- Dallas Clayton
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Dallas Clayton Occupation Illustrator, Writer Nationality American Period 2008 - present Genres Children's literature
dallasclayton.comDallas Clayton is an American author and illustrator best known for his children’s works An Awesome Book![1] and An Awesome Book of Thanks![2]
Contents
Early life
Clayton began his writing career by self-publishing small run short story zines which he distributed in art galleries, music venues, and on street corners throughout the U.S.[3][4]
An Awesome Book (series)
After the birth of his son Audio Science Clayton, Dallas was inspired to write, illustrate, and publish An Awesome Book!, a 64 page children’s picture book focusing on the idea of “dreaming big.”[1] After being turned down by several major publishing houses Clayton opted to self-publish An Awesome Book! By posting the book for free online and using mostly non-traditional means of distribution the book became a commercial and critical success. With sales of over 50,000 copies to date, An Awesome Book! garnered accolades from online media outlets such as DailyCandy,[2] Wired Magazine,[5] and The Huffington Post.[6] The book also became a favorite among the Hollywood elite, including Gwenyth Paltrow, Christina Aguilera[7] and Justin Timberlake.[8][9] It even made a prominent appearance in the Joaquin Phoenix mockumentary, I’m Still Here, in which Phoenix reads the book aloud.[10]
With the publication of his 2010 follow up,[11][12] An Awesome Book of Thanks!, Clayton again decided to forgo the traditional publishing houses and inked a deal to become the first children’s picture book released by online bookseller Amazon.com’s new publishing imprint, AmazonEncore.[13][14] An Awesome Book of Thanks! followed the pattern of An Awesome Book!, this time delivering a message about the importance of being thankful. As with an An Awesome Book!, the follow-up was heralded by critics, leading media outlets to tag Clayton “The New Dr. Seuss.”[15][16][17]
Philanthropy
Clayton founded the non-profit Awesome World Foundation in 2009, which gives away one copy of An Awesome Book for each copy sold, similar to the model of footwear company TOMS Shoes.[18] The foundation has sent books to charitable causes around the world and also gives away books at Clayton’s classroom readings and book tour events.[19]
Personal life
Clayton was hired in 2009 as the editor-in-chief of We Love You So, an art magazine founded by director Spike Jonze, designed to tie into with Where the Wild Things Are, Jonze’s adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book.[20]
Clayton is the father of Audio Science Clayton, born on May 29, 2003, with Shannyn Sossamon.
Publishing history
- An Awesome Book! (November 1, 2008)
- An Awesome Book of Thanks! (November 18, 2010)
References
- ^ a b Golsorkhi, Ali (September 2010). "Dallas Clayton talks to Ali Golsorkhi". Tank Magazine. http://www.tankmagazine.com/magazine/interviews/dallas-clayton-ali-golsorkhi-436. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ a b "A Children's Book We're Thankful For". DailyCandy. November 2, 2010. http://www.dailycandy.com/kids/online/article/90611/Stories-About-Being-Thankful-An-Awesome-Book-of-Thanks. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Schwartz, Mara (June 2, 2002). "Getting Literary Buzz at the Sidewalk Level". LA Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jun/02/magazine/tm-44709. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "Dallas Clayton". Lodown Magazine. March 16, 2010. http://www.lodownmagazine.com/index.php?page=26&modaction=showItem&id=1532. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Liu, Jonathan (November 18, 2010). "An Awesome Way to Give Thanks". Wired Magazine. http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/11/an-awesome-way-to-give-thanks/. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Clayton, Dallas (October 20, 2009). "An Awesome Book". The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dallas-clayton/an-awesome-book_b_327060.html. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Hogan, Kate (December 22, 2010). "Author Dallas Clayton Gives Thanks in Awesome New Book". CelebrityBabies. http://celebritybabies.people.com/2010/12/22/author-dallas-clayton-shares-the-love-in-an-awesome-book-of-thanks/. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Young, Faith-Ann (June 11, 2010). "Dallas Clayton's Magical Book Tour". JustinTimberlake.com. http://www.justintimberlake.com/news/dallas_claytons_magical_book_tour. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "What the Stars Are Reading to Their Kids". Life and Style. February 22, 2010.
- ^ "YouTube Video". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q88pxuooT5Q. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "Dallas Clayton". tumblr. staff blog. November 9, 2010. http://staff.tumblr.com/post/1525511462/name-dallas-clayton-location-los-angeles-first. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "An Awesome Book of Thanks". Fecal Face. November 15, 2010. http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php/component/tag/dallas-clayton. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Young, Monica (November 28, 2010). "Local writer has his own ideas on marketing his children's books". Winston-Salem Journal. http://www2.journalnow.com/entertainment/2010/nov/28/local-writer-has-his-own-ideas-on-marketing-his-ch-ar-572384/. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Douglas, Nick (November 18, 2010). "'An Awesome Book!' Series by Dallas Clayton - The Internet, Drawn". urlesque.com. http://www.urlesque.com/2010/11/18/an-awesome-book-dallas-clayton/. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "Buzz Guide: Alex Pettyfer, An Awesome Book and Operator Please". Buzz Net. April 29, 2010. http://breesays.buzznet.com/user/journal/6959781/buzz-guide-alex-pettyfer-awesome/. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Fieber, Pamela (December 5, 2010). "Children's Books". Calgary Herald. http://www.calgaryherald.com/story_print.html?id=3930040&sponsor=curriebarracks. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Fieber, Pamela (December 19, 2010). "What's new for kids". Edmonton Journal. http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=3481ed6c-bf84-4df1-a65e-7becd5188935. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "An Awesome Book: Interview With Dallas Clayton". Neato Bambino. August 23, 2010. http://www.neatorama.com/neatobambino/2010/08/23/an-awesome-book-interview-with-dallas-clayton/. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "Sweet Charity". DailyCandy. November 9, 2009. http://www.dailycandy.com/kids/los-angeles/article/77087/Awesome-World-Foundation. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Bec, Alex (May 11, 2010). "An Awesome Book". It's Nice That. http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/2674-an-awesome-book. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
External links
- Merchants
Categories:- Living people
- American children's writers
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
