Today we have K. Marie Criddle, freelance artist/illustrator, as well as a YA writer repped by the famous Nathan Bransford. She has a ridiculously cute website and a blog where she posts all kinds of cool stuff, when she’s not shopping for cats. I ran across Marie’s work on Matthew Delman’s blog, where she guest posted this impossible-not-to-love comic about steampunk.
Marie, you have so many great things
going on! Can you tell us a little about your contemporary YA that’s out on
submission, and the YA steampunk fantasy you’re working on? Also, if Matthew Delman
and I start a twitter campaign, can we get you to put that steampunk WIP on the
front burner?
going on! Can you tell us a little about your contemporary YA that’s out on
submission, and the YA steampunk fantasy you’re working on? Also, if Matthew Delman
and I start a twitter campaign, can we get you to put that steampunk WIP on the
front burner?
A twitter campaign! Rad. To be
honest, I can be just as easily swayed with M&Ms. But I am really
excited about all my projects, for sure. The YA contemporary, THE MIGHTY
MR. MARBY, is about a teenage boy, Owen Marby, diagnosed with childhood onset
schizophrenia. After years in hospitals and youth homes, he’s back in the
“normal” world and just aching to be a regular kid. But, as
with most of our honest intentions, things don’t necessarily go as
planned. Cue ominous, voice-filled music…mua ha ha.
honest, I can be just as easily swayed with M&Ms. But I am really
excited about all my projects, for sure. The YA contemporary, THE MIGHTY
MR. MARBY, is about a teenage boy, Owen Marby, diagnosed with childhood onset
schizophrenia. After years in hospitals and youth homes, he’s back in the
“normal” world and just aching to be a regular kid. But, as
with most of our honest intentions, things don’t necessarily go as
planned. Cue ominous, voice-filled music…mua ha ha.
And the steampunk fantasy is one I’m pretty
stoked about, too! In a world of tiny teacakes and twelve inch corsets,
16 year-old, 6 foot tall Hannah P. Bartleby just doesn’t fit
in…literally. While trying to force herself into becoming a lady, she
falls in with an airship trading crew led by a handsome, young and–above
all–infuriatingly mysterious captain. War boils in the countries below!
Secrets explode from blunderbusses! Family rivalries!
Romance! Steam! Hannah! Hmm…maybe I need to work on the
one-line pitch for her a little better. Fewer exclamation points?
stoked about, too! In a world of tiny teacakes and twelve inch corsets,
16 year-old, 6 foot tall Hannah P. Bartleby just doesn’t fit
in…literally. While trying to force herself into becoming a lady, she
falls in with an airship trading crew led by a handsome, young and–above
all–infuriatingly mysterious captain. War boils in the countries below!
Secrets explode from blunderbusses! Family rivalries!
Romance! Steam! Hannah! Hmm…maybe I need to work on the
one-line pitch for her a little better. Fewer exclamation points?
And of course, there’s always the UNTITLED ANGRY UNICORN
PROJECT. But more on that some other time.
PROJECT. But more on that some other time.
OK, you had me at blunderbusses. Please get busy with that one, so I can read it!
You’ve done lots of commissions with
your art, but also have some things for sale (usually print-on-demand and commissions). Just perusing your website makes
me wish I could draw more than stickmen (or women; you can’t really tell). That steampunk fairy has already captured my heart. I think I need to write a novel,
just about her. Tell me, were you a writer or illustrator first? How do you
feel one influences the other?
your art, but also have some things for sale (usually print-on-demand and commissions). Just perusing your website makes
me wish I could draw more than stickmen (or women; you can’t really tell). That steampunk fairy has already captured my heart. I think I need to write a novel,
just about her. Tell me, were you a writer or illustrator first? How do you
feel one influences the other?
Ooh, good question. I like to think I was an artist first. Up until
college, I would have given up my knees to work as an animator for Disney, but
life naturally veered elsewhere. Yet as I’ve focused more on writing than
full-time illustrating, every story I write still begins with a drawing.
It’s how I initially outline: no words, just drawings. I design settings,
costumes, people, situations and, eventually, plot and characters will develop
from that. When I get stuck in a scene, I sketch it out until the
characters start talking to me again.
college, I would have given up my knees to work as an animator for Disney, but
life naturally veered elsewhere. Yet as I’ve focused more on writing than
full-time illustrating, every story I write still begins with a drawing.
It’s how I initially outline: no words, just drawings. I design settings,
costumes, people, situations and, eventually, plot and characters will develop
from that. When I get stuck in a scene, I sketch it out until the
characters start talking to me again.
