The Making of Astro Girl
Astro Girl is a story about a little girl who is determined to be an astronaut.
In 2010 the idea was in its infancy. Almost all of the sketches and drawings were about who this girl could be, her family and immediate environment. The task was to try to create a believable setting for her story to work.
It wasn't until early 2011 that things started to fall in to place visually. During this time the story itself evolved and was strong enough to present to a children's book publisher.
For the next few years there was one delay or another; the publisher left her company to start her own imprint; I became preoccupied with surviving as a designer and illustrator; in general, things slowed down...
In 2016, after living in Prague for almost a year I had developed a handful of new ideas. I also reconnected with the publisher who had renewed her interest in 'Astro Girl', as it was now called. After re-writing the story and softening up the characters, everything felt right. The publisher made a tentative offer based on the reactions to the prototype from international buyers at the Bologna book Fair in Spring, 2017. Needless to say it received enough interest to proceed. Phew!
Later that year an offer came through from an American publisher and the schedule was set. Artwork was completed in three months, publication dates were set for spring Summer 2019, in time for the anniversary of the Moon landing.
So far the book has been very well received in both the UK and US. So far around 64,000 are in print and making their way into families' hands. It is on the summer reading challenge in the UK, which means it is in almost every library in the country as recommended reading for the summer. Reviews have been positive.
It only took nine years...
