I am a new writer. I have written a children’s book and I have a deal with a publisher. The deal involves illustrations that will be done by a professional artist, in fact an artist of great repute, someone more famous than I by a long way.
The deal put together by the publisher is structured as a collaboration between the artist and the author (me). They liked my story, but felt that it would work much better with illustrations. [By "work much better" they really mean "be much more popular and make much more money", and of course I go along because it will be my first published work and I am thrilled.] Not to give an incorrect negative impression: my experience with the publisher is an entirely positive one of friendly professionalism.
The artist and the publisher have worked together before. In their office I have seen several examples of their work — gorgeous books with beautiful illustrations, and I am now walking to my first meeting with artist, Kim Bo Dan, at a coffee shop in Berkeley.
Kim Bo Dan is a woman in her mid thirties, perhaps. The skin on her face is clear and smooth, her features are regular. Black hair to her shoulders. Perhaps 5'5", 130 pounds. Not skinny, but not fat. Solid, with ink stains on her fingers. She is seated at a table with a 11 by 14 drawing pad, and a leather bag full of crayons, pencils, erasers, pens, rulers and plastic templates, and other stuff I couldn’t see clearly.