A gnome traveling the world seeing villages, cities ,and places in different environments. A journey of discovery and new cultures
I’ve been an artist for the last 30 of the 34 yrs I’ve been on this planet. Since my children were born I began working on childrens book ideas. And during the last few years I’ve spent as much free time into trying to get them finished and published. This first book A world of Gnomes is a yr and a half into the making. It is nearly complete I just need a office program to piece it together for eBook publishing, high/low resolution scans of the 14 x 17 artwork, finish the ink and color work for the last 3 pages, Editing of the second draft, and copyrighting the book. I have done previews at local schools and libraries with much success. All the children who saw the drawings created their own adventures and imagined the pages continuing. I purposely did not specify a gender/race for the main character. So every child that reads it can imagine themselves making the journey across the gnome world. I am focusing on publishing only in eBook form on Amazon/Barnes and Nobles. If the book was printed it would have to be 14×17 to preserve the detail and the zoom features on tablets enhance the book so children can explore the artwork how they want. Although one day I would like to do a very small/limited print run. All help with this project is greatly appreciated. Thank you to everyone in advance for viewing this campaign and for all the support and donations
Interview with Steven Hanna
Why did you write the book?
I wanted to create books that are inspired by the love I have for my children . Something that is made for them. All the childrens books I’ve drawn and written are for them to see always how much I care and love them. To show them they can do whatever they put their minds to.
Who are your favorite authors?
I have quite a few favorite authors . Probably at the top of the list for non childrens book authors would be Shakespeare , Edgar Allan Poe , Robert Kirkman , Homer , Neil Gaiman , J.R.R. Tolkien , George R.R. Martin, and a few others. My favorite childrens book authors are Lewis Carroll , Roald Dahl , Shel Silverstein , Dr Seuss , and Arnold Lobel
What was your inspiration for the book?
Always been fascinated with little people myths from all around the world. Growing up reading The Secret Book of Gnomes by the author Wil Huygen and illustrator Rien Poortvliet along with watching the David the Gnome show based off the books. One day I was working on a nature drawing and a friend asked me to draw something for her and we began talking about old shows we used to watch and the subject of gnomes came up. I than finished the first drawing of what was to become this book.
What do you plan to do with the funds you raise?
I just need the funds for a office program to piece it together for eBook publishing, high and low resolution scans of the 14 x 17 artwork, Editing of the second draft, and copyrighting the book. Whatever is left over will be used to promote and enhance the book to its full potential.
What kind of research did you do for this book?
I did alot of different kinds of research. First I looked up little people myths from around the world. Many native american tribes had their own myths some were so light that they wouldn’t make tracks in snow others were violent and would attack anyone that came near their land. Alot of little people and gnome myths in Europe were the result of miniaturizing the locals gods when they were conquered. Those predate Paracelsus who first used the term Gnomi ( Earth elemental ) describing what we now know as gnomes. I also researched architecture , environments , plants , and other details used to write and illustrate the book.
Are there any other sites where we can see previews of the artwork?
Yes the first two pages of the book are already on sale as prints and they are the only illustrations being sold and also are the only ones that are 8 1/2 x 11 in the book. All the other pages were drawn on 14×17 sketchpads.
