys Dolan is published by Nosy Crow.

You can find out more about Elys and her work at elysdolan.com and elysdolan.tumblr.com or follow her on twitter and Facebook at @ElysDolan and facebook.com/elysdolanillustration.

 

Ludwig the space dog

 

Ludwig the Space Dog is Henning’s

3rd children’s book published in the UK, the

2nd book published by Templar, after „Fish food“ (by Andy Mansfield), which won the  Sheffield Children’s Book Prize 2014, Baby Book category, the

1st book written (and illustrated) by Henning Löhlein...

...blast off!!!

 

Ludwig is a dog, who lives in a flat world of books. He loves to read and play with his friends. Ludwig is a curious dog and every night he dreams about flying past cheese moons and sausage planets. He has read everything there is to know about flying, space and the universe. He dreams of discovering another world. Will his dream become true? An adventure in another dimension, with 3D goggles.

On every page there are 3dimensional elements, which become more and more numerous until the end of the book when Ludwig flies in space, the whole universe can be seen in 3D.  Children know 3D films from the cinema, but having a 3D book illustrates very well that the illusion is happening in their head.

I had great fun making this book, and working out how to do the 3D elements. It has already sold co edition rights to Germany, France and Italy, and the follow up book has been commissioned by Templar. So get ready, Ludwig the Space Dog will launch on the 9th September. There will be a launch party in Bristol  at Centrespace Gallery (BS11EA)  Friday 30.9.2016 from 6pm – 9pm, and Saturday 1.10.2016 from 12 to 4pm. Come along for an experience from another dimension, and fun for the whole family.

 

 

Henning Löhlein

 

Literary Festival at St Mary's Lower School in Colchester

On July 8^th St Mary’s School had their book festival, several local authors were there to talk to the children and in the afternoon four illustrators from FMI went to educate and entertain the girls; Bee Willey, Tom Morgan Jones, Elys Dolan and Nicola Pontin, all volunteered to come to Colchester.

Click on images to enlarge

Bee had copies of her new book Dreamer, soon to be published by Otter Barrie Books. It is a wonderful, lyrical story written by Brian Moses, with a boy dreaming of a world free of pollution and trouble.

In the Art Room, Bee read Dreamer to a group of girls and then helped them create a frieze using the themes from the book. Considering the short amount of time available, it was a terrific result. Colourful and exotic animals spread across the wall, they all had a great time.

Tom, Elys and Nicola were all in a large marquee, busy with different age groups. They read from their recent books and then got the children to join in with different activities.

Tom’s group all drew portraits of Shakespeare, based on the book, The Boy at The Globe, that he has recently illustrated for Barrington Stoke.

Elys read them her best selling Steven Seagull Action Hero, and then had an observation quiz for the girls based on the book.

Nicola, read her book about the Baker Troll and then had all the children designing their own Troll characters.

A local photographer took some great shots, which appeared in all the local papers.

It was a really fun afternoon and the local Colchester bookshop, had a pop up shop, selling copies of all the new books to the children and parents at the end of the day.