What comes first, the pictures or the story? I take breaks when I need to and continue to work after dinner as well. I start by checking my emails and doing some sort of little drawing game to warm up before diving into whatever project I am doing. I am a late riser and don’t make it to my at-home studio until 10 or 11 am. What does a normal work day look like for you? I do use the library and will visit with my son but I like to have books within arm’s reach and have quite the collection. I purchase a lot of audio books, mostly Science Fiction and YA Fiction that I like to listen to while I work in my studio. :O Another favorite book to flip through was It Zwibble and the Greatest Clean-up Ever! It wasn’t until the Harry Potter series that I really began enjoying reading on my own. In fact, I liked it so much that I may have even stole it from the library or at least refused to return it for a very long time. I loved looking at the illustrations and can remember How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head as a favorite.

I always loved being read to but when it came to reading myself I was a little more reluctant. What were your favorite books as a child? I was fortunate enough to meet Ben at ALA in Orlando and even more fortunate to have the chance to find out more about the man behind the books. It seems that even with the pleasant distraction of an infant at home Ben shows no signs of slowing down and is on track to publish 3 more books in 2017. Clanton is the author and illustrator of 7 children’s books and has collaborated as illustrator on 6 other stories. My nerves were met with a jolly “Ahoy” from critically acclaimed author and illustrator, Ben Clanton. Twas’ the night before Halloween (or maybe a couple nights) and all through the house all the babies were napping as I made a phone call to Tacoma, WA.

Ben clanton books