Illustrator wanted for magical €5k publishing deal

IF YOU can draw inspiration from wizards and fairies then you could land a €5,000 publishing deal.

Leading printing house Mercier Press has launched a competition to find an illustrator who will be launched in the fiercely competitive world of children’s book publishing.

The company is looking for what it describes as “an exciting talent” to illustrate the new edition of Patricia Lynch’s classic title Tales of Irish Enchantment featuring wizards, fairies, heroes, villains and surprises.

The book will appear on bookshelves in October 2010, with an official launch in conjunction with the Children’s BooksIreland Festival. Deadline for entries is July 14 with the winner announced shortly afterwards.

Eoin Purcell, commissioning editor at Mercier Press, said: “It is well known that children’s publishing is a competitive business and difficult for new illustrators to break into.

“We are truly excited to bring this opportunity to the public.

“This competition will give a talented illustrator the platform they deserve to showcase their abilities.”

Mercier wants illustrators to log on to the competitions section of its website, read the sample stories and look at the illustrations. Entrants should then create two full colour illustrations using any medium.

The art work should be submitted in pdf or jpeg format – not exceeding 8Mb in size – accompanied by a brief note explaining the logic and rationale behind the illustrations.

Entrants should also include a brief biography about themselves.

The winner must be prepared to complete up to 70 images within seven months of winning the competition.

The exact number, size and range of images will be agreed by contract.

Patricia Lynch’s Illustrated Tales of Irish Enchantment will be a 192-page hardback book priced at €19.99 aimed at young readers aged eight and up.

* www.mercierillustratorscompetition.ie