Picture Book Report

Laura Park v. Geek Love

February 5, 2010 at 10:00 am meg 2 comments

Last day of intro posts, but get ready to see some exciting additions. I updated Daniel’s post with his bookplate too, check it out! And remember, we kick off the illustrations on Monday (with a little bit of Alice embarking upon her journey! So far it looks crazy!) so please keep your eyes peeled!

First up, the lovely Laura Park.

• Who are you and what do you do?

I’m a cartoonist and illustrator living in Chicago with a sleepy cat and a cranky pigeon.  In a box I have a load of documents that say I’m ‘Laura Park’ but sometimes my shoes don’t fit and I find strange trinkets shoved in my pockets.  Once I found the initials “SJ” stiched in green near the collars of my pajamas.  But that was a long time ago.  Currently I’m fond of collecting colorful inks and hoarding Lady Falcon pen nibs.  One day I hope to be less lousy and own an observation bee hive.

• Why did you pick the story you chose?

Katherine Dunn’s Geek Love is an old favorite.  When I first read it I filled many a sketchbook with doodles of Oly and the rest of the Binewski troupe.  In general carnivals and the further varieties of human anatomy are of interest to me.  To me the most singular thing about Geek Love is how all the more grotesque elements soften and become dim compared to the depictions of burning devotion and family dissolution.  I am excited and a bit nervous to try doing it justice with ink and paint.

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Laura’s comics, illustration and lettering make me so happy, it’s hard to explain. Every time I see something new from her, my first thought is “All right!” But as Geek Love is another favorite of mine I can’t tell you how excited I was to find out that was her choice. When she shares her first illustration on February 24 , I’ll be prepared for that awesomeness. Maybe. In the meantime you can see lots more on her Flickr photostream.

Next up, the wonderful Phil McAndrew!

Entry filed under: Geek Love, Introductions. Tags: laurapark.