Drawn from the Heart: A Memoir

A vivid, searching memoir of life, love, and bookmaking by a master of the art of picture books Ron Brooks grew up a country boy with a yen for drawing and observation of the life around him. He became an acknowledged master of the picture-book form, winning acclaim both nationally and internationally for classics such as The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek and John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat by Jenny Wagner—both in print continuously for more than 30 years—and OldPig and the multi-award-winning Fox by Margaret Wild. Yet success never came easy. In this searching memoir he recreates his life as an artist, husband, and father, with all its twists and turns, pain and joy. Along the way he offers rare insights into the "secret" process of picturemaking and story shaping. Illustrated with roughs and finished art from his best-loved books, this story of a life lived intensely in search of truth, love, and beauty is a classic in its own right.