In the beginning of a project, I receive the manuscript from an editor who has chosen me to illustrate the book. It is a little known fact that writers and illustrators almost never meet each other or correspond while the book is in production (unless they are married, perhaps!). We work with the editor and art director about the vision of the book separately. Because I don't work with the author directly, it gives me the opportunity to interpret the story in my own way as an artist. I also discuss these ideas with the editor and the art director, so there is a sense of freedom, as well as collaboration within this framework.
In Snuggle Mountain, a little girl, Emma, climbs her parents' bed to wake them up for breakfast.
My challege was how to incorporate the fantasy element inherent in the story (e.g. she
describes climbing a mountain inhabited by a two headed giant).
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