Ask the Author: David Bell
Answered Questions (8)
David Bell
Hi Migdalia. Wow- thanks for the kind words. As it happens, I HAVE done a pic of Gelert with a Jack Russel. In fact, from memory, there are two. You can see them here: http://www.davidnbell.com/test/A_long....
Or, if you find the book's Facebook page, you'll find them as standalone pics- feel free to drag and drop- they're there for the taking.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Do...
As for your question- I started drawing very young (my mum & dad met at Liverpool Art School, so it's in the blood). All my childhood I was drawing, heavily influenced by TinTin. In fact my very first submitted MS was a TinTin rip off- David's Adventures of Dave. Methuen wisely rejected it. I was also a fan of Maurice Sendak. You can see the DNA of both Sendak and Herge in my pen and ink technique.
I then went to Liverpool Art school, where I trained in graphic design- with the express intention of becoming a writer illustrator. However, I also discovered creative advertising as a career path. Advertising pays much better, so I went into that for a few decades.
But then the writer illustrator bug resurfaced, and the Dog Hunters came about. More at:
http://www.davidnbell.com/The_Dog_Hun...
Anyhoo. I hope you win the book. If you don't, there's a lite version of it just now available as an eBook (faster, cheaper, but a blatant bit of bait to buy the real thing). If people buy the real thing, though, I send signed postcards.
Thanks for getting in touch, and good luck!
xxxD
Or, if you find the book's Facebook page, you'll find them as standalone pics- feel free to drag and drop- they're there for the taking.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Do...
As for your question- I started drawing very young (my mum & dad met at Liverpool Art School, so it's in the blood). All my childhood I was drawing, heavily influenced by TinTin. In fact my very first submitted MS was a TinTin rip off- David's Adventures of Dave. Methuen wisely rejected it. I was also a fan of Maurice Sendak. You can see the DNA of both Sendak and Herge in my pen and ink technique.
I then went to Liverpool Art school, where I trained in graphic design- with the express intention of becoming a writer illustrator. However, I also discovered creative advertising as a career path. Advertising pays much better, so I went into that for a few decades.
But then the writer illustrator bug resurfaced, and the Dog Hunters came about. More at:
http://www.davidnbell.com/The_Dog_Hun...
Anyhoo. I hope you win the book. If you don't, there's a lite version of it just now available as an eBook (faster, cheaper, but a blatant bit of bait to buy the real thing). If people buy the real thing, though, I send signed postcards.
Thanks for getting in touch, and good luck!
xxxD
David Bell
That's very kind of you Brenda. The book is very popular with dog people. If you don't 'win' the book and end up buying it, get in touch as I'm sending signed individually dedicated postcards showing a scene from the book to people so they can stick it in as a bookmark. Sorta like having a signed copy. Thanks again, and don't forget to spread the word!
David Bell
Reading about how Chow and Pekinese dogs were bred to look like other animals. That just started a very big ball rolling. But it was only when I linked this somewhat 'biological' concept to the story of Prince Llewelyn and Gelert that it became a proper idea.
David Bell
Funny question. Inspiration is just wanting to do it.
David Bell
Promoting first book and it's illustrated edition, and writing book 2- 'The Dog Army'
David Bell
Just do it. A successful author friend of mine (Jane Barry) said just the act of writing makes you a writer. There's no mystery or dark art to it.
David Bell
Living in odd worlds
David Bell
I've never really experienced it because I use going to sleep as a way of developing both long and short term story development, so I wake up ready to write. Procrastination on the other hand...
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Sep 19, 2016 09:22PM · flag