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New Tech Makes Mass Notification Part of Bigger Security Picture

Advances like digitization, IoT, AI and mobile devices put mass notification directly into users’ hands, speeding up response times in emergency situations.




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Survey of frontline workers reveals ‘disconcerting picture’ of on-the-job safety

San Mateo, CA — Nearly 2 out of 3 frontline workers don’t feel safe on the job, results of a recent survey show.




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The picture of health

It’s one of occupational safety’s greatest ironies – the professionals who care for the ill and injured are themselves among the most likely to become sick or hurt on the job.




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R&D Strategy: Seeing the Complete Picture

Whether you are a retail store, manufacturer, ingredient supplier, or a foodservice operator looking to capitalize on the next food or beverage trend, having relevant data allows you to make better decisions that affect your bottom line.




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iPhone pictures to PC

I have taken a bunch of travel pictures with an iPhone 14 in the HEIC format. Before downloading to PC, do I have to go pic by pic and chose the perfect frame FIRST on the iPhone before downloading? If I download directly I get a movie file of low...




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Judge: Andy Warhol didn't violate Prince picture copyright

Andy Warhol transcended a photographer's copyright by transforming a picture of a vulnerable and uncomfortable Prince into an artwork that made the singer an "iconic, larger-than-life figure," a judge ruled Monday.




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We Just Got Our Clearest Picture Yet Of How Biden Won In 2020

Incoming President Biden and Vice President Harris stand with their respective spouses Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff after delivering remarks in Wilmington, Del., on Nov. 7, the day the Democrats were declared the winners in the 2020 election.; Credit: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Danielle Kurtzleben | NPR

We know that President Biden won the 2020 election (regardless of what former President Donald Trump and his allies say). We just haven't had a great picture of how Biden won.

That is until Wednesday, when we got the clearest data yet on how different groups voted, and crucially, how those votes shifted from 2016. The Pew Research Center just released its validated voters' report, considered a more accurate measure of the electorate than exit polls, which have the potential for significant inaccuracies.

The new Pew data shows that shifts among suburban voters, white men and independents helped Biden win in November, even while white women and Hispanics swung toward Trump from 2016 to 2020.

To compile the data, Pew matches up survey respondents with state voter records. Those voter files do not say how a person voted, but they do allow researchers to be sure that a person voted, period. That helps with accuracy, eliminating the possibility of survey respondents overreporting their voting activity. In addition, the Pew study uses large samples of Americans — more than 11,000 people in 2020.

It's a numbers-packed report, but there are some big takeaways about what happened in 2020 (and what it might tell us about 2022 and beyond):

Suburban voters (especially white suburban voters) swung toward Biden

Suburban voters appear to have been a major factor helping Biden win. While Pew found Trump winning the suburbs by 2 points in 2016, Biden won them by 11 points in 2020, a 13-point overall swing. Considering that the suburbs accounted for just over half of all voters, it was a big demographic win for Biden.

That said, Trump gained in both rural and urban areas. He won 65% of rural voters, a 6-point jump from 2016. And while cities were still majority-Democratic, his support there jumped by 9 points, to 33%.

Men (especially white men) swung toward Biden

In 2020, men were nearly evenly split, with 48% choosing Biden to Trump's 50%. That gap shrank considerably from 2016, when Trump won men by 11 points. In addition, this group that swung away from Trump grew as a share of the electorate from 2016 — signaling that in a year with high turnout, men's turnout grew more.

White men were a big part of the swing toward Biden. In 2016, Trump won white men by 30 points. In 2020, he won them again, but by a substantially slimmer 17 points.

In addition, Biden made significant gains among married men and college-educated men. All of these groups overlap, but they help paint a more detailed portrait of the type of men who might have shifted or newly participated in 2020.

However, we can't know from this data what exactly was behind these shifts among men — for example, exactly what share of men might have sat on the sidelines in 2016, as opposed to 2020.

Women (especially white women) swung toward Trump

The idea that a majority of white women voted for Trump quickly became one of the 2016 election's most-cited statistics, as many Hillary Clinton supporters — particularly women — were outraged to see other women support Trump.

