WHAT’S HAPPENING

OCTOBER

Artist Melissa Glendinning carved a 1,425.5-pound pumpkin into a chilling scene from Stephen King’s book and movie “It,” during the 2017 annual Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta.

OCT. 9-10

53RD ANNUAL FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL IN BOOTHBAY

Celebrate the crisp air and colorful foliage this October with a special festival. A family tradition in the midcoast, Boothbay’s Fall Foliage Festival includes vendors, entertainment, music, fall foods, artists and more. Held at the Railway Village Museum in Boothbay, there’s also an antique car museum, model railroad and village goats to fill out the experience. More information can be found at www.boothbayharbor.com.

OCT. 1-2

HAUNTED WOODS WALK IN PRESQUE ISLE

Time to get your scare on! The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce is organizing the 2021 Haunted Woods Walk and they warn folks to prepare to be scared. It will be held at the Nordic Heritage Center. There will be food vendors on site as well. Recommended for ages 12 and older. Tickets at $5 each and the event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 1-2. For more information, visit www.centralaroostookchamber.com

OCT. 2-3

MAINE’S GARLIC FEST AT LAKE GEORGE REGIONAL PARK

Calling all garlic lovers! Maine’s Garlic Fest will be held at Lake George Regional Park this year and will feature vendors, live music, fun activities and lots of garlic. Presented in partnership with Crazy4Garlic, this is your chance to celebrate all things garlic. There is an entrance fee ($3 for adults, according to the event website). For more information, visit mainegarlicfest.com.

OCTOBER 8-11

DAMARISCOTTA PUMPKINFEST & REGATTA

If you haven’t been to Damariscotta in October for the annual Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta, you are missing out. Giant pumpkins, decorated pumpkins, a race of pumpkin boats and more. You can even watch the pumpkin boats get constructed. Check out the full list of events at www.mainepumpkinfest.com.

BWAH HA HA!

Hope you don’t spook too easily! How much do you know about Bangor’s (aka Derry’s) own Stephen King? Let’s dig in, shall we...

Making BOOKS & FRIENDSHIPS

LOCAL AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR BRINGING WHIMSY TO THE PAGE

BY KAYLIE REESE

Local author and illustrator Eric Zelz has had a lot to celebrate over the summer, with the publication “My Monster Moofy.” Zelz illustrated the children’s book written by Annie Watson that follows a story about a mischievous “monster” named Moofy, as told by a little girl.

The book highlights Zelz’ delightful illustrations, which readers may recognize from local publications and from other esteemed children’s books such as “Read this Book if you Don’t Want a Story,” written by Richard Phillips, and “Pass the Pandowdy, Please: Chewing on History with Famous Folks and their Fabulous Foods,” which he co-wrote with his wife, Abby Ewing Zelz. He also used to illustrate for The Bangor Daily News, Bangor Metro’s parent publication.

Moofy is a whimsical book that introduces its readers to a variety of literary devices page by page, as the protagonist describes the wild adventures and curious characteristics of her beloved best friend, whose ears are “as pointy as tortilla chips.”

Moofy was published by Tilbury House Publishers and hit bookstore shelves on June 22. It has already received glowing reviews from Wall Street Journal. And if Zelz’ work brings you as much joy as it does to me, be on the lookout for his next book set to debut in the spring.

Q. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR NEWLY PUBLISHED BOOK, “MY MONSTER MOOFY”

“My Monster Moofy” is the tale of a little girl and the adventures of her mischievous monster. It’s written in the little girl’s voice and employs various figures of speech to tell the tale. Her little monster finally turns out to be — well, I won’t give it away. I think that it’s a fun book for a young reader and also one that a future writer can grow with. I even learned a lot about figures of speech from the definitions at the end of the story. Metaphor, simile, alliteration, allusion, hyperbole, rhyme — we use this stuff all the time!

Q. WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH ANOTHER WRITER?

Collaboration is great. Working with Abby on the first book allowed for wonderful brainstorming and exchange of ideas. The same has been true with working with Richard and Annie. I feel it not only fine-tunes the project by creating a little, immediate focus group but has also kindled some ongoing friendships. We kept out of each other’s way creatively, but we were always open for tweaks along the way. The same has been true in working with my publisher, Jonathan Eaton and his wife, Mariellen. We made books and friendships. What could be better?

Q. WHAT INSPIRATIONS DID YOU PULL FROM WHEN DESIGNING THE LAYOUTS FOR THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN THIS BOOK?

When approaching a book, it’s crucial to have a well thought out storyboard to present to the publisher early on. This is a mockup of the story, page by page. It shows how art, text, and page flow all work together.

I do a lot of sketching as I approach the final illustration, greatly expanding on the storyboard “thumbnails,” or small sketches. I look at other artists’ work, I think about how loose or detailed I want the art and what medium to use: watercolor, chalk, colored pencil

or combinations of all three. Some of the small things I tuck into the illustration are often things around my house: colorful socks, a kitchen chair, a Matchbox car, a toy block with my daughter’s initials or a window star given to us by our German exchange student. Illustrating can be a bit isolating at times, so it’s fun to include these things. It amuses me, at least.

DID THE LITERARY AND POETIC DEVICES, SUCH AS ALLITERATION OR HYPERBOLE, USED IN THE BOOK AFFECT YOUR DESIGNS?

They affect the illustration and design inasmuch as they guide the art to include that literary device featured. In “My Monster Moofy,” Annie’s text was so colorful and direct that the illustrative representations of the figures of speech she chose came rather quickly. As I lay out or design the book, I try to give each page or spread enough air and uniqueness so the reader is hopefully a little surprised with each turn of the page.

HOW DID YOU DEVELOP YOUR ILLUSTRATION STYLE?

It’s just sort of evolved over the years. There are always things I want to accomplish, artistically, with each set of illustrations, be it using new materials, exploring a new palette or being tighter or looser in style. I sometimes think of my style as one that moves from mistake to mistake, covered up, painted over or simply abandoned. But I enjoy the process; I enjoy just going for it, without too much prep. The spontaneity in an illustration is frequently the most fun. And, as I said, I love looking at other artists’ work.

WHAT ARE THE MOST CHALLENGING AND REWARDING PARTS ABOUT ILLUSTRATING FOR A PROJECT SUCH AS THIS?

I think we all create standards for our work, and illustrating is no different. I constantly ask myself (and my family) is the artwork “any good?” I’ve certainly ripped up a few pieces. One instinctively knows where one wants to go, what one wants to try or learn, and one strives to make each piece a little better, in concept, use of materials or relationship to the other pages. The most rewarding part is when you finish and you really like how it turned out, that you’d be proud to show it.

ARE THERE ANY MAINE ELEMENTS IN YOUR ILLUSTRATIONS FOR THE BOOK?

The overall sense of calm, discovery, and friendship I think is very Maine. Although there are not specific Maine elements, there are “my home in Maine” elements. These might be what music I was listening to while I worked on a piece or what evening sidewalk chatter I overheard through a nearby screen door as I painted. Little things like that are implanted in each illustration for me, and that’s all happening here in Maine.

WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT DO YOU HOPE THIS BOOK HAS ON READERS?

I always hope readers enjoy it, share it and, hopefully, learn from it. I had a lot of fun with my portion of creating it, and I want that to show. I want to share it. I always think about when I read to my child those years ago and wonder how many others are doing the same thing now, with this book. Being a part of that togetherness is very nice. I hope my work brings a smile, suggests a bit of whimsy and gives some joy to people.