Illustrations, riddles, cat wars and a very small Lian
March 22nd, 2013
It’s been an exciting week here in Lauderdale. Firstly, I saw a rough version of the cover of Ice Breaker the day before yesterday. And let me tell you, this cover is going to be terrific! I can’t show it to you yet, but you will be pleased to know that the artist is Sebastian Ciaffaglione, who did the Australian cover for the Keepers, and also drew the characters in both Australian and US editions. So we already know it’s going to be good. I expect Seb will do character drawings for this book too, which I can’t wait to see.
Secondly, I’ve been dreaming away at the plot for Children of the Claw, trying to work out all sorts of interesting things. It makes my brain hurt sometimes, but it’s fun when I get a revelation in the middle of a walk, or the shower, or when I’m cooking dinner. I immediately throw everything else aside and grab a pen to write it down before I lose it. And now the story is taking shape at last …
Thirdly, I received some interesting things in my inbox, from Lilli. Like the rest of you, she doesn’t know much yet about Ice Breaker, but she wrote a riddle for it nonetheless, which I thought was a really cool thing to do.
‘Far beneath the deep sea,
You find what must be seen,
The sea floor racker.
The sea maker.
But above the sea,
You plea to the god of the sea,
That there is a possibility that you will see the ICEBREAKER!’
Makes it sound exciting, huh?
Lilli also sent me some designs, using words and ideas from the Keepers:
The little voice in my head repeated those two powerful words - KILL HIM!
Golden. Beware.
I adore getting stuff like this. It proves to me over and over again what clever, imaginative and creative readers I have. Speaking of which, I also received three very cool slideshows (one for each of the Keepers books) from Lily (not to be confused with Lilli), but because they are powerpoint presentations I haven’t been able to work out a way of putting them up here. Which is a pity.
So what else? Well, the cat wars. I have had a cat living in my back garden for the last few years, who I named Harry. I thought Harry had a home, and just preferred to spend his days in my garden rather than his own (mine is chaotic, which suits cats much more than a neat garden). But over the last couple of months I’ve realised that he was homeless. He wasn’t feral, but he was living off the mice that inhabit a corner of my garden.
Harry looking innocent
So I started feeding him. The trouble is, he and Miss Mouse don’t get on. Mousie hates him, which makes me suspect that Harry is doing mean things behind my back. I tried to find a home for him, but it didn’t work out, and now he’s back. Miss Mouse is NOT IMPRESSED! Nonetheless, every day I let Harry inside for a little while, hoping they will sort things out between them, without bloodshed. Before winter sets in, preferably.
And to finish off, here’s a rather cute picture I found the other day of me. I think I must have been about one year old and fairly hairless. Can you see the future author in there anywhere? Hmmm. Maybe not …
28 thoughts on “Illustrations, riddles, cat wars and a very small Lian”
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About Lian
Lian Tanner has been dynamited while scuba diving and arrested while busking. She once spent a week in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, hunting for a Japanese soldier left over from the Second World War. Nowadays she lives by the beach in southern Tasmania.
More about Lian
WOW!
Thank you so much Lian for posting my pictures/poem/riddle up!
The Cat wars sound so cool ,maybe a Hollywood producer would make a movie about it or something(I know ,I have a wild imagination)!
The photo of you when you were 1 ,is very cute too,I saw the little author on trike !
I hope that Icebreaker will be out soon ,so I do not scream and run around like a headless chicken!
Once again thx Lian for posting my photos on the blog.
From Lilli 🙂
You’re very welcome, Lilli. 🙂
Aw you’re so cute! Thank you for the compliment 😉 and did you change Haymitch’s name to Harry or is this a whole new cat? I like your Poem and pictures Lilli and I hope you figure out a way to post my PPP’s soon. I love letting other people see my love 4 the keepers. LOOKING FORWARD TO ICE BREAKER SOOOOOO MUCH! It’s coming out in november right? If so that mean Catching Fire and the book I want to read the most right now are out in the same month!
LOVE, FROM LILY
Yes, Lily, I decided he was more of a Harry – but it’s the same cat. And yes again, Ice Breaker will be out on the first of November.
Lian, what breed is Harry because I am thinking of getting a cat and he looks so cute!
From Lilli
P.S Don’t worry Miss Mouse ,you are still my favourite cat in Tasmania!
I have no idea what breed he is, Lilli. But I suspect he’s got rather a lot of Persian in him, because his coat is so long and beautiful. And silvery grey, which I think is a Persian trait.
P.S. Miss Mouse is pleased. (Though she expected nothing less!)
You are soooooo cute Lian!!!!!
Thank you Lian!
I am thinking of getting a Birman ,because they are just so cute ! (and a million different other reasons!)
Love from Lilli
P.S Thank you Miss Mouse ,I happy that you are pleased!
🙂
Ahhhhhh!
I sent 5 copies of my reply(geez sometimes I am silly)
LOL. It’s okay, I trashed four of them.
I love your designs and your poem!!!!
They are really epic! 🙂
Thanks Io !
You made my day!
Your welcome! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Happy Easter Lian …..
I hope you enjoy this bunny!
(\_/)
( ‘ ‘ )
(“)(“)
HAPPY EASTER!!!!!
Very cute!
Wait THIS is the bunny…
(\_/)
(‘ ‘)
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I think that one is underfed, Lilli. 🙂
Actually I found this bunny rabbit!
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Are you sure this is a rabbit? It looks more like a rat to me.
I agree somehow…
Oh! I can see it now! Was there supposed to be a long tail???
Oh NO! It did not work !
Well,if all else fails to find Lian an Easter bunny ,I will just wish her a Happy Easter !
And a very happy Easter to you too, Lilli, and thanks for the entertaining bunnies!
happy easter to all, and to all eat good chocolate!
Happy Easter to all and to all a good mid to late morning!
So Lian, howz da leedl book comin’?
Thanks for the reminder, Lily. The answer is complicated, so I have made a new post.