While that statistic was repeated over and over, Pew's data ultimately said this wasn't true — they found that in 2016, white women were split 47% to 45%, slightly in Trump's favor but not a majority.

This year, however, it appears that Trump did win a majority of white women. Pew found that 53% of white women chose Trump this year, up by 6 points from 2016.

This support contributed to an overall shift in women's numbers — while Clinton won women of all races by 15 points in 2016, Biden won them by 11 points in 2020. Combined with men's shifts described above, it shrank 2016's historic gender gap.

Notably, the swing in white women's margin (5 points altogether) was significantly smaller than white men's swing toward Biden (13 points altogether).

Hispanic voters swung toward Trump

Trump won 38% of Hispanic voters in 2020, according to Pew, up from 28% in 2016.

That 38% would put Trump near George W. Bush's 40% from 2004 — a recent high-water mark for Republicans with Hispanic voters. That share fell off substantially after 2004, leading some Republican pollsters and strategists to wonder how the party could regain that ground. Trump in 2016 intensified those fears, with his nativist rhetoric and hard-line immigration policies.

There are some important nuances to these Hispanic numbers. Perhaps most notably, there is a sizable education gap. Biden won college-educated Hispanic voters by 39 points, but the Democrat won those with some college education or less by 14 points.

That gap mirrors the education gap regularly seen in the broader voting population.

Unfortunately, Pew's sample sizes from 2016 weren't big enough to break down Hispanic voters by gender that year, so it's impossible to see if this group's gender gap widened.

Nonwhite voters leaned heavily toward Biden

Unlike white and Hispanic voters, Black voters didn't shift significantly from 2016. They remained Democratic stalwarts, with 92% choosing Biden — barely changed from four years earlier.

Nearly three-quarters of Asian voters also voted for Biden, along with 6 in 10 Hispanic voters and 56% of voters who chose "other" as their race. (Those groups' sample sizes also weren't big enough in 2016 to draw a comparison over time.)

2018 trends stuck around ... but diminished

In many of these cases where there were substantial shifts in how different groups voted, they weren't surprising, given how voters in the last midterms voted. For example, white men voted more for Democrats in 2018 than they did in 2016, as did suburban voters.

What it means for 2022

The data signals that Democrats' strength with Hispanic voters has eroded, but that the party succeeded in making further inroads in the suburbs, including among suburban whites.

It suggests that these groups, already major focuses for both parties, will continue to be so in 2022, with Republicans trying to cement their gains among Hispanics (and regain suburban voters), while Democrats do Hispanic outreach and try to hold onto the suburbs.

However, it's hard to project much into the future about what voters will do based on the past two elections because of their unique turnout numbers.

"It's hard to interpret here, because 2018 was such a high turnout midterm election, and then our last data point, 2014, was a historically low turnout midterm election," said Ruth Igielnik, senior researcher at Pew Research Center.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.




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Reframing food waste: Tackling the big picture with almonds

By investing in research-based, cutting-edge solutions that contribute to a circular economy, the almond sector is identifying new and valuable uses for everything grown in the orchard.




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Picture This… The Friday After 5, 5-K Registration is LIVE! Walkers & Runners Can Officially Register for The Highly Anticipated Friday After 5 Opening Night 5K

This special event will take place beginning at and returning to McConnell Plaza at the beautiful Downtown Owensboro Riverfront.




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Getting the Big Picture: Dr. Susan Littman Discusses Practicing Medicine in 2023 on Her Brand New Web Series, Picture of Health

Renowned geriatric oncologist, Susan J. Littman, M.D., embarks on a fascinating journey through the medical world in her new podcast documentary series, Picture of Health. The premiere episode is streaming now.




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Aberdeen LLC Storage Powers the Sony Digital Motion Picture Center

Sony Electronics Unveils Aberdeen NAS Storage at the Digital Motion Picture Center




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A bullied young boy's new daily mantra helps him believe in himself and share his bright light with others in a heartwarming picture book

A bullied young boy's new daily mantra helps him believe in himself and share his bright light with others in a heartwarming picture book.




