A Boy and his Bird.

Several months ago I created a children's book. It started out as an assignment for my "Children's Literature" class at ESC, but evolved into the realization of a personal dream. I have wanted to be a children's book author and illustrator for years, and I took that particular course to get a feel for the process. I imagined a light course load...a figurative skip through a field of daisies.

It was grueling.

I never imagined the extent to which history, psychology, philosophy, and economics influenced children's literature, including gender issues, multicultural considerations, and a child's sense of self to name just a few. I read a ton of children's books, and found something admirable in just about every one of them. Some were written beautifully but had terrible illustration. Some were illustrated masterfully but had hollow writing. I would try my hand at it...and this is what I came up with:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/57341259@N06/sets/72157625646508520/

(The story is written in rhyme under each image in the comments section)

I sent it out to a handful of publishers and heard nothing. That doesn't matter though. What matters is that it's a complete story! I can't tell you how tremendously satisfying it was for me to create and complete this thing, and no matter what anybody thinks of it, it's mine, and that is a good thing.

Now, the reason I brought this up on a Digital Story Telling Blog is that a very good friend of mine from Turkey has recently started a company...a Digital Story Telling Company (how was that for a smooth transition?) and has asked me to provide children's stories to be digitalized and turned into interactive applications. Isn't that cool?! Here is a link to their Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/M%C3%B6rdak-Creative-Solutions/185242354840388

So, I will keep you all posted with my progress in turning my story book into an interactive digital story book.


P.S. My lovely grandmother passed away this week. She was 97 years old. Her name was Irma Montanez, and I loved her dearly. I'm not good with mourning (I haven't had much practice) but I'm trying to stay upbeat. She lived a long, full, and beautiful life, and she was the most beautiful person I have ever had the privilege of knowing. She is with my grandfather now, Juan Montanez, the love of her life and husband of 70 years. My abuelita will live on in every creative project I ever do.

Excuses, Excuses

Hello digital storytellers,

Is it really that time again already? It's hard for me to believe how much time has passed since my last blog. There is a lot that I hoped to have finished before writing this third blog, but most of my goals have been put to the side for now. Why, you ask?

(Ahem...)

Jonathan Heilig's List of Generic Excuses:

1.) I just have a lot on my plate right now
2.) Things have been really crazy with work and school
3.) I'm so stressed these days
4.) I'm so depressed these days
5.) The economy is bad
6.) There is still no peace in the Middle East
7.) City Life is so chaotic...I'm just trying to maintain my sanity.
8.) I've been taking some "me" time.
9.) I'd rather take the time to do things the right way...

10.)      (Insert excuse of your choosing here)


So that's where I stand right now. I'm not happy with the way things have been going for me creatively as of late. I went to Cogdogroo and found a funny little cartoon tool though, and I made a video based on excuses! Here's the link:

http://goanimate.com/movie/0Z2GiNRwCQYk?utm_source=linkshare&uid=0ShBUe3xGmk0



I suck. Yes...yes I do.