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The Book, by Gudrun, on February 12, 2010
 As the author of this blog and the book Annie’s Fish, I am in preparation mode for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, an annual event that could be described as the European Mecca of children’s book publishing. New York has the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Conference, as does Los Angeles, but if you want a big English speaking event like this in Europe, where I live, Bologna, Italy is the place.
It’s an hour and a half long flight from Paris, and there will be a day long conference put on by SCBWI before the fair starts. I’m picturing something like Comicon, but more kid-friendly. It’s supposed to be one of the better fairs for artists, giving them more opportunities for exposure than other children’s book fairs, and the art directors and buyers are perhaps more approachable. This is where my double status as writer and artist confuses me, I’m not sure how to brand myself when I get there. Do I try to get someone to look at a few drawings for the book, or see if they’ll read a few pages of manuscript?
Thanks to Ernessa at Fierce and Nerdy, where I write a bi-weekly column about life as an expat, I have a book teaching me all about self promoting before the book is published or even sold. No doubt my best bet is to study that then get over the stage fright of talking up my project. As a writer and artist, I work in my quiet little space and forget that other people exist while I’m working. It’s a big transition to come out and talk to strangers about what I’ve been doing. An important hurdle I’ll have to overcome.
The Book, by Gudrun, on January 12, 2010
 Antoinette’s Fish is a young adult novel, currently in its finishing stages and coming to a bookstore near you. At least we hope it will be. It is the story of Annie Velter, a twelve year old adventurer who goes all the way to Africa, by herself, to help her Grandmother (Antoinette) save the fish of Lake Tanganyika.
This website has been created to talk about the book and its progress, share sample chapters, give background information about the many interesting things discussed in the book (like tropical fish, scuba diving, Tanzanian hip-hop and Moroccan food), provide a link to interesting fish and zoological happenings in the world, and simply talk about writing.
Keep visiting! There are regular blog updates of all kinds, and a comic book serial that is added to every Sunday night.
 Annie Velter is a seventh grader who lives in Portland, Maine. She is obsessed with going to Tanzania to visit her Grandmother, Dr. Antoinette Beauregard, who works in Lake Tanganyika as an ichthyologist. That means she studies fish, particularly the hundreds of cichlid species who only live in Lake Tanganyika, one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world. When she’s not preparing for her big trip to Africa by studying Swahili, African pop music, and of course, fish, Annie contributes to AnnieVelter.com whenever she can. After all, the site is named after her!
 Gudrun Cram-Drach is a writer and artist who resides in Paris, France. She studied storytelling for much of her life, including the fields of illustration and animation, as well as the written word. She has read her poetry at the West Hollywood Book Fair, writes a bi-weekly column called Secret Life of a Nerd Girl for fierceandnerdy.com, and has been to many animation festivals and conferences with her animated films. Antoinette’s Fish is her second novel, and her first one for kids, and she feels pretty good about it.
The Book, by Gudrun, on December 18, 2009
Chapter 2 has been re-re-written and posted in all of its 17 glorious pages for reading pleasure. If you are so inclined, click to read it, or follow links on the right.
The Book, by Gudrun, on December 16, 2009
Read Chapter 1 of Antoinette’s Fish!
If it were on paper, it would be around 7 pages long.
The Book, by Gudrun, on December 9, 2009
You pronounce “Velter” like “Voltaire” but with a “vel” at the beginning. Emphasizing the second syllable.
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This blog is for… fish fans young and old. Check out our columns, at left, and don't forget the bi-weekly comic! Feel free to comment and share. Fish are fun!
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