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Post-BET Awards, Noa's New "My Fault" Motion Picture Gives A Raw Display Of Emotion

Noa's Courageous Approach In New Music Video Themed By A Real Love Story Shortly After Her BET Awards Appearances




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TOMY INTERNATIONAL AND PARAMOUNT ANNOUNCE A CROWD-FUNDED STAR TREK™ U.S.S. ENTERPRISE NCC-1701 FROM THE FIRST MOTION PICTURE

The 1/350 scale premium diecast U.S.S. Enterprise will showcase unique details and features. The crowd-funding window open for 45 days only.




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Amazing Pictures of the Nazaré Wave

Depuis son plus jeune âge, Sami Bencheikh arpente le Sud-Ouest de la France. Interne de radiologie à l’hôpital de Bayonne, il a débuté la photographie au début de ses études de médecine. Motivé par de grands photographes comme Ben Thouard pour ne citer que lui, il a trouvé en l’océan un refuge au stress du […]




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Bill Dane Pictures …it’s not pretty. 50 Years of Photographs I’m Still in Love

“It seems to me that the subject of Bill Dane�s pictures is the discovery of lyric beauty in Oakland, or the discovery of surprise and delight in what we had been told was a wasteland of boredom, the discovery of classical measure in the heart of God�s own junkyard, the discovery of a kind of …




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Is Your Total Cost of Quality Picture Complete?

This article shows how to make leadership aware of all costs and not just the tangible ones. It helps quality professionals to quantify the Total Cost of Quality and derive a compelling business case from that quantification.




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Gary Lineker to leave Match of the Day: Take a look at his football career in pictures

After 25 years of presenting BBC Match of the Day, Gary Lineker will be stepping down as the host of the football show at the end of this season. Once a footballer, Gary Lineker has had a long career in the sport. Keep reading to find out more.




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Transformers in plant power distribution: The bigger picture

This technical article provides an overview of the various choices and assists electrical engineers in determining the criteria that should be included in the transformer specifications in order to meet the requirements of their particular application. A power plant often... Read more

The post Transformers in plant power distribution: The bigger picture appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.




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Picture of Atopic Dermatitis

Title: Picture of Atopic Dermatitis
Category: Images
Created: 12/15/2010 6:54:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 7/6/2022 12:00:00 AM




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Picture of Poison Ivy

Title: Picture of Poison Ivy
Category: Images
Created: 10/19/2009 4:49:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 7/13/2022 12:00:00 AM




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It's not a pretty picture in China

The Chinese market and related global-growth proxies got excited about potential fiscal stimulus in October. After a flurry of buying, there has been some consolidation as we waited for the details.

Those details came on Friday and just before that, the market tried to break higher in a front-run of potentially larger stimulus. Beijing didn't deliver and the market was slow to digest that at first.

Today though, it looks like disappointment is setting in as the MCHI ETF falls into the October gap. The threat of tariffs combined with lackluster domestic growth make for a bad combination. Given how late the market was to pile into this theme, there are going to be many people underwater very quickly.

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.





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Pictures: 25th annual City of Orlando Veterans Day Parade




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Pictures: UCF Knights Men’s basketball team win third straight against Florida Atlantic Owls 100-94.





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The Moose Hotel & Suites Debuts in Picturesque Banff with Distinctive Roofing Tile

Over the summer, the Banff Lodging Company proudly debuted the newly-constructed Moose Hotel & Suites in beautiful Banff, Alberta.




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What Is Mental Imagery? Researchers Explain The Pictures In Your Mind

Some people can visualize things perfectly in their mind’s eye, while others can’t.




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The Rocky Horror Picture Show still draws crowds of superfans and virgins alike nearly five decades after its initial release

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is unlike anything else…



  • Arts & Culture

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Elberton, Wash: This picturesque Palouse town thrived from agriculture and timber, but died out as nearby resources did

I don't realize it until I'm standing at the base of the steps of the United Brethren Church in Elberton, but I've made the hourlong drive from Spokane to the Whitman County ghost town on a Sunday…



  • Arts & Culture


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OST Full Show: 'John Lewis: Good Trouble’; SCAD Film Graduate Launches Anacaona Pictures

John Lewis has served as U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 5th Congressional District since 1987, and is known for his passionate work both in the civil rights movements and on Capitol Hill. A new documentary called John Lewis: Good Trouble goes beyond the highlight reel of his storied life and reveals more personal elements of the man and the figure. On Second Thought hears from the film’s director and producer Dawn Porter and producer Erika Alexander about how the film connects his legacy of seeking justice from his youth to his role as a revered congressman today.




