New Illustrations, for all the Georgia fans out there.
Perhaps it's my fondness for UGA coming out, but I particulary enjoyed Jay Colle's (www.jaycolle.com) illustrations this week. Auburn's between the hedges this week... Sick 'Em!
Perhaps it's my fondness for UGA coming out, but I particulary enjoyed Jay Colle's (www.jaycolle.com) illustrations this week. Auburn's between the hedges this week... Sick 'Em!
The Magic Ticket begins this Thursday and I wanted to share how the stories get from my brain to your hard drive. The Unconquered Chronicles began last Wednesday, and a few subscribers had questions so I assumed you might as well.
Here's how it all works.
I began sketching out the concept back in July: creating the characters, selecting the games the characters would see, and tracking down Jay, the illustrator. I wrote the first story and read it to my sons, and made edits based on their responses. Once the template was established, I began working on the subsequent chapters.
Each chapter requires me to research the destination the Camp's will be watching football. Once I've discovered the facts I want inlcuded in the story, I have to come up with the riddles that serve as there clues. Once my riddles are in place, I write the story.
Step 1) Considering all you just read, step one is for me to write the story.
Step 2) If I'm confident of a scene I want illustrated, I'll send it to Jay before I finish my writing. Otherwise, I send him the completed story with some ideas of scenes to illustrate and he begins drawing. I'll send him images of what he's drawing because most are actual locations, statues, stadiums, and events. He has to get these back to me by Wednesday night.
Step 4) I embed the illustrations into the story.
Step 5) On Thursday afternoon, I email the story to the subscriber list.
Step 6) You've got mail :)
Step 7) You read the weeks adventure with your kids and all learn some cool history about the sport we love.
Step 8) The process starts all over.
In need of an illustrator I tweeted my throngs of followers and low and behold, I found my man. I received two replies within 10 minutes of each other, both recommending Jay Colle. I checked out his website and was floored by his obvious talent.
He's a social media guru, a gifted illustrator, and an author himself. So, I called him and told him I couldn't afford his services...
Without hesitation, he dismissed my concerns and agreed to team up anyway.
As you can see from the illustration above, his drawings make The Magic Ticket that much better and I'm thrilled to have Jay Colle on board.
He does all sorts of graphic design, so if you need any work done be sure to check out www.jaycolle.com
Remember to purchase your subscription today; the journeys begin on Thursday!
Writers will tell you, "It's all in the edit," and I believe them. It's just funny how the tables have turned for me. When I wrote Grateful, my second draft was twice as long as my first - 45,000 words to more than 90,000. I just finished the second draft of the second story in The Magic Ticket and the reverse was true. 
First draft 3,204 words, second draft 2,346, and I'm expecting to trim it to 2,000 or less before it's final. Believe me, it's better after the edit.
The pace is crisper and the plot is clearer than it was with the extra thousand words. I feel much better about it, but I still need to run it past my sub-four foot editing comittee. We'll see what they think.
Do you know whose statue is in the picture above? Before today, I wouldn't have known it either. But, you'll learn if you read The Magic Ticket, and that's what makes these stories so fun. I'm learning all kinds of interesting facts about the schools Andrew and his dad will be visiting, and it's making me love college football even more.
Every school has traditions. Every school has their legends and their great moments. The Magic Ticket gives you the opportunity to learn a little more about the sport you love and share that passion with the next generation.
(Here's a little hint about the statue, "Go Hawkeyes!")
My wife and I have four young sons, and our second oldest turned six yesterday. I thought it would be fun to let Jackson share what he thinks about the Magic Ticket. I hope you enjoy.
RS: Do you like the Magic Ticket stories?
Jack: Yes.
RS: What's your favorite thing about them?
Jack: That the ticket takes you everywhere.
RS: If you had a magic ticket; where would you want to go?
Jack: I would want to go to Water World. (Dothan, AL waterpark)
RS: Do you think it's cool that Andrew gets to go on all those trips with his dad?
Jack: Yes.
RS: Why?
Jack: Because... I do.
RS: What do you think about the illustrations?
Jack: I like them. I'm glad there's pictures.
RS: Ok, last question. Do you think Andrew and his dad will complete their missions?
Jack: Yeah I do.
RS: Thanks Jack.
Andrew Camp had no idea his grandfather left him and his father a gift. A magic ticket that takes them on a series of journeys to the meccas of college football. In a race against time, the Camp's must answer questions and solve a riddle to receive the true surprise their grandfather has waiting. Will they accomplish their goals? Will their grandfather accomplish his?
For fifteen weeks, join Andrew and his dad as they jump in the the Red Sea in Lincoln, wake up the echos in South Bend, and see Osceola plant the spear in Tallahassee.
Go Blue!, War Eagle!, and Boomer Sooner!
Nittany Lions, LSU Tigers, and the Bear... Whoa Nellie.
It's a college football fan's dream season and a story children will love.
Read The Magic Ticket.
