Well, the holidays are upon us — a cherished time to reflect, snuggle with loved ones, quaff eggnog, and toss innumerable catalogs in the recycling bin. It’s also a time to coax one’s bewildered toddler into sitting on a stranger’s lap. I’m not certain which aspect of this photo is more upsetting; the fact that my son is howling or […]
I’m heading to California for a week of school visits and events related to the launch of The Maelstrom. It’s a homecoming of sorts — I lived in San Francisco for nine years and really came to love the Bay Area. The trip is not only an opportunity to launch the book, but also to reconnect with old friends, former […]
A video blog in which Henry answered questions from readers on everything from his inspirations to his creative process, The Maelstrom, and what may come after The Tapestry is complete.
The Xebec The harbormaster’s bell rang clear and cold as the xebec slipped past the tall breakers and entered Rowan Harbor. Witch-fire burned at its prow, an oily plume of green flames that sputtered in the breeze and cast a spectral gleam on the dark swells. A dozen fishermen and smugglers scattered out of its path, coaxing their smaller vessels […]
One of the most important things any writer or artist can do is reflect upon their work, recognize what’s gone well, and — more importantly — what they have learned and would do differently if given the chance to tackle the project again. After all, almost any major creative endeavor has its learning curve and even the most talented and […]
Fantasy writers are bound only by their imaginations and can choose their world, its characters, and even the rules by which their world operates. While the writer has complete flexibility, he or she does have to take care that their world and story have credibility and emotional resonance. This is particularly important as a context for major scenes involving serious […]
People often ask what I do when I’m not writing. For the past year, the answer has been “chase after Charlie.” Hard to believe, but our baby turned one a week ago and is ready to take his first steps any day. The Maelstrom is Charlie’s book — dedicated to him. While I’d thought of the title before we ever […]
There’s a funny scene in the movie “A History of the World, Part I” in which an earnest caveman impresses his fellows by making the very first cave painting. Of course, as soon as the caveman completes his masterpiece, another strides forward, appraises the artist’s work, and urinates upon it. Art has been born and so has the critic. The […]
The world of children’s literature — indeed of all literature and certainly illustration — bid farewell to one of its titans recently as Maurice Sendak passed away. I never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Sendak, but he had a profound impact on me and my interest in children’s books and drawing. As many readers know, Max McDaniels was named […]
As a reader correctly pointed out, I’ve tended to post more drawings and updates to Facebook than my own blog. The reason is that it’s often easier to update Facebook and that this website is a little unwieldy to administrate. That will remedied in the next version (the entire website will be getting an overhaul over the next few months) […]