All copyrights on this page belong to Jeri Landers 2006
"But little Bushky was caught off guard when a massive gust of wind lifted him up and carried him whirling and twirling through the sky hither, thither and yon!"
Post card "Order forms" are going out this month ( May) Just follow the directions on the back of the card to order your book. The books will all be signed and personalized with a message from Jeri.
The idea for my new book was born when my son Dylan brought a baby squirrrel into our home. We had been experiencing wild windstorms for a few days and apparently the gusts had blown an entire squirrel family from their nest. The other family members weren't so fortunate as this little fellow, whom I named Bushky Bushybottom.
At first I knew nothing about raising an orphan squirrel, but was soon an expert in squirrely nutrition.....feeding him a yummy, milky mixture every four hours through a syringe. To my delight he devoured this most avidly, eventually graduating to baby cereal, peanuts and corn. He really loved cherrios! ( just like me) Suffice it to say, Mr. Bushybottom grew heartily for several weeks until he decided that the open road was the life for him and chewed his way ( literally) out of the house and into the wide, wide world! This little fellow was the inspiration for my story, which of course, takes place in Hopalong Hollow.
We took many photographs of Bushky during his brief stay, and I wrote my story with this fine little fellow as the main character who just happens to be....lost. The picture on left is baby Bushky ...then a few weeks later.....
My process for doing the illustrations is as follows: After many rough sketches I create very detailed pencil drawings directly onto my watercolor paper. Since my books have 36 pages, endpaper art and, of course, an illustrated book cover, this can take up to 1 year. When all the drawings are completed I go back to each drawing and paint with watercolor directly upon my pencil work. The drawings you see above are portions of illustrations. This is a very time-consuming process ( about 2 years in all). I think it is worth the time spent. Since I love to fill every single space of my paper with art, I must remind myself to Leave Room for the Words!
A few new characters living in and around Hopalong Hollow ...... This is Trudy Webbytoes. As you can see, she is a fine artist.
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One of my models..... Trudy Webbytoes. |
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Hector and Louie run the Ferry service. If you need a ride across the pond, the cost is 2 crickets and 1 worm.
Tottytoes, Tattletail and Bushky
"Suddenly he was deposited upon the ground with a THUD!"
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"Oh my, what have we here? A wee babe! And why is a bonnie little lad out in the dark of night by his wee self? Ah... the poor young thing."
Included in the book will be an audio cd. The story is so much fun to read, that I just had to read it to you!
"Sir Percival licked his chops as he watched the fat, round hens pecking their way towards the barn."
"Climb the steps of the tree that go up high,,, to the squirrely house in the leafy sky."
