Book giveaway: You’re My Guy Because…

With Valentine’s Day coming up, I thought I’d interview Patricia Storms of Booklust about her new book, You’re My Guy Because…. I love Patricia’s book – it’s funny with wonderful illustrations, and it manages to be genuinely touching without being sappy. I highly recommend this book not just for Valentine’s Day, but a great gift for your guy anytime.

I’m also going to be giving away a copy of this book to one lucky Inkygirl reader!

To enter the book draw, e-mail me and put “inkygirl giveaway” in the subject header; please include your name. I’ll post the random draw winner’s name next Monday.

1. What inspired you to write You’re My Guy Because?

Actually, the core idea of the book was not mine. I was approached by Ilene Barth, publisher of Red Rock Press in NY, a small publishing company that specializes in gift books. Ilene was looking for a cartoonist to create 30 cartoon reasons for ‘You’re My Guy Because…’, a humorous gift book that a woman could give to that special guy in her life. I sent her three initial concepts, and on the strength of those ideas, she hired me. So the 30 ideas and illustrations are mine, but Ilene came up with the idea for the book.

2. How much of the book was inspired by your own guy?

Ha. ALL of the book was inspired by my husband (who just happens to be named Guy! As an aside the original title for the book was ‘You’re My Valentine Because…’ but thankfully Ilene changed it. The new title is such a wonderful coincidence, and a true love letter to my husband).

Guy is very funny. And shall we say…very down-to-earth, a big kid at heart. He really does dress in some strange outfits at home, and he LOVES Halloween and sneaking candies, and is of course, a sports nut. And we’re always fighting over the remote. All great fodder for the book. He’s not perfect, but who is, including myself? I hope I got across the concept that true love is accepting and celebrating the unique characteristics of our lovable men.

3. When you were creating this book, which came first: the writing or the illustrations? I’m curious about your creative process, since you’re both a writer and an illustrator.

I would say that the IDEA came first – it’s important to flush out what concepts best suit this kind of theme before I even consider drawing. So I would brainstorm, and then say, come up with an idea to do with dealing with in-laws, and then the WRITING would come, and finally the drawing. The drawing is the easiest part, really, and for me, is best done last. Doodling doesn’t really work well for me – I function best with a concrete idea, and writing that I feel good about. The writing is the foundation of the the house, and the art is the decoration, what gives the cartoon ‘curb appeal’ so to speak.

4. How did you sell this book?

So like I said in my first answer, I was approached to do the book. Ilene Barth saw my blog online, and thought I might be a good fit for her concept. I did have an agent at the time (also acquired thanks to my blog!) so my agent was able to negotiate a better contract for me. I was very fortunate that all this stuff just fell in my lap. But I have yet to actually sell MY OWN book idea with my writing and illustrations, in the adult or kid market. I’m working on it, and I hope my good fortune will continue! (Crossing fingers, toes and eyes).

You can read Patricia’s blog at Booklust.
Order her book on Amazon.ca
Order her book on Amazon.com