Alexis Deacon
I had the pleasure of meeting this up and coming children's book author/illustrator during the summer of 2003. He was still enjoying the success of his book Slow Loris. How did it all happen?
As a student at the University of Brighton, Alexis took a children's unit in his second year. He had a month to come up with a project and his teacher was so impressed with what he had developed that he suggested a visit to his friend Caroline, an editor at Random House. Alexis came in to see her and sent 4 or 5 of his stories while completing his last year of college. Happily, Slow Loris was accepted for publication, and it appeared in print in 2002.
Stepping back even further, Random House had made a conscious decision to recruit five new children's authors and to give each of them a two book contract. As Caroline noted, the plan was to move them along and promote them as a group. Alexis was one of the ones selected for this wonderful program. You can tell from his editor who was also present at the interview that there is terrific rapport and a real appreciation for his work.
Originally Beegu was a bear wandering out into the world and lost in the city. When the moment arrived for the real story to surface it was a hour's worth of work according to Alexis, but prior to that the story had been swimming around in his head for months. Among the more difficult tasks was stripping away the story he had and taking it down to its essence. As he drew and redrew the pictures, Alexis started to use photocopies and colorized them. He is quite modest and doesn't think of himself as a skilled painter-drawing is his forte. He has developed an interesting technique using a photocopier and heavy black lines to create his illustrations.
Using a sketch pad he quickly lays out a story. He tries to pay a lot of attention to his character and therefore the backgrounds tend to be spare, one might say that they are a bit bleak and show only the essential elements to set the scene-a door, fence, a wall. He has to tread lightly since these books are for children and one does not want to dwell too much on the darker side. However, there is one thing he will not change. His bad guys are really bad-sympathy for his character is created by the negativeness around her. Beegu is a creature who is loveable. To make that work, Alexis needed a world that conveyed a slight coldness. It is the same in Slow Loris, the zoo has a vaguely negative connotation. The adults are mean, but humorously so.
After the sketches, Alexis creates a series of A4 drawing-large. In Beegu, they tell the story of the journey. Then he introduced the world or scene setting elements. Alexis finds the editing process at the end of his work a bit of a problem and prefers to work with his editor while the book is in progress making adjustments along the way. That seems to be different than most, but it seems to work well with him and Caroline.
Next year (2004), we can look for another book, and it is entitled Jitterbug Jam. Barbara Jean Hicks story was pulled out of the slush pile and now it will be illustrated by Alexis. The manuscript required him to create a whole family of monsters. The animals in Slow Loris do not speak. In this new book the monster thinks and talks. Other books are in the works, so it appears that Alexis has certainly gone beyond the two book contract and has been one of the stars of the Random House project to seek out and find new children's book authors and illustrators.
As for a little more about his background and person life, Alexis did win a prize at college for developing the best picture book and graduated with an honors degree. The Financial Times called him "a young author-illustrator of quite impressive originality and depth." He currently resides in London and has taken commissions for other work including a concept design for a horror movie that was never produced and a logo for a John Lennon tribute concert.
Alexis is also addicted to toys, especially action figures which is what got him into drawing. He had been drawing most of his life and only lately has had the enjoyable experience of illustrating another author's manuscript. He really believes strongly in the importance of integrating text and illustrations. Something has to be outstanding because there are only so many stories or themes. It is what the author/illustrator can do with the story to make it different that catches they eye of an editor like Caroline. Beegu by the way is the pet name for his dog, which sharp-eyed readers may pick up in the dedication. It is also a play on words since bijou is French for jewel, and his little creature is certainly a misunderstood gem.
Contributor: Marilyn Courtot
Reviews
Beegu
Alexis Deacon
Beegu's spaceship crashes, and she finds herself on the Planet Earth. She "was not supposed to be here. She was lost." Each time she attempts to make friends, the big "creatures" (adults) were "unfriendly, but there were some small ones who seemed hopeful." Long-eared, three-eyed, yellow Beegu stands out as very different from the earth animals and people in their subdued-colored clothing. She is full of energy and expression, and is a very appealing alien. Deacon uses color effectively in creating mood. White backgrounds are found on pages of hope--where children are playing with Beegu; when she thinks she hears her mother calling; and when she is reunited with her parents. In a brief text, Deacon presents a strong message about acceptance and hope for the future. This short picture book could be used by older students as a discussion starter. 2003, Farrar Straus and Giroux, $16.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-374-30667-2
Slow Loris
Alexis Deacon
Slow Loris moves so-o-o slowly at the zoo that the visitors find him boring. It takes him an hour just to scratch his bottom. But at night he leads a wild secret life. When the other zoo inhabitants discover it and join him, they all bore the visitors with their daytime sloth, but they are having too much fun at night to care. The spare, tongue-in-cheek, seemingly hand-printed text makes the astonishing illustrations more than half the story. Double pages capture the low-key colors of the zoo cages, providing the space to depict Loris's adventures, as he evolves from his sleepy daytime existence to become a character with hat and necktie, a real swinger. The sketchy antics move onto an imaginative foldout page and a lift-up door. As the other animals join him, we can't help but smile along. 2002, Kane/Miller Book Publishers, Ages 3 to 9, $15.95 and $7.95. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2002; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
ISBN: 1-929132-27-1
ISBN: 1-929132-28-X
Added 11/30/03
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If you're interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.