James has written and illustrated six books in the bestselling series The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica: Here, There Be Dragons; The Search For The Red Dragon; The Indigo King; The Shadow Dragons; The Dragon’s Apprentice; and The Dragons of Winter. The series is now being published in more than twenty languages. A seventh volume, The First Dragon, will conclude the series in November 2013.
A lot of notable people have made very public statements about how having great failures is a necessary part of learning: whether it’s in business, or the creative arts, or whatever else, they all frame it as a noble rite … Continue reading →
In a recent interview I was asked what I mean when I say “Everything Is Signal.” I replied that for the last few years, I had begun each New Year on January One with the maxim, “Less Noise, More Signal,” … Continue reading →
Lately in queries and interviews, and particularly within a small group of responses to Drawing Out The Dragons, I’ve been seeing a great deal of Reverse Competition invoked. Everyone knows about the parables of the lobsters in the bucket, clawing … Continue reading →
Most people who don’t succeed at what they attempt to do fail because they didn’t expect to win. They expected obstacles; and opposition; and perhaps a massive struggle. They expected it to be hard — and here is part of … Continue reading →
At the recent private reception with the Ambassador of India to the U.N. which I attended through the good graces of my Book Babe Donna in Utah, she wrapped up the event by saying “Mr. Ambassador, before we go, I … Continue reading →
When I was finishing HERE, THERE BE DRAGONS for Simon & Schuster, everything had been done except the cover. On a trip to New York, delivering the last of the interior art, I stopped in at the Barnes & Noble … Continue reading →
I’ve read a lot of well-meaning posts and essays lately by people trying to point out that not everyone is cut out to be an Artist-Author-Astronaut-Fill-In-The-Blank, and that it would be a kindness, an act of decency, to convince those … Continue reading →
Asking for and listening to the advice of those whom you trust is wise; but in the end, you have to follow the path you see before you, even if it isn’t visible to anyone else. Experts make mistakes; experience … Continue reading →
A confession: I am a raging sentimentalist. I also have an exceptionally capable memory for visual images and patterns; and if you combine the two, you end up with someone who can’t bear to throw anything away. If you’re of … Continue reading →
A friend recently asked me if it was possible to lift people up, to be open to helping everyone you can, without risking getting hurt or burned or brought down by those who for whatever reason seem too damaged themselves … Continue reading →