June 16, 2008

Searching For A Starry Night - IT'S HERE!




THEY DO EXIST!

Look what the UPS man brought me today!!

Pre-order now at Amazon.com!

June 13, 2008

Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery - in miniature!


Look who's reading "Searching For A Starry Night"!

Even the lady from my Teapot Shoppe was excited to get a glimpse of Searching For A Starry Night - to be released JUNE 15!!

(But you can pre-order now! See Amazon link at right.)



The miniature book was made by Lee Ann Borgia of LABH Miniatures - (see 6/12 entry).



** Want your own copy?? Take a chance to win a signed copy of SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT (life-size) and get your hat thrown in the ring to win the miniature copy too!

*** See details and contest rules at my blog below - or at my website news page.

June 12, 2008

Miniaturist of the Month: Miniature Books by Lee Ann Borgia

Note: Lee Ann made a wonderful miniature collector's edition of chapter 1 of SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT for my contest; see link. Photo coming as soon as it arrives in the mail. So check back and enter!



Today I'm talking with noted miniaturist Lee Ann Borgia of LABH Miniature Books. Lee Ann is a New Jersey maker of a series of miniature book replicas covering children's classics like Raggedy Ann and Andy, to vintage paper dolls, and tomes that will add the finishing touch to that haunted miniature library or medieval castle.

Lee Ann began collecting miniatures 28 years ago and started her business in the usual way - she needed books for her own project, A Gentlemen's Study. "The kind of books I wanted were too expensive for me," she says.



Given that her gentlemen's room (still in progress) contains three walls of floor to ceiling shelves to fill, her reticence is understandable.

Invention having always been the boon of creation, Lee Ann started reading up on bookbinding. She did some experimenting, and with adaptations for size, developed a method for making miniature books using traditional bookbinding techniques.

Her selection includes a 31/32" high volume of Shakespeare's works, to a delightful 11/16" wide copy of Johnny Gruelle's 'Raggedy Ann in Cookie Land', to a charming volume of Beatrix Potter's children's stories barely larger than a dime. Even the so-called "economy" (blank inside) books in various categories form gardening (1875 Garden Almanac), to classics by Louisa May Alcott ('Little Women'), the Raggedy Ann and Andy books, vintage children's books, and more, will add that certain "something" to a miniature scene with their realism. Prices range from $3 for economy books, to $19.50 and up for Shakespeare and certain editions, to hundreds of dollars for full sets.


(Pictured: Medieval Bestiary)

The results are charming, accurate editions, perfect for that dollhouse library, den, children's room or your favorite bookshelf. Lee Ann now has enough titles in her repertoire to fill even her miniature study shelves (if she ever gets to make them all!)

"I believe I now make 400 different book titles, not counting what I call economy books (with blank insides)," she says.

(Pictured: Chris' Raggedy Ann Room - for fun I've included a pic of the room I made which features Lee Ann's great books. And a closeup of the bookshelf.)






Four hundred - and counting

Make that 400-plus books.

Lee Ann just finished her Shakespeare collection - all 37 plays, plus a book of Sonnets and another book of Selected Poetry. Other new additions include Beowulf in Olde English and Edgar Allen Poe's classic poem, The Raven. Of special note is her 25-book set of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales." Each tale is featured in its own volume in Olde English with woodcuts. It is sold only as a complete set. Medieval books are also popular and realistic.


(Pictured: 13th Century Bible)

Always a "crafty" person, Lee Ann began sewing as a child and progressed to making most of her own and her daughter's clothes, She later learned some custom tailoring, and did both full-size and miniature crochet. Bookmaking (not the betting kind :>)) was another technique for her to learn and soon master.

"I love the design part of making a book work in miniature," she says. "I do a lot of computer manipulation for covers, but the greatest joy is when everything comes together and I hold the finished book in my hands."

With so many volumes to choose from, it's not surprising that Lee Ann has a hard time picking any one favorite.

"Oh dear, that's impossible for me to answer," she admits. "I love my medieval books--the artwork is fantastic. I've done some reading on the techniques used and am fascinated. But I also loved doing 'The Canterbury Tales.' Some of the children's books are so charming that I am enthralled. I also had a wonderful time doing my wizard books."


(Pictured: "Magical Poison Potions")

But if she had to pick just one favorite book... Well, maybe it was the one that she got the biggest kick out of: "I think the most fun was writing 'Magical Poison Potions.' Of course my family was sure I had finally gone over the edge as I kept laughing as I wrote it."

She needn't have worried. Laughter is surely the sign of a good book.
#

* For more information, contact Lee Ann at LBorgia993@aol.com.

* I'd love to hear your comments! Have a miniature book in mind? Make a suggestion and maybe Lee Ann will add it to her offerings!

