bARTon news

TAG! I'M IT! In the Illustrator Blog Tour (OF GREATNESS!)

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:04:10 -0400

Illustrators can get lonely sometimes. They sit in their studios for hours on end… talking to their pencils, cursing at their Adobe Suite, and confessing their love to the charming recorded voice of Robert Krulwich. (Or is that just me?)

Now I have learned of a new thing they do: Illustrator Blog Tours!! Sassy & talented people — like the effervescent Jaime Temairik— tag you in their blog and send you questions about your latest book. Then you answer in YOUR blog and send it right along to another illustrator! Let’s get started, shall we?

1) What is the working title of your next book?

This Monster Cannot Wait! by Bethany Barton (obviously.) And it’s brand new! Just came out last month! Woo hoo!

2) Where did the idea come from for the book?

I was on the phone with my agent— who’s full legal name is AGENT STEVE— making fun of my own terrifying lack of patience, when I said, “I should write a book about patience, to teach myself a lesson.” …I would finish telling this story but I learned nothing from writing the book and simply don’t have the patience to keep telling it…

3) What genre does your book fall under?

Is BEST BOOK EVER a genre? If not, then it’s simply a picture book, with lots of giggles and a lesson attached.

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

The Muppets. Stewart wants to be a Muppet more then anything.

(until his dreams come true, I will stick to crudely Photoshopping Stewart into images with The Muppets.)

Don’t let this video fool you Kermit & friends, Stewart is very easy to work with.

5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Loveable Stewart simply can’t wait for his very first camping trip— because patience is hard — and so is writing a one-sentence synopsis.

6) Who is publishing your book?

Dial Books for Young Readers under the Penguin USA mothership.

7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

I actually don’t recall? But I think the whole book took 5-ish months, start to finish. Not including the time I completely re-drew the cover while getting on a plane to Uganda. True Story.

(That’s me reading This Monster Needs A Haircut to orphans in Uganda!)

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

War & Peace - The Picture Book

9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My own inability to be patient, and the way I turn into a Terrible Me-Monster when being impatient. I hoped the book would teach me — and other kiddos with a tendency to turn into Me-Monsters — a valuable lesson!

10) What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

The greatest input I’ve gotten on This Monster Cannot Wait thus far were:

1) A librarian told me once that she liked my books because “Stewart has PERSONALITY, but not ATTITUDE.”

2) Cullen (age 8) told me “This book is better then the first book. It’s really funny.”

3) When I met Jon Scieszka, he hadn’t read any of my books yet, but informed me they “probably needed more explosions.” Noted.

Up next will be the adorable & wildly talented Katherine Roy! TAG, KATHERINE! YOU’RE IT!

Okay, I haven’t actually asked her to do this yet, but hopefully she’s down.— Bethany begins texting Katherine Roy furiously— I intend to add many ridiculous questions for her to answer… ‘cause I’m a professional like that.

Any questions from the studio audience about This Monster Cannot Wait, illustrating and/or writing picture books?? I’d love to answer your questions! What you got?

Come join Stewart & I this Saturday at the Pasadena Lit...

Wed, 08 May 2013 02:24:48 -0400

Come join Stewart & I this Saturday at the Pasadena Lit Fest! We’ll be reading my newest book, “This Monster Cannot Wait’ WHILE JUGGLING FIRE.*

* (note: the fire juggling part is a lie.)

Afterwards, the fine folks at Once Upon A Time (America’s Oldest Children’s Bookstore!) will be hosting Stewart & I in their booth to sign books, make jokes, and probably shed monster hair everywhere.*

*(note: seriously, Stewart sheds. A lot.)

Learn more about the Lit Fest here: http://litfestpasadena.org/

See you there! :)

Check it out! My brand new book This Monster Cannot Wait hits...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:47:22 -0400

Check it out! My brand new book This Monster Cannot Wait hits stores TOMORROW!

Not only that, but you can visit Stewart & I this Saturday, April 20th, at the LA Times Festival of Books! We’ll be in the Penguin booth signing books and acting silly from 4:00 to 4:45! We hope to see you there! Stewart Puppet will be on his best behavior, and promises not to bite anyone!*

*he says a nibble doesn’t count.

This is the happiest thing! A second grade class drew their very...

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 04:18:25 -0500

This is the happiest thing! A second grade class drew their very own versions of Stewart— and spider web kingdoms too! This makes me smile so big it’s outrageous. And what amazing artists her kids are! They’re after my job! haha! I’d love to meet this teacher and send her class a thank you from Stewart, so if you’re reading this GRichArt— send me an email!!!

