SO~CAL BOOK SIGNINGS! MUCHOS RAIN, MUCHOS BOOKS

 Awesome mosaic by brother-in-law, Steve Davis

 I love getting back down to LA. Fun in the sun, except when it rains. Then it's fun in the rain. Wait, is this Seattle? Or the Amazon rain forest? No, just Orange County in November. """"!!Downpour!!"""""

Great book signing with Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church.  We recently collaborated on a children's picture book version of The Lord's Prayer, published by Zondervan.

 Rick is a warm, friendly guy, and a force of Nature.  Seriously, the work he and his church are doing is remarkable and multi-faceted.  After each of two services we signed books.   A LOT of books. The hard part? Signing fast, and spelling the names correctly. No worries, though, if I spell a name wrong, oops, I turn it into a picture.

 Rick and I are going to be working on some more books together.  Sweet.

Here's the incomparable Alex Uhl, owner of Whale Of A Tale Bookstoppe.  Her exquisite bookstore is in Irvine, California, but she arranged a book signing at the Orange County Junior League Christmas Company.

self portrait by Steve Bjorkman

I signed next to my friend and awesome illustrator, Steve Bjorkman. We signed for eight hours on Friday and ten hours on Saturday.  Yowzer, that was a lot of books. When possible, I try to do a little doodle in each book. Fancy Nancy's author, Jane O'Connor and illustrator, Robin Preiss Glasser signed with Alex the following day. You are amazing, Alex.

 I love you SO~CAL! I dream of you, Bougainvillea.

Ahhh, Mexican pottery, I like your sunny disposition. Thank you, Steve and Kathleen, for your hacienda hospitality.  November 2011

The Art of Writing Children's Books

with Author/Illustrator Richard Jesse Watson

Saturday and Sunday, August 20th and 21st, 2011

10:00 am - 3:00 pm    $150

The Writers' Workshoppe in Port Townsend

234 Taylor Street

360.379.2617

    Due to a healthy waiting list for Richard's last session in July, he has agreed to do an encore in August. Sign up soon, there are only 4 spaces remaining.

   Have you ever wanted to write a children’s book? Everyone has stories to tell.  Come find out how to make your stories compelling. Join this two-day workshop designed to loosen your imagination and tighten your writing.

    Watson will demonstrate character development and story structure, with an emphasis on the picture book. Find the way back to your Island of Wild Things through Richard’s interactive and personal writing exercises.

    For anyone interested in writing for children, this class will give you tools and tangible steps to help launch your stories. Find out where your wild things are.

Bring the following to class:

Loose sheets of plain paper for class exercises

Pen, pencil and eraser

Richard Jesse Watson has been creating children’s picture books for twenty-five years.  His version of The Night Before Christmas rocketed to the New York Times Bestseller List (HarperCollins 2006), and Tom Thumb won the Golden Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. 

*How to Hunt, Hogtie & Tame Picture Book Characters*

*TEXAS WORKSHOP*    JUNE 25th, 2011

 

Character Development Techniques for Writers and Illustrators of the Wild and Elusive Picture Book

All day workshop with Author/Illustrator Richard Jesse Watson

What: Watson leads several interactive character-busting exercises designed for both writer and illustrator. Track down stubborn picture book characters and develop their true selves. Discover ways to think outside your own boxes and create memorable picture book text and illustrations based on character-driven discoveries.

 

Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1330 South Fielder St., Arlington, Texas.

When: Saturday, June 25th, 2011   
Time:   9:30 am - 4 pm with a lunch break from 12 noon - 1:30 pm

Admission: $45 for members, $50 for non-members

                     Special $25 Student rate with current valid ID

Contact: George Hellstern, Regional Advisor

               and Alan Stacy, Assistant Regional Advisor

Website: SCBWI North Central/Northeast Texas Upcoming Events

Imagination Celebration in Olympia, WA

Come join the fun in downtown Olympia! IMAGINATION CELEBRATION is a family friendly block party to celebrate summer, reading, and imagination.

Saturday • June 18, 2011  12:00-5:00 
Behind the downtown Timberland Regional Library

 

Kids will get to meet their favorite authors:  New York Times bestselling author, Brandon Mull, (author of the Fablehaven Series), award winning, New York Times Bestselling author illustrator Jesse Joshua Watson (Hope for Haiti), New  York Times Bestseller and Golden Kite award-winning author illustrator Richard Jesse Watson (The Magic Rabbit), and Deb Lund, dinomite author of several books for young children, including the rollicking dinosaur adventure books, DINOTRAIN and DINOSAILORS.  

 Puppet shows, dance, music and a special presentation Wrapped! The Search for the Essential Mummy from Stephanie Lile, exhibit curator for the Washington State History Museum, will entertain.  Kids will also get a chance to make their own books, puppets, book marks and other crafts at the over 25 activity stations.  Little ones get a tent of their own for special birth-5 activities in the Little Tot Tent. 

   “Families who are looking for a wonderful day to spend with the kids have found it  ~  Imagination Celebration is a free youth and family event that marks the beginning of summer in the South Sound!” says Jennifer Forster, Imagination Celebration committee member and director of the South Sound “Read 20 minutes a day” Reading Foundation.  For more information visit www.reading foundation.org/southsound or visit the Timberland Regional Library web site at www.TRL.org, or call the South Sound Reading Foundation at (360)412-4499.

Watson Exhibition in Vancouver, BC

Original paintings published in Watson's newest children's book, The Lord's Prayer, along with preliminary serigraph studies, will be exhibited at Regent's Outlook Gallery, on the UBC campus. If you're in the area, join Richard at the opening reception on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, 4:30-7:30 pm. The show runs from May 11th through June 17th, 2011.

Regent College  

corner of Wesbrook Mall and University Blvd

5800 University Blvd •  Vancouver, BC  •  604.224.3245

Plant-A-Thon Art Auction

"Sharing Their Journey"

Here's a chance to own an original painting by Richard Jesse Watson and help restore salmon and wildlife habitat at the same time. 

The Plant-A-Thon Project will add another 5,000 trees this month, all planted by local children, teen and adult volunteers. Visionary, Jude Rubin, (a botanist with Northwest Watershed Institute) launched this program seven years ago.  Max Grover and Amanda Kingsley, donated their commissioned works in previous years. 2011

The online auction is taking place at: http://www.swanschool.net/plantathon.html 

Read more about Planting It Forward at: Peninsula Daily News

Over-the-Moon Art Exhibit

 

Saturday, February 5  ~  5:30 - 8:00 pm, 2011

Richard will be at the Bishop during Gallery Walk 

signing his newest book (limited copies)!

 Visit his Art Exhibit at the Bishop Hotel's Olympic Grand Lobby
Downtown Port Townsend

January 8- February 28, 2011

Take advantage of the Bishop's Dinner, Movie and More Package Special
~the perfect mid-winter getaway~
Directions
800.824.4738