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How Anacaona Pictures Is ‘Providing A Voice To The Voiceless’

Growing up, Mahalia Latortue says she had three career options — doctor, lawyer or engineer. But despite starting her undergraduate studies at Oakwood University in Alabama focused on pre-law, she graduated with a passion for filmmaking. Today, she’s a recent Savannah College of Art and Design film graduate who founded her own Atlanta-based production company called Anacaona Pictures . The company’s mission is to “create diverse, untold stories and provide a voice to the voiceless.”




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A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words

What a Weekend!

I hope you folks enjoyed the weekend. It was a great one... especially Sunday. Labrador City was the warmest spot in Province at 9.1 degrees!!! Happy Valley-Goose Bay hit 8.1, which was officially a new record. Here are some of the other Sunday temps...

Labrador City: 9.1
Badger: 8.4
Goose Bay: 8.1
Mary's Harbour: 7.9
Rocky Harbour: 7.9
Terra Nova: 7.8
Gander: 7.8
Deer Lake: 7.1

Another really nice one today AWAY from the Northeast Coast which has a Northerly flow setup again. Western Newfoundland could see 5 or 6 degrees again today as well as Happy Valley-Goose Bay. However the warmest spot in the Province will once again be Labrador City, where double digits are possible later this afternoon.

COLD FRONT APPROCHES

There is a cold front moving through Northern Quebec today and that will slice into Labrador tonight/tomorrow and then into Newfoundland on Wednesday. That front will drop temperatures back to Normal and bring some flurries in as well. More details on that, tonight on Here & Now.

A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words

It's the old saying... and really it proves true when you're looking at the Satellite Pictures below.
It's been awhile since we've had clear enough days to view our Province from space... but Saturday and Sunday we're perfect. These images are courtesy of NASA's MODIS Satellite.

SATURDAY

-Eastern Newfoundland was a bit cloudy on Saturday but what a view of the Western half of the Island and up the Northern Peninsula. You can clearly see the lack of Ice in Gulf and up through the Strait. There is a bit... but not much up along the Southeast Coast of Labrador up to Black Tickle. From there it does appear to thicken up a bit to the North... but the Cloud cover mixing in makes it tough to see.

SUNDAY

-A much better image of Southern Newfoundland. You can clearly see where the Snow cover had retreated along the Coast around the Southern half of the Avalon. Another great shot of the Bay of Exploits where again, I'm not seeing much ice at all. A bit of Snow retreat along the South Coast... but not much through Central yet.
The other spot where you can see the Snow has started to melt... is along the Humber River North of Deer Lake through the Humber Valley.

Gulf of St. Lawrence

This image was taken on Sunday as well. Again, you can clearly see no ice in the Gulf and even down into the St. Lawrence River.

See you tonight on Here & Now.

Ryan




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Devlin - A Moving Picture

Struggles to strike the right balance between street cred and pop appeal.




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Cliff Martinez - Drive: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

An impeccably-crafted soundscape that hints at quiet violence and unresolved tensions.




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Claude-Michel Schönberg - Les Misérables: Highlights from the Motion Picture Soundtrack

A partial victory, and one buoyed by some outstanding surprise turns.




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First-Grader Insists On Mask For School Picture



“I always listen to my mom.”




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Niecy’s New NYC Boo Paints the Perfect Picture of Love



Surprises come when you least expect them.




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Video: Nikki Bascome Releases “Picture Me”

Nikki Bascome – who is well known for his skills in the boxing ring — is showcasing another one of his talents, this time his musical ability, with Mr Bascome releasing a new music video and song entitled “Picture Me”. Related Stories Video: Performing Arts Camp Cup Match Song Devaune Ratteray Releases ‘Dark & Stormy’ […]





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The Untouched Picture of Kim Jong-Un Started a Supreme Photoshop Battle

North Korea released a smiling picture of Kim Jong-Un and were VERY specific about pointing out the fact that the image was untouched. Obviously the first thing the internet did when they got a hold of the image was to touch it up a bit. The results were glorious.