Hey, guess what! I’m gonna be on Food Network this...

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 00:57:44 -0400

Hey, guess what! I’m gonna be on Food Network this weekend! Why, you ask? Well, I painted this totally adorable haunted house for Giada at Home’s Halloween Special, and acted-a-fool in front of the camera and everything. The director was th

e nicest human on the planet. I have no idea how they edited me, so please tune in and let me know if I embarrass myself?! Haha! I hear Stewart Monster makes an appearance too! Hooray! Keep an eye out for us! And Happy Almost Halloween!

Hooray! Thanks a zillion to Catherine Linka and Good Reads with...

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 14:23:08 -0400

Hooray! Thanks a zillion to Catherine Linka and Good Reads with Ronna for calling This Monster Needs A Haircut a “Picture Book Not to Miss!” Stewart loves you too!

Magical times at The Frugal Frigate A Children’s...

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:06:52 -0400

Magical times at The Frugal Frigate A Children’s Bookstore! Stewart made lots of new friends, and I got to hug all manner of wonderful humans (of both adult and kid variety!) It’s such a fantastic store— if you’re anywhere near Redlands, CA you have to head there and experience it! Thank you times a zillion to all the lovely parents & kiddos who joined us! We had a wonderful time! And super extra thanks to the unstoppably talented Sarah Rivera Photography for these amazing images!

Wednesday night was amazing! I was asked to host the EFFEN VODKA...

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:36:00 -0400

Wednesday night was amazing! I was asked to host the EFFEN VODKA Art of Design Event at Marvimon in Downtown Los Angeles! Teams of mixologists from around LA completed “Iron Chef” style to create the most delicious new EFFEN cocktail, and I displayed brand new EFFEN-inspired art. It was delicious, it was arty, and it was vodka-tacular! An all around success! Here’s some pics from the event! :)

Not only is this blog completely adorable, they love Stewart...

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:48:00 -0400

Not only is this blog completely adorable, they love Stewart too! Thanks a million Liz’s Book Snuggery! :)

MonochromeEffect interviewed me! And they even said nice things!...

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:50:27 -0400

MonochromeEffect interviewed me! And they even said nice things! (They also said I owned a gallery? I wish! I worked at a gallery— but I was also speaking REALLY quickly and am amazed the journalist understood me at all. She gets 60000 gold stars from me. And a hug!) READ IT A LOT! TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! LOOK FOR THE HIDDEN PASSWORD!!

An awesome review of my debut picture book from...

Tue, 29 May 2012 17:08:32 -0400

An awesome review of my debut picture book from Publisher’s Weekly?! Woo hoo! #SoExcited #DoingAHappyDance

So what if I have a girl crush on the Anna Dolores Blog? She has...

Sun, 13 May 2012 19:50:12 -0400

So what if I have a girl crush on the Anna Dolores Blog? She has excellent taste! If you haven’t checked her out before, NOW is the perfect time! She even did a little ditty on bARTon art! I’m blushing! :)

La Villa Restaurant in San Diego — complete with murals by...

Sun, 13 May 2012 19:46:48 -0400

La Villa Restaurant in San Diego — complete with murals by Yours Truly— gets a sweet write up in Hospitality Design! Woo hoo!

bARTon art gets a shout-out from WGSN! Thanks folks!!!

Sun, 13 May 2012 19:45:41 -0400

bARTon art gets a shout-out from WGSN! Thanks folks!!!

Press Release from SDAD Gallery show.

Sun, 13 May 2012 19:44:24 -0400

Press Release from SDAD Gallery show.

Tonight! Join me (bethany bARTon) at the GRAND OPENING of Chef...

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:26:01 -0400

Tonight! Join me (bethany bARTon) at the GRAND OPENING of Chef Brock’s KOMIDA restaurant in the Hollywood & Highland Complex. And while you’re there eating delicious tacos, check out the menu board I went ahead and painted! Heck yes.

Chef Brock is the executive chef of the delicious & fancy Yamashiro Restaurant in Hollywood— where the tacos of KOMIDA first appeared at their Yamashiro Farmer’s Market. Learn more about KOMIDA here.

AND—Learn more about David & Devine, the amazing band that will be performing tonight! Not only are they talented and nice to look at— they’re my friends! WIN!

Oh hey look! An interview with bethany bARTon! In LadyGunn...

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:11:33 -0400

Oh hey look! An interview with bethany bARTon! In LadyGunn Magazine, even!

If you didn’t grab one from your local Barnes & Noble in time, you can order one from Ladygunn.com