Project Funded!!! 

Thank you all!!!

I will be posting regular updates once a week on my progress...

The Story

When I was 5 years old, I wrote and illustrated a story. About two years ago, I was looking through an old box of stuff from my mom's house, and I found that story. The Adventures of the Salamander was a childhood dream, which was never truly realized. Read it, and perhaps you'll understand why I feel this way (you may have to zoom in your browser a bit to read it).

The Project

In order to fulfill this childhood dream, and to encourage my kids to love reading, I've been rewriting and illustrating this story as a series of children's books. I want it to be a epic saga, spanning at least 10 volumes.

What it's about

"The Adventures of the Salamander" is a story, for kids and adults, about a salamander who's village has been invaded by mean spirited lizards. The 10 volumes chronicle "Slippy's" ongoing adventures as he attempts to free his family from lizard oppression. Michael believes that this is a story which needs to be told. The book will address themes which focus on values, such as being honest, trusting your friends, being patient and more. These are ideas which most people can agree on, and will help the book to reach as wide an audience as possible. It will also address racism (lizards vs. salamanders). Not all the lizards are bad, and not all the salamanders are good in this book. It makes the point that it is one's actions, not outward appearance, which are important. While all these are very serious issues, the book will be a light-hearted, fun, fantasy adventure, suitable for children.

Progress

So far, I've already written ten stories. The first 8 of them are good, I'm pleased with them. The last two need some work. I've illustrated the first volume. So far so good. Near the bottom of this statement are some illustrations already completed...

With your help, I will be able to focus on completing the illustration work, editing the stories, and printing a limited number of sets for my backers, and to test market. If I am unable to find a publisher, I imagine the self-published books will be soft-cover.

The Artist

Michael is an award winning artist, whose work has appeared in shows around the country and internationally, including Chicago, San Francisco, London, Toronto and New Orleans. He is a member of the Elmhurst Artists' Guild, and has taught art to children grades K-8. Currently, Michael is working as a freelance artist and illustrator.

*Book cover will depend on the publisher. In the case of self publishing, the book would most likely be paperback.