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31 Days, 31 Lists: 2018 Translated Picture Books

They come and they go into our bookstores and libraries and out again without a whisper of awards or significant praise. Yet the true mark of whether or not you are opening up your child to the world is to show them books made internationally. Today we celebrate translations. Even the weird ones. I take that back. ESPECIALLY the weird ones!



  • 31 Days 31 Lists
  • Best Books of 2018
  • 2018 translated children's books
  • 31 days 31 lists
  • translated picture books
  • translations

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Make America Kittens Again With a New Chrome Extension That Replaces Pictures of Trump With Cats

Do you use Google Chrome? Do you want to look at pictures of kittens instead of Donald Trump? Install this! It doesn't work on every news site, but it's still pretty darn great. PS - If you already have the extension installed and you're trying to look at these examples, they'll all be replaced with kittens. It's magic!




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How A Picture Book Got Turned Into A Graphic Novel: Interview with Ken Lamug (MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM)

Author-illustrator Ken Lamug has created award-winning picture books and graphic novels. Born in the Philippines, Ken moved to the US with his entire family during his teenage years. His debut middle grade graphic series, MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM #1: BORN TO BE BAD, launched this week from Katherine Tegen Books / HarperCollins!

Mischief and Mayhem is about Missy and her cat Gizmo. They were kicked out of superhero bootcamp. Now it's time for some super-villainy! I love the plot twist that the main character, Missy, decides she doesn't really fit into the labels the world she lives in has created; she's not really a villain, nor is she a superhero.  

Links where you can find out more: MischiefBook.com, Ken on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. His website: Rabbleboy.com.

Q. I read that MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM started as a 32-page picture book story. How did it end up as a graphic novel?

Yep! The idea for Mischief and Mayhem started as a 32-page picture book - originally titled "Mischief the Supervillain". At the time, I was focused on my picture book ideas and wasn't even considering graphic novels. I had experience illustrating books, so I knew it was just a matter of time until something clicked for me. I went through the steps book creators are familiar with: writing the manuscript, creating dummies, and many rounds of revisions.

The dummy went through the submission process and even hopped to another agent (when I switched to a new one). We received a few rejections and a few interesting comments. One of the more resounding comments was that the idea was cool and needed to be expanded. But the picture book format limited what we could do.

We finally received an acceptance offer along with a caveat... turn it into a graphic novel! Yikes!

A few things scared me about this: it would have to be in full color, and at least 240+ pages. How does one turn a 32-page picture book into something that big?

And before anything was signed, I had to give the editorial team a few things: a fully illustrated first chapter, and a full outline for the book. This would give them a better idea of the story and my comic style. So I added new characters, expanded the moments from the story, and added a lot of jokes!

Once the editorial team gave the thumbs up, I was off to the races to get my debut graphic novel complete.

EXTRA: You can find out more about Ken's process as well as sample sketches in his Q&A with We Need Diverse Books.

Q. I've been thinking about a graphic novel middle grade project, but am intimidated by the amount of time the ART could take. Do you have any tips? How much time did MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM TAKE YOU in total? Were you working on anything else at the same time?

No kidding. Graphic novels ARE a lot of work. I've easily spent 1000 hours on Mischief and Mayhem (including creating marketing materials, videos, etc.). I also have a day job, so most of my after-hours are spent working on the book (typically around 5 hours on the weekdays). I basically stare at the computer screen all day!

During this time, I was also creating art for a picture book. And since the schedule for picture books are a bit more relaxed, I was able to squeeze it in without much problem.

Here are some tips I hope you'll find useful:

1. Working digitally has helped increase my productivity. It's easier to create dummies, inking, make revisions, and get feedback.

2. Scheduling and planning are very important. Find out the deadline, how many pages you can complete per day, and do the math.

In my case, I've determined that I am inking(outlining) about 1 page per hour. This means it will take me roughly 250 hours to outline a 250-page book. Based on that number, I can then determine if my deadline is a realistic goal. I know, it's a lot of math but it does help and you will be able to strategize how you approach the project.

