#PitMad, Telugu Tradition and Kalamkari Artwork, GOODNIGHT GANESHA: Interview with Nadia Salomon and Poonam Mistry


Nadia Salomon lives in northern California together with her household. Nadia writes image ebook, middle-grade, and graphic novel manuscripts with themes of South Asian and Caribbean tradition, STEM, non-fiction, and humor. Nadia is the winner of the 2020 SCBWI Service Award and the 2019 SCBWI WOOP Honor Award for work of excellent progress on her non-fiction, image ebook manuscript, MYRLIE: A VOICE OF HOPE. You will discover out extra about Nadia on her web site, Twitter, Fb, Instagram and YouTube. You may join her e-newsletter right here.

 is a contract illustrator residing within the UK and graduated in 2010 with a level in Graphic Design and Illustration on the College of Hertfordshire. Poonam creates her fantastically intricate photographs by hand utilizing high quality liners after which digitally alters them. You will discover out extra about Poonam on her web site, Twitter, and Instagram.

“As nighttime falls over the town, two kids visiting their grandparents in India discover there’s a lot enjoyable available! Whether or not it’s listening to epic tales or observing rituals within the puja room, there are a lot of moments that make this time collectively particular. On this lovely, rhyming ode to bedtime, the one factor extra common than preparing for mattress and saying goodnight is the love between kids and their grandparents.”

Inspiration picture from Poonam Mistry.

 I’m a #PitMad success story. I landed my superb agent, Ammi-Joan Paquette, via twitter pitching! That’s about three years after becoming a member of SCBWI. However my debut, GOODNIGHT GANESHA, shouldn’t be the story she faved, however as an alternative what I name a ‘sizzling potato’ concept impressed by my baby. I wrote the draft in

 Poonam and I interacted behind the scenes, however we NEVER mentioned GOODNIGHT GANESHA or the artwork for the ebook. I trusted her whole-heartedly. All work associated communications went via our editor. We turned buddies behind the scenes – coping via the pandemic, bonding over shared tradition, household, and all the pieces else in between, however we NEVER had convos as she labored on the ebook. The one time was on the finish, when Poonam accomplished the artwork and requested me, “DID YOU SEE THE FINAL ART YET?” And I used to be like, “Uhm…NO.” She was so excited. She mentioned she put lots of additional particulars and hoped I appreciated it. I used to be so antsy, however stayed calm. A number of days later I acquired the ultimate artwork. It was simply unimaginable! We had cry messaging forwards and backwards over the ultimate artwork and what this undertaking meant to every of us. We’re about to contribute a bit of Telugu Tradition and Kalamkari artwork into kidlit; we’re ecstatic and happy with what we created collectively.

 For Goodnight Ganesha, I started by truly taking pictures round my guardian’s home. They’ve lots of ornamental ornaments and wall hangings throughout their residence so this was the proper place to begin for the ebook. Nadia’s textual content is so poetic and exquisite so I sketched the imagery I felt finest represented every unfold and would actually showcase her words- normally I’ve a number of variations for every a part of the textual content and choose those I like essentially the most. As soon as this was permitted, I sketched out bigger variations on thick cartridge paper and used black ink to attract within the designs in neat. That is the place I added all of the patterns and particulars. Largely I took inspiration from conventional Indian artwork such Kalamkari textiles and Madhubani artwork. I layered the patterned very very like you’ll see on sarees and materials. After finishing the drawing, I used Photoshop so as to add color and extra patterns to complete it off. A number of the spreads have a patterned border- this was as a result of I wished them to appear like wall hangings and Kalamkari textile pieces- large items of artwork!

 Learn, learn, learn. Write your tales. Make writing a behavior. Write, write, write. Use the facility of storytelling to vary the world via pleasure. Discover your feelings, your reminiscences, and create new classics. There’s somebody on the market, an grownup, one other baby, a pair of palms ready to learn your story that will affect or affect their life. Irrespective of your age, your dimension, your voice – your phrases have worth.

 My greatest piece of recommendation is to do artwork that’s true to your self. My model is an actual reflection of the issues I like and what makes me who I’m. It’s my visible voice. Additionally at all times preserve drawing and be experimental within the media you employ. Though my work is usually digital, I like portray in my model!

For extra insights from ebook creators, see my Inkygirl Interview Archives and Recommendation For Younger Writers And Illustrators From Ebook Creators.