June 11, 2008

Searching For A Starry Night - Contest & Blog Stops!

The SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT Blog Stops have begun!

** Today: Stop by Mayra's Secret Bookcase for an interview with me.


Searching For A Starry Night - CONTEST 1
* Take a chance to win a signed copy of SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT - ** and a special miniature collector's edition of chapter one of my book made by Lee Ann Borgia of LABH Miniature Books.
*** Be sure to check back tomorrow to read an interview with this amazing artist - and see a photo of this unique prize (I'm waiting for it to arrive by mail!) ***

Contest 1 RULES:
* 1. Sign up for my periodic newsletter; link here at my blog and on my website on the Starry Night page.
* 2. Answer 3 questions relating to miniatures and chapter 1 of SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT - answers and chapter to download can be found on my website.
* 3. Email answers to all 3 questions (copy and paste) with your full mailing address via the email on the CONTACT Page at my website, http://cverstraete.com/contact.html .
4. Contest ends JULY 4. Names will be matched to newsletter list; any entries that didn't follow rules or sent to any other email will be disqualified.
- Have Fun and Good Luck!!!

Contest 1 Questions:
* Question 1: What is the name of the typically English item found on the table in my teapot shoppe? (Hint: there are 2 pages)
* Question 2: Van Gogh sold how many works in his lifetime?
* Question 3: Sam doesn't like the idea of working where?

June 01, 2008

Searching For A Starry Night June Events

Upcoming events for JUNE:

Online:

JUNE:



  * Featured Guest Author, Stories For Children Magazine



  * New interview at the YA (Young Adult) Books Central


  * Searching For A Starry Night is listed under New Next Month at
Mystery Lover's Corner
(See New This Month in July)



  * Sam from SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT tells her
Best Friend's Story


  * Featured Book Cover at Erin Aislinn's website, week of June 2



BLOG STOPS:


  * June 11 - Mayra's Secret Bookcase


  * June 12 - Elysabeth's Stories Blog


  * June 27 - The Stiletto Gang



* INTERVIEW at the Acme Authors Blog

  * Searching For A Starry Night - March '08 Cover Winner at the New Covey Cover Awards. Thanks!



IN-PERSON EVENTS:


  * June 14, Sat.,10-4, Authorfest

Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 South Roselle Rd., Schaumburg, IL


  * June 21, Sat., 10-4, Woofstock!

Lambs Farm,14245 W. Rockland Road,(I-94 & Rte. 176), Libertyville, IL


  * July 12, 12-6, 8th Annual Unity Fest, Drake Field, Elgin, IL. Doxie races and more, sponsored by the Midwest Dachshund Rescue

May 30, 2008

SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT PRE-ORDERS!

You can now pre-order SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT, A Miniature Art Mystery, set for a JUNE 15 release. See Amazon.com link here on right side.

May 22, 2008

SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT Review!

Woo-hoo! The reviews are coming in...


A young reader shares her opinion on SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT, A Miniature Art Mystery:


"Gripping, surprising, and leaving you wanting more… you'll be shocked at the twists and turns…" --Lily Huber, Grade 8

May 17, 2008

Searching For A Starry Night - mini Petey!



For fun, I was playing with the Model Magic air-dry clay and wanted to see if an idea I had would work. Sometimes, as crafters know, what looks good in your head, doesn't always quite turn out as you envisioned it.

Granted my first examples had a kind of "little piggie" look to the face, with too long of snouts. But hey, not all the dogs in the litter are always picture-perfect! Still, I kind of like this little guy!



After several tries, I ended up with a couple small versions of "Petey," the nosy Dachshund from SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT that I liked. The dogs are about 1 3/4" long (nose to tail) and the same dimensions from the top of his head to the floor.

After the clay dried, I painted them with Folk Art acrylic paint in Nutmeg and sprinkled on light brown velvet flocking. I found on my second try that the flocking seems to stick better on the wet paint instead of adding glue, though it still leaves only a thin layer. I used a 11/0 Czech glass bead for the nose and 1 mm no hole beads for the eyes.

Yes, there are quite a few I've made and have to finish. I was thinking of trying the little dogs for a kid's class at the library, with them only painting and not flocking an already-assembled dog to make it easier. What do you think?

I'm pretty happy with the results. I'd love to hear your comments!

May 16, 2008

Searching For A Starry Night Interview!

I'm talking today about my upcoming mystery SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT, miniatures and other things at the Acme Authors Blog.

If you're still curious, I'm also the Featured Author at Book Place.

So, meander over and leave a comment! Thanks!

May 08, 2008

Food - in Miniature!



For fun, I've joined several other persons in blogging about food - but in miniature!

Check out the latest realistic offerings, such as pasta, cheeses, cakes and more at The Mini Food Blog.

My first entry features a few of my favorite food scenes.