Publish
A large box arrived on our doorstep this morning.
And inside? 24 copies of my book! Well… a book I illustrated at the end of last year for the wonderful Klutz company.
I still remember a scene from Romancing the Stone (or was it in Jewel of the Nile?) where Kathleen Turner receives a big box of her latest romance novel, opens it up and then kicks back to celebrate with a glass of wine (at least, this is how I remember it) and I always thought “how cool to open a box of your own book!” and it was as cool as all that. Imagine how much more exciting it would be to open a box of books that you had conceived, written and illustrated… one day…
Here’s the blurb from Klutz:
“Future party planners, pen pals and all purpose keep-in-touchers will love Little Letters, the most adorable kids’ stationary set ever. It’s everything kids need to make, write and deliver their very own cards, notes and invitations. The book itself is a charming introduction to letter writing, charmingly illustrated. But did we stop there? (Do we ever?) We also threw in two full pages of custom-designed stickers, an easy-to-make doorknob mailbox, a portfolio with bonus postcards, and a plastic template that lets kids transform a plain old piece of paper into a personalized envelope. Written by the Editors of Klutz. For ages 4 and up. ”
I see you can get it from Amazon. Can you spot the differences between the cover on Amazon and the cover on the actual book (above)? They seem to have an early, rough version up on Amazon.
But even while this is very exciting, I think I am even more excited about Drawn & Quarterly’s release of the Moomin comic strip. I have pre-ordered it and check almost every day for the release… when, when, when?
Responses
6th October 2006 at 5:27 pm
Congratulations!
(they didn’t REALLY spell stationary with an ‘a’ in the blurb, did they?)
6th October 2006 at 5:49 pm
~*~*~*CONGRATULATIONS*~*~*~
You can tick that one off the *in my life to do* list.
6th October 2006 at 6:24 pm
Congratulations, Claire! Wow, super cool, the book is beautiful! Oh and how I dream about a box like that…
6th October 2006 at 7:55 pm
Oh it IS exciting isn’t it! I love new books, fresh and unsullied. Enjoy and congratulations.
6th October 2006 at 9:02 pm
Congratulations – job well done! I will purchase a copy or two for the upcoming holidays!
Brilliant.
6th October 2006 at 9:10 pm
That is REALLY REALLY REALLY awesome!!!!
6th October 2006 at 10:52 pm
Wonderful! Now maybe if I got myself one of these books, I might be inspired to actually write some letters! The book looks like lots of fun.
6th October 2006 at 11:01 pm
Wow!! What a great feeling that must be! You should be very proud; that’s an accomplishment many people will never know! Yay!
6th October 2006 at 11:18 pm
Congrats on the book! I just added it to Logan’s (and mine, hee) wishlist for Christmas.
6th October 2006 at 11:22 pm
Congratulations! this looks like just the sort of thing I would have LOVED as a kid. And probably still would. Maybe there could be a grown up version?
6th October 2006 at 11:30 pm
Oh my god! I love that movie AND that scene especially. And her voice…
Congrats on the book. It looks marvelous.
7th October 2006 at 12:10 am
Someone who lives at my house is SO getting that for Christmas, along with some other kiddos.
Bravo, Claire!
7th October 2006 at 12:24 am
Very cool. Another one to add to your list of firsts. Congratulations
7th October 2006 at 12:49 am
I am a huge fan of Klutz books, and we will definitely be adding this to our collection. Two faves, Klutz and you, I don’t even *care* what the content is (though that sounds cool, too).
7th October 2006 at 1:01 am
I just ordered one for my daughter. Thank you! I love everything you do….
7th October 2006 at 1:16 am
We found this at the toystore 2 weeks ago, and I was amazed and delighted- and so surprised!
I bought it for my daughter, but then stole a few stickers!
7th October 2006 at 2:40 am
that is so exciting! congratulations! I’m going to have to get a copy of my own since I very much love your illustrations!
7th October 2006 at 3:15 am
OMG — I knew that was you! My daughter is obsessed with Klutz books (she has like 12 of them already!) and I got an email with their new releases and I thought to myself — that *so* looks like Claire’s illustrations! But I couldn’t find any info on their site with the details. I was meaning to email you and ask. Congratulations! It is *so* adorable!
7th October 2006 at 3:29 am
What a thrilling moment to open up a box like this… congratulations!
I added it to my amazon shopping list… for a future gift for my neice, it’s perfect! 