3. Streamlining your art style. This varies depending on your abilities and time. Some artists are blessed enough to work full-time on their books and with longer deadlines. But if you're not one of them, then I would suggest streamlining the look of your characters, your drawing techniques so you can work faster and efficiently. Some artists are able to also hire a team to help support the rest of the task such as coloring, inking, letter, etc., but a majority of graphic creators are one-person operations.

4. Don't forget to take a break and enjoy life.

Q. What advice do you have for young graphic novel writers and illustrators?

Start small. You don't have to create a big "novel" length book right away. I started my comic book journey when I submitted a 4-page comic to an anthology. After I gained some confidence, I started creating 24-page comic one-shots (single issues). And it just kept growing from there.

Comics should be fun for both the creator and the reader, so make sure to enjoy the process and don't stress out about getting it right the first time.

Q. What's next for you?

I just finished illustrating a picture book called FAMILY BUSINESS (by Lenore Appelhans). It's about a raccoon family who seems to always get into trouble. I'm excited for that to come out (no dates yet).

I'm also in the middle of Mischief and Mayhem book 2. As I write this my hand is hurting from illustrating a "Where's Waldo-Esque" spread. Ha! But I'm proud to say the art has improved and the story is even bigger than the first one.

I've never really had a big plan for my drawing/art career. It's all a blessing and a humbling experience. I just hope that the readers love the stories and connect with the characters. So we'll see what happens next!

~~

For more interviews with children's book creators, see the Inkygirl interview archives.




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Advice for young writers from Anna Lazowski, debut picture book author of T.REXES CAN'T TIE THEIR SHOES (illustrated by Steph Laberis)

Looking for a hugely entertaining alphabet book that also has an uplifting message of empowerment for young readers? I highly recommend T. REXES CAN'T TIE THEIR SHOES by Anna Lazowski and Steph Laberis, launching June 29th, 2021 from Doubleday Books For Young Readers. The back matter also has an alphabetized factoid list of "all the amazing things animals CAN do!"

This is an alphabet book that can be appreciated by grown-ups as well as young readers, with lots of potential discussion points. The illustrations of animals in ridiculous situations are so SOOOOO FUN --- omigosh, even as I'm writing this post, I went back to look through the digital ARC and can't decide which is my favourite, though I'm leaning toward the "Cheetahs can't chew bubble gum" page.

I asked debut picture book author Anna Lazowski if she had any advice for young writers, and here's what she said:

"Write what you want to write, because as you move through the publishing process, it will become incredibly important for you to truly believe in your work. The rejections in this industry are endless, and they come at every stage. Critique partners might reject elements of your manuscript, agents will reject your work, and once you're on submission to editors, they will reject your work. Then once you're finally published, some reviewers will reject your work. If you don't fully believe in your stories, this will be extremely hard to take. It's hard as it is, so make sure you're all in on the work you're doing. It will make the rest a little bit easier to navigate."

Wise advice. Thank you, Anna! And congrats to you and Steph on your upcoming launch!

----

Also see other Advice For Young Writers and Illustrators From Children's Book Creators and my other Interviews With Children's Book Creators.

Image at the top of this post was created for my new #BookADay book journal. For more info about Donalyn Miller's #BookADay challenge, see Donalyn's post in the Nerdy Book Club blog.



  • Advice for young artists and young writers
  • BookADay

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Behind-the-scenes peek into picture book writing & illustration process with Hazel Mitchell (SWEET PEA SUMMER, Candlewick)

Hazel Mitchell has helped create more than twenty children's books, including her award-winning picture book Toby (Candlewick Press). Her illustrations appear in books by Cynthia Lord, JaNay Brown-Wood (Imani's Moon was mentioned on the Stephen Colbert show!), Lynn Parrish Sutton, Liza Gardner Walsh and others. You can find out more about Hazel and her work at HazelMitchell.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Synopsis of SWEET PEA SUMMER (Candlewick):

During her mother’s absence, a young girl discovers the joys of gardening—and the rewards of persistence and a sharp eye—in a sweet intergenerational story. With warm, child-friendly illustrations and a simple narration, Hazel Mitchell tells a timeless story about holding on to hope in hard times and finding the strength and determination to see it through. A brief author’s note at the end offers a bit of history and a few details about sweet peas for aspiring gardeners.

