After the trials and tribulations of last year, and the early months of 2021, at last I am emerging from hiding after many industrious months. It’s not been easy for anyone, and self-employed creatives have found surviving a pandemic especially challenging.
Events in schools, at festivals, in theatres with orchestras and musicians, all disappeared. But I recognise I am luckier than many, and I’ve been working on new things, making plans, and trying to keep my glass half full. I’ve taken on more book projects in a year than usual, and I thought I’d share some book news with you.
So far this year, the new Gaspard title, “Gaspard’s Foxtrot” has now been published (Graffeg). A cracking story from the extraordinary Zeb Soanes, and the promise of live concerts, with the orchestra & narrator setting of the story by Jonathan Dove, awaits.
You can buy it here: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/gaspard-s-foxtrot/9781913134808
Next up this month is the new Mouse and Mole title, from the brilliant Joyce Dunbar – The Secret of Happiness (Graffeg). Joyce has been busy organising her drawer full of unpublished stories, working out future plans for the series, and Graffeg are very committed. It looks like there may end up being a series of 12 books! This is No. 7! All the Mouse and Mole titles so far are available here: https://graffeg.com/collections/mouse-mole
Hot on the heels, in June, comes Nen and the Lonely Fisherman from Owlet Press, with a story from debut author Ian Eagleton. This is a bit special – it’s far more than a gentle updating of The Little Mermaid, it’s a ground-breaking story of two men falling in love. With each other. And one also happens to be a merman. If you are not clutching your pearls by now, well done – it’s a brilliant story and one I was so proud to illustrate. How appropriate, then, that it is published in Pride month!
You can pre-order here: https://www.gaystheword.co.uk/product-page/nen-and-the-lonely-fisherman-by-ian-eagleton-and-james-mayhew
The last one to mention for now is very close to my heart. It took ten years to bring this to fruition, and I’m so glad it will finally be published (a year late!) by Otter-Barry books in September. This time I’m the author as well as the illustrator and this is a big book – it has been a real labour of love. If you’ve enjoyed my concerts with orchestras, this book collects six fabulous tales immortalised in music, ones I’ve often used in the concert hall. I hope very much to be returning to theatres with orchestras this Autumn with “Once Upon A Tune” concerts – watch out for details!
You can pre-order the book here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/once-upon-a-tune/james-mayhew/9781913074036
Well, I always say – you can never have too many books!
People often ask how creatives can be supported in these difficult times. In my case, it’s a simple answer – please, buy a book. Preferably from an independent bookshop!
THANK YOU!
