©DON TATE
ILLUSTRATION
Getting that first call
After dropping my son off at daycare, I rushed home to check my e-mail. This is a daily ritual for me. Opening e-mails is like opening Christmas presents. My anticipation is usually followed by frustration. SPAM!
On this particular day I find an especially interesting subject line. Sandwiched between an offer to "BUY CHEAP VIAGRA" and to "FIX YOUR CREDIT NOW," is an e-mail reading, "Greetings from Houghton Mifflin." The message read, "I found your website while searching for illustrators that do lively animals. Yours fits the bill!" This year (2002), Houghton Mifflin is synonymous with Caldecott and Newbery medals.
The note went on to read, "The name of the book is tentatively titled AND THAT'S ALL TO IT! and is written by Alice McGill" The note was from Bob Kosturko, art director at Houghton Mifflin. "AND THAT'S ALL TO IT!," I thought. Doesn't quite roll off my tongue. I imagined people would ask me, "what's the name of your next book?" And I'd say "AND THAT'S ALL TO IT! That's it, end of discussion. It seemed kind of abrupt or something. I'm not as familiar with writers as I am with illustrators, so the name Alice McGill didn't ring a bell. I started to do my research on her and ask around. "Aahhs" and "Oooos" were usually the response as well as "big-name!" I was excited.
I returned an enthusiastic email to Bob and sent more samples of my work. Although Bob liked my work, I had to convince Alice's editor as well as Alice. I was worried because normally, at least in my experience, or maybe inexperience, if the editor is sold on you, you're in. Anyone else plays a secondary role in the decision. And the author is usually not in on the decision at all. They're usually pleasantly, or possibly even unpleasantly surprised at the end. So when I was told the author, "big-name," Alice McGill had to approve, I thought, "I'm sunk." I figured her response would be, "Who's Don Tate? Why not a Pinkney, a Collier or a Cooper?" "This will never fly," I thought.
A few weeks later, I received a congratulatory letter from Alice's editor. I was in! Alice's response, "His work is full of come alive color." I like this lady already. I received a revised manuscript. The new title, SURE AS SUNRISE. "This is a fantastic title," I thought and I laughed my way through each story. Not only did I enjoy each story, I especially liked Alice's style of storytelling. Her words fall together so well and with such rhythm, and this is not a rhyming story mind you. I can almost see and hear Alice as though she's right there telling each story to me personally.