Q. What inspired you to write Sweet Pea Summer?

My inspiration for the book were memories I have from staying with my grandparents when I was little (4-6 years old). They lived in a row of mill cottages in a Yorkshire town called Huddersfield. The town was born out of the wool trade and had many factories and tall towers, but was surrounded by beautiful countryside. I started to sketch my memories of staying with them - the cottage, the garden, the countryside with the moors and mill chimneys, the cats that were always scampering around, the long road that stretched away up a sloping hill to the town itself.

My granddad was an excellent gardener. I suspect this came from the war years in Britain when everyone grew their own food as much as possible. In my memory the garden was so, so long with a little greenhouse and was stuffed with veggies and flowers. Of course, my memory exaggerated everything. I was seeing through a small child's eyes. I even googled the road on Google Streetview and the cottage and the garden are still there, just much smaller than I recalled.

I decided there was a story in these sketches and my rememberings. I find that I'm often inspired by childhood memories, places and real life things, like my own dog who is the main character in the book 'Toby', also from Candlewick Press. I've even been known to use my house in books, or feature the landscape of Maine, where I live, and sometimes I draw objects from my home. it gives authenticity I think.

Q. What was the writing and illustration process like?

After some note making, more doodles and musing I decided on the main character of a girl. She's not exactly me. My sister also went to stay with my grandparents when my mother was ill and that was really the nugget that set me rolling. The girl is sad and missing her mother, so Grandpa invites her to help in the garden and, in particular, to look after the sweet peas. (My own grandfather grew chrysanthemums, but I decided children would relate more to sweet peas. Plus it is easier to say!).

The grandparents do not look like my grandparents and even though the child is not really me, I guess she shares some of my personality characteristics and DO I love gardening! (Although I always fail with sweet peas, which is ironic). I found I had all the inspiration I needed to get started on roughing out a story.

Writing and illustrating Sweet Pea Summer was a long process, as most books tend to me. There are a lot of images in the book, which is kind of graphic novelish in a way, with multiple images on some pages that follow a grid layout. Although I did preliminary character and setting sketches, I then spent time writing scene progressions and story boarding before I was ready to do the first full dummy.

I've found this saves me time in the long run, when I finally start to sketch I can be pretty certain I have the rudimentary story arc and length of book down. We had 2-3 edits and rehashes before my editors, art director and myself were all happy to go to finals. Finals are always the very long and arduous stage of the book for me. The first spark of story and hashing it out is the inspirational bit.

I did all the art for Sweet Pea in pencil and watercolor (usually I colour an under painting digitally), but I felt this book needed a traditional watercolour feel. It was a longer process for sure! Along the way I did a good amount of picture research especially on the landscapes and the flowers - plus the process of growing them, which features in the story. The parallel between the illness of the m/c's mom and the flowers failing to open was important to me. didn't want it to be too obvious to the reader.

My editor, Liz Bicknell at Candlewick Press, was very helpful, as always, keeping the story on track. Pam Consolazio was my art director, and her nickname was Sweet Pea as a child! it is lovely when you find unexpected connections. I scan my own artwork, which gives me the luxury of making any tweaks to the final art. I think the whole book took about 2 years, including edits etc.

It's wonderful when your book finally arrives in your mailbox! (Just like any birth, the pain recedes!) It was especially concerning in this time of the pandemic, but everything went well and the books arrived in time for publication.

Q. What advice do you have for young writers and illustrators?

My advice to young writers and illustrators is always work on stories that you love and feel an emotional response to whether, happy, sad, funny or just that you just love and know the subject. It will always show in your work!

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For more insights from book creators, see my Inkygirl interview archives.

 




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Neither Edwin nor Lucinda wanted to be the first to admit they couldn't see a thing in the magic eye picture




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In Pictures: Sporting photos of the week

A selection of some of the most striking sports photographs taken around the world over the past seven days.




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'Why I'm taking pictures of the bins in my town'

Andy Bailey has been photographing bins in his Cheshire town, giving them a rating out of 25.