Honestly, I can’t tell you how many “Owen”s and “Hannah”s
and “Bob the Surly Unicorn”s are tucked away in my sketchbooks with
captions like: “Get to work!” and “I will gore you if you don’t
write my story.” But the steampunk fairy is kind of mute right now…give
her a voice, she’s all yours!
and “Bob the Surly Unicorn”s are tucked away in my sketchbooks with
captions like: “Get to work!” and “I will gore you if you don’t
write my story.” But the steampunk fairy is kind of mute right now…give
her a voice, she’s all yours!
I can already hear her talking to me! Also: I’m insanely jealous of your writing process.
Finally, I can’t let you escape without
asking about working with the famous Nate B. Is he as great as he appears on
his blog? Is his favorite color really orange? Seriously, how has life
changed now that you have an agent?
asking about working with the famous Nate B. Is he as great as he appears on
his blog? Is his favorite color really orange? Seriously, how has life
changed now that you have an agent?
The rumors are completely true: Nathan is every bit as
amazing as he appears! Writing can be a largely lonely, beating process
and he’s by far the best person to have in the corner, holding my metaphorical
towel while I fight through a novel. He’s a cheerleader, a coach, an editor, a writer, a researcher and more. If I hadn’t have met him
already, I would have guessed he was eight people fused into one (with one hand
the iPad, reading manuscripts. And another answering emails. And
one more making me peppermint tea when I’m having crippling bouts of
self-doubt.)
amazing as he appears! Writing can be a largely lonely, beating process
and he’s by far the best person to have in the corner, holding my metaphorical
towel while I fight through a novel. He’s a cheerleader, a coach, an editor, a writer, a researcher and more. If I hadn’t have met him
already, I would have guessed he was eight people fused into one (with one hand
the iPad, reading manuscripts. And another answering emails. And
one more making me peppermint tea when I’m having crippling bouts of
self-doubt.)
Having an agent lights a fire under you. You
still write, edit and love (sometimes) your work, but having a bona fide
professional sitting by and helping you just because he thinks that other
people will like your writing, too? It’s exciting and humbling all at
once. And it makes me work that much harder, just to prove that he wasn’t
crazy to take me on as a client.
still write, edit and love (sometimes) your work, but having a bona fide
professional sitting by and helping you just because he thinks that other
people will like your writing, too? It’s exciting and humbling all at
once. And it makes me work that much harder, just to prove that he wasn’t
crazy to take me on as a client.
As far as the orange thing goes? I think it’s
safe to say that at least one of his eight working brains counts it as a
favorite.
safe to say that at least one of his eight working brains counts it as a
favorite.
I can see why Nathan took you on! I can just imagine the inspiration that comes from a professional believing in your work, and how important it is to find that right fit in an agent-writer relationship.
Thanks so much for joining Art
Appreciation week and sharing your work with us! I can’t wait to read your work when it comes out – and feel free to share any more steampunk fairies you find showing up in your sketchpad. Best of luck in all your
endeavors!
Appreciation week and sharing your work with us! I can’t wait to read your work when it comes out – and feel free to share any more steampunk fairies you find showing up in your sketchpad. Best of luck in all your
endeavors!
Thank you so much for having me! Happy artisting to all!
Marie does print-on-demand and commissions. You can see some of her work here and here. For any requests or prints, feel free to contact her at kmcriddle@gmail.com.
More interviews to come! Remember to leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for a copy of Amazing Faces.
More interviews to come! Remember to leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for a copy of Amazing Faces.
I think we need to start that Twitter campaign, Susan.
*evil grin*
Oh how I struggle to explain steampunk to the kids at my school! They don't really understand what Victorian means which makes things harder . ..
We need this illustration as a poster!
Love that fairy. Great interview. Thanks for the effort, Susan, and thanks for sharing, KMC
You're welcome, Bane! Thanks for reading! And Jan, feel free to print it out and spread the slightly non-educational love. 🙂 And Matt, you act as if you don't ALWAYS have that evil grin…
Thanks again for having me, Susan!
I join Susan in being insanely jealous of your writing process. I have a running joke with my students about my inability to draw anything recognizable. I think I do sort of a written equivalent of your sketching process but yours sounds infinitely better.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Mary
I will gore you if you don't write my story! I LOVE the angry unicorn.
Um, I always suspected that Nate had 8 brains. Cool.
@MaryC Thanks for stopping by!
@Margo LOL
Awesome interview! I'm a big fan of K. Marie Criddle's blog, and Nathan's. 🙂