Newman!!

I've not asked, but I'm sure my illustrator pal, Jeff Newman has had his unfair share of Seinfeld-inspired jokes.

Saturday, Jeff and I held our semi-annual meeting of the minds at Kenosha's upper crust, The Brat Stop restaurant. Jeff is one of the few children's book illustrators I know personally and we share common interests, frustrations, likes/dislikes, laughs, and stuff like that. He's a real nice guy.

Jeff's got some good stuff in works. I've got stuff in works too, so that's what was discussed (shown and told) at said meeting o' minds. Good times, as always.

Jeff just did a great interview with children's book blogger, Minh Le (or is it Roscoe P. Hargrove?) at his snappy and fun kids lit. blog, Bottom Shelf Books. Definitely worth a read, here.

If you're short on time, here's a pic pulled from that. Jeff taking a puff on a very Arthur Conan Doyle-ian pipe. Goes well with the violin and hearth in background.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Matthew Cordell...*

About one year ago, I wrapped drawings for a picture book titled, MIGHTY CASEY written by one James Preller. Before I go any further, I must say that it is not so uncommon for authors and illustrators who work on the same book to never meet, correspond, shake hands, lock eyes. But one thing led to another (a shared Dylan obsession kicked it off), and now JP and I are old email buddies (one day we'll meet face to face). And MIGHTY CASEY will come out from Feiwel and Friends in the forthcoming spring (March-April-ish, 2009).

Preller's got a top notch blog. A good mix of the personal with the business. And today, he has chosen me as his subject. He's starting a line of interviews for his blog and I got to kick if off. So, please take a moment, and head over there for all the dirty secrets.


*...but were afraid to ask.

That's a promise!

I just came across this video. It's weird and too excellent. Ben Kingsley (er... SIR Ben Kingsley), for whatever reason is doing an homage to Ian MacKaye and one of my old faves, the early 80's hardcore band, Minor Threat. Gandhi, anyone? Good lord, this vid rules. Watch and rejoice, Minor Threat old schoolers! (WARNING! lyrics are peppered with F-bombs. Not for kiddies who might be reading this!)


Sir Ben Kingsley STOMPS into the shoes of Minor Threat's Ian MacKaye from Mean Magazine on Vimeo.

The Lion, the Unicorn, and the Baby

I found out last week, that a recent picture book I illustrated has just won an award. THE MOON IS LA LUNA, written by author Jay Harris, is a book of poems that combine (with rhymey fun) both English and Spanish language. The award is the 2008 Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry. And the award is the "honor" award, which is a nice way of saying "runner-up". This is really excellent! The top prize went to the well known Linda Sue Park and her book Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems), Pictures by Istvan Banyai. (Banyai, incidentally, is a keen, keen illustrator. Very nice to be in the same place, same time.) I might also add that since this is a poetry award, my part is that of support player. But I'll certainly take any "by association" praise. Congratulations to Jay Harris!

This weekend, a lot was done to prepare for the arrival of Julie's and my babe girl. We secured orders on furniture (crib, dresser, etc). Who knew the whole crib thing could be so complicated? It was a major accomplishment. And we also did a tour of the hospital where the birth will take action. We saw the labor/delivery rooms, as well as the nursery, as well as the rooms where you decompress and recoup after the birth. Wow. It's almost here. There were some newborns in the nursery, hot out of the oven. Man they were awesome. I never looked at a baby like I do now. It's real different, knowing you'll be holding one of your own soon. Those babes were wrapped up so tight, only their heads could move. Man. Cool.

Blog Love

I just got a bit of blog love from my friend Esme Raji Codell over at her blog yesterday. Part of an ongoing event to spread the word on your favorite blogs by way of an "I love your blog" award. What I'm then supposed to do is keep the blog love going and recommend my favorite 7 other blogs on my blog (not including, I suppose, the blog/blogger who's recommended me/you). Kind of like a chain letter, maybe, but there's no deathly consequences if you fail to participate. And this is all for the love of the blog. Therefore, check out these 7 excellent blogs:

1. Julie Halpern
2. James Preller
3. Jeff Newman
4. Feiwel and Friends
5. The Comics Reporter
6. The Daily Cross Hatch
7. Drawn!

Then, favorite blogs, to keep this thing going, according to Esme, there are rules:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!

This is DEFINITELY the most times I've used the word "blog" on my blog in any given blog post since I started this here blog. Blog.

I ain't goin out like that.

Man. I just had a good ol' physical at the doc's office. Poked, prodded, bloodwork, the whole gig. Call came few days later and turns out I got some high cholesterol in there. What the freak?! I've been a vegetarian for the last 15 years!! I don't know. Maybe I eat too much cheese. Too much egg. Jeez. They want me on some chol. lowering drug, Crestor. I don't like the name and I don't like the thought. I hear tell it ain't good on the liver either. Then, I got to thinking that MAYBE I'm being scammed. Why are they PUSHING drugs on me? Who's palms are getting GREASED offa my good name? Do I REALLY have high cholesterol? Who do you trust? Paranoia, my friends.

So, I whined a little bit to my nurse and told her I'd rather try out the diet and exercise route first. Rather than pump up with some hot new pharmaceutical. So I'm hitting treadmill hard starting today. Diet...? I'm already veg!

BTW, both my moms and my pops are high in cholesterol. Hereditary? Thanks!

New Scraps

Since I finished the new book, I've been meaning to put up these watercolor and pen test sheets I like to post and post. These scraps of watercolor paper I keep to my side when I'm making final art--I keep 'em handy and use to test the pen before inking, and test the watercolor before coloring. I hope my posting these things, it's not too self-indulgent. I dig how they come out in the end. I was, at a time, a huge Cy Twombly fan. Still am, to a degree, so you may see why I care.

Testify!

Feeling good cause I just wrapped my first pic book offering as illustrator AND author. Today, I sent off just short of 50 drawings to my good people at Feiwel and Friends who are publishing this little ditty. They bought in to pumping the page count a bit and letting me do some illo'd endsheets. Good on ya, Feiwel! Will be out in fall of '09, but til then here's a sneak, hot off my bunk scanner:

Birthday Me

Tomorrow is my 33rd birthday. September 11 is my birthday by unfortunate coincidence, but it is what 'tis. It's also that guy Moby's, so I ain't alone. To all you out there looking for last minute gift ideas (for me, not Moby), here's eleven things I'm into these days:

1. vintage 50's and 60's eyeglasses
2. Flight of the Conchords
3. Spongebob Squarepants (a strange, sudden regained interest)
4. Bob Dylan (still)
5. John Lennon (the best Beatle)
6. popcorn
7. Simon James
8. Gilmore Girls (don't judge!)
9. William Steig
10. bubble gum
11. grapefruit (ruby reds)

Or, a simple happy comment on otherwise one of the saddest days of American history will do.

Creatives Procreate

I hereby announce with massive joy that Julie and I are expecting our first babe. Julie's now 25 weeks in and we just found out semi-recently that we're having a girl! Girls rule! We're super psyched, and come xmas time or so, there'll be a new addition to the Halpern-Cordell household.

Here's one of the more recent snapshots of said sweet baby girl.