Look how far we’ve come!
Rockpool Children’s Books published its first four titles in October 2006. Since then, its international reputation for high quality picture and board books has grown steadily, with sales to Australia, the USA, South Korea, Italy, Colombia, and now France. By October 2009 we will have published 21 titles and moved into animation! More of that later.
The first phase of Rockpool's development was to publish children's books written and illustrated by its creator, Stuart Trotter. Now that Rockpool is established, it is publishing other talented new author/illustrators.
Great new authors and titles
Heather Heyworth’s first picture book, Riding on an Elephant, published in September 2008, combines gentle rhyme and beautiful illustrations to describe a little girl’s adventures as she rides an elephant through the jungle to a lovely surprise ending!
In September 2009, in collaboration with S.D.L. France, Rockpool will publish the exciting Little Fairies, a series brilliantly written and illustrated by first-time author/illustrator Samantha Walshaw . The first two in the series are Rose’s Rainbow and Poppy’s Magic.
With ‘Little Fairies’ in mind, summer 2009 saw an interesting major development when Rockpool Children’s Books began an association with Flix Facilities, one of the leading Post Production houses in the UK. Over the past 17 years they have earned a reputation as the go-to guys for animation, documentary, drama and commercial post-production, working on many award-winning shows. Work is now complete on ‘Rose’s Rainbow’ and ‘Poppy’s Magic’ and the DVD’s will accompany Sam’s books this autumn.
Also with S.D.L., we’re publishing Sam’s heartwarming Lulubell Ladybird or Margaux la coccinelle. The Lulubell character has been adopted by S.D.L. as the imprint logo for its new trade list, Margaux & Cie. Sam is prolific in her talent and output, and her new books, Maisie and the Pirates and Maisie and the Pirates: Ghost Ship are scheduled for publication in 2010.
We’re also delighted to announce the publication of Jane Winton’s Peppermint Twins and JoJo and the Happy Crow in 2010. These are two wonderful books, illustrated in a very strong painterly style, which bring yet more variety to Rockpool’s growing list. They have a deliciously dark storyline, not too scary, but definitely a bit ‘Grimm’!
Stuart Trotter hasn’t been idle either. He’s been writing and illustrating Polar White and Polar White’s Woo Hoo Day, both due for publication in October 2009. For more information on all of the above titles, see our New Books section.
News from Bologna
Rockpool attended its third Bologna Children’s Book Fair in March. This year we welcomed Aby Ricketts, who is in charge of our non-US international sales. Aby has been with Rockpool for almost a year now, and has brought considerable knowledge in rights sales. I’d like to thank Aby for her hard work on Rockpool’s behalf – she is a joy to work with, and her energy and enthusiasm for Rockpool’s books is truly inspiring!
Rockpool has been with its distributor, York Publishing Services, since 2006, and YPS’s director Duncan Beal joined us on the stand for the fair. More than a distributor, Duncan is a publisher in his own right. As well as offering a five-star self-publishing solution (mentioned in glowing terms in the Writers and Artists Handbook) he also produces Rockpool’s prototypes. The quality of printing and binding in these books, not only enhanced the look of Rockpool’s stand, but also gave our presentation a truly professional feel.
In October last year, we received a submission from another very talented new author, Susan Larkin. Her Good Morning Baby is a delightful book for mums to read to their very young children. They provide a ‘rocking chair read,’ to quote Susan, but they are so beautifully written as to appeal to all ages. The text, illustrated by Stuart to presentation standards and printed and bound by Duncan, made a superb new book to present in Bologna. What also made it special was that Susan joined us on the stand…and what made it even more special was that she flew in from Pennsylvania to show her appreciation of our treatment of her book.
On the Rockpool team
Also on an American theme, Rockpool is delighted to announce that we now have an American agent, Chris Steiner. Chris is very experienced in rights in the US, where she lives and works. Chris has been with Rockpool since April, and we very much look forward to working with her in the future.
Rockpool’s books are proofread and edited by Jude Irwin of Word Doctor, ensuring the sense, rhymes, grammar, punctuation, and spelling are tip-top before going to print. If you wish to contact Jude, you can do so at theworddoctor [at] btinternet [dot] com or visit www.worddoctoronline.com
Paul Simpson and Dave Elsdon of LynkIT are responsible for Rockpool’s fabulous website. Beautifully designed, it has attracted a great deal of well-deserved praise. They constantly strive to improve the experience of visitors to the website, for example with our superb flip the page, see inside feature. Before you buy from the Rockpool Book Shop, which is in association with the excellent YPS, you’ll be given a taster of what to look forward to when your Rockpool book arrives!
Bespoke service
2008 saw Rockpool’s publication of What am I? asked butterfly, a children’s picture book written and illustrated by Stuart to accompany the opening of the new butterfly house at Chester Zoo. Spreads from the book – created in resin to withstand the humid tropical conditions so loved by the occupants – lead visitors on a butterfly journey through the facility, which was opened this April by Minister for Culture and Media Andy Burnham.
If you too would like to commission Rockpool to create, design, write, and/or illustrate for you, from initial concept to delivery to your door, we will be only too happy to talk to you – just get in touch!
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