7th October 2006 at 3:58 am
Big fat congratulations to you Claire, that is awesome! And I love the idea of getting a card with so much fun “extras”! Way to go girl!
7th October 2006 at 4:13 am
oh wow!! wow!! ordering my copy now for the girls for christams-so very cool, clare!!
7th October 2006 at 5:08 am
Congratulations! I’ve worked as a journalist for many years, so the excitement of seeing my stuff in print has worn off. But I am excited for YOU!
7th October 2006 at 8:20 am
Congratulations claire. this might be a silly question but it’s saturday morning so I know you will forgive me…Will these be available for sale in Australia? My daughter loves her Loobylu Pear we bought a litttle while back, ( it has even been to school for show and tell) and I would love to add this to her christmas stocking.
Would love it if you let me know.
Thanks
Kerri
7th October 2006 at 11:24 am
aw that’s so cool. i love klutz books. one taught me how to juggle. and another came with an awesome enormous bubble wand.
7th October 2006 at 11:39 am
Claire, very exciting. We will definitely be getting this, we can’t get enough Loobylu around here. Hope you are well.
7th October 2006 at 1:15 pm
Claire,
You are truly an inspiration. That stationery set looks like it was a wonderful project to be involved in.
I look forward to seeing what you’ll do next.
7th October 2006 at 9:32 pm
Congratulations Claire. How exciting!
Hope you are feeling better now.
7th October 2006 at 11:00 pm
oooh, how exciting. That would be like a dream come true for me. Hope the new family of 4 is all doing well. x
8th October 2006 at 12:18 am
CONGRATS! It’s so funny – I’m on Klutz’s mailing list and I just got the announcment about their new books this morning. I took one look at Little Letters and thought “this looks like Claire’s work!”, but I couldn’t find anything on the Klutz web site or Amazon.com that said who the illustrator was. So I came to LoobyLu, and here it is indeed you! Can’t wait to go look at the book in person.
Jamila
8th October 2006 at 12:46 am
A hearty Congratulations! That is SO exciting! I’ve no doubt you’ll reach your goal of one day publishing a book which is dreamed-up entirely by you! Having this one under your belt is a great step towards that, and in itself, is just wonderful!
8th October 2006 at 2:42 am
Congratulations, Claire! That is so wonderful. I will be ordering one for my daughter.
Lori
8th October 2006 at 3:38 am
What an accomplishment! I’m so happy for you -
8th October 2006 at 1:42 pm
That is great. You must be very proud. Are they selling them thorugh Amazon only? Any bookstores in Australia?
9th October 2006 at 2:26 pm
this is so fantastic! Congratulations! It’s sure to be a bestseller!
9th October 2006 at 10:27 pm
That’s wonderful! I know a few kindergarteners who may like that kind of gift. It looks lovely; congratulations!
9th October 2006 at 11:58 pm
Congratulations on the book as a child I wanted to be an illustrator of kids books. I like both of the front covers the one with the little boy and the one with the cat. Will we be able to buy both types or are the ones you were sent rare finds:) Thanks Melissa
10th October 2006 at 1:00 am
wow – well done to you!!! I will be ordering some too -your illustrations are just lovely.
10th October 2006 at 8:11 am
congratulations!!! thats amazing, i can just think of that bubbling inside as you opened the box!! wow wow wow.
10th October 2006 at 11:16 am
Fabulous! That is entirely what my 4yo daughter would love for Christmas! I made up a post office box (with stationery) for her birthday and this would be a wonderful top up. Congratulations on the book, can’t wait to see it.
10th October 2006 at 11:16 am
Yes, I remember that scene from Romancing the Stone very well. How exciting for you to be able to have your very own re-enactment! Congrats! And to boot, this looks like a book that a little 5yr old friend of mine would love to have.
10th October 2006 at 1:02 pm
oh…that’s so nice Claire, congrats for this and your new beautiful girl! (i’m sorry, i’m belated)
But yes…I can imagine and could relate to that feeling…someday.
xox
-Marjorie
11th October 2006 at 1:59 am
Congratulations on getting your feet wet; I hope many more opportunities come your way!
I’ll be looking for this one! 
11th October 2006 at 12:15 pm
Oooh, congratulations Claire! That absolutely deserves a glass of wine! 
11th October 2006 at 1:08 pm
wow that is so cool, i buy all the klutz books, can’t wait to get this one
12th October 2006 at 6:32 am
so fabulous! we buy klutz books about once a month – we all just love them. congratulations!
6th October 2006 at 5:00 pm
Congratulations on your third ‘child’!