For as long as I can remember, I've collected fossils.
When we
lived in the south of the Netherlands, the easiest fossils to find were the
fossil sharks’ teeth that washed up on the seashore near Cadzand, Zeeland. Soon
I had a collection of large-ish ones to put on the shelf behind the downstairs loo:
I found out a lot of cool facts about fossil sharks and sharks in general - for example, in a lifetime, a shark can get through more than 10,000 teeth. When I
was thinking of a picture book story that required two inseparable friends, a great white shark and a remora were the first things that popped into my head. I was thrilled when my story was paired with Charles Fuge's wonderful illustrations.
After I moved back to England, two more sharky stories came along:
On my birthday, I was given a huge fossil tooth - no loo shelf for this one, it sits in pride of place on my desk.
It was fabulous to discover that, in Florida, you can pick
up fossil sharks' teeth on a warm sunny beach! Here’s a handful of small ones I found
at Manasota Key, near Venice, Florida. They're great giveaways whenever I sign a Gilbert book.
and follow that with key lime pie floating on streaks of raspberry blood and topped with a gummy shark at Sharky’s on the Pier, Venice FL!
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23 comments:
I'm so pleased to be the first to comment on your exciting blog, Jane. How different and imaginative - just like you. I shall be looking out for sharks teeth from now on.
Wow! You can pick up shark's teeth from the beach? I'm off! I love the idea of relating your interest to your book, Jane. It's an inspiring path. (And your loo display is awesome).
Well, I belly dance and fence and I'd love to include those in a book but I've never quite managed it....we collect fossils though ! I love near the amazing fossil beach at Bracklesham but we've only ever found 2 shark teeth! They're gold dust down here, I am so jealous!
Wow! Shark teeth! I wish I knew where to find those in the UK. I have a couple of amonite bits from a walk near Charmouth years ago but shark teeth are way more cool.
I illustrated a shark pop-up book years ago, about one who had no teeth. . . maybe the teeth you found were his. . . ?
I don't know if you remember taking me shark-tooth-collecting, Jane? It was one of the most exciting things I've done - at least it was after I got my eye in. That took a couple of hours, I recall, while you were picking one up every few yards. I do envy you that big birthday tooth.
A couple of places you've mentioned I've been to and I never knew you could look for shark teeth. Hopefully one day I'll go back and this time I'll be on the look out.
My first book (A Book For Bramble) came from the work I do with rescuing hedgehogs. Not as exciting as sharks teeth and not a pleasant (hedgehogs really do smell).
Lol Jonathan. They say Herne Bay in Kent at very low tide is the UK hot spot for sharks teeth, but I haven't checked it out yet.
I remember, Val - you'll have to join me in Florida next time :-)
Thanks,Moira, every loo should have one..or two..or more...
Now there's a challenge - belly dancing and fencing in the same story :-)
Great blog, Jane. Gilbert is a favourite with us.
I'm staggered a single shark can get through 10,000 teeth in a lifetime. Do they go on the attack when they're teething because they want something to suck? And why can't we have a few more sets of teeth?!
Great post, Jane. The greatest inspiration is often right in front of us, found close in heart to the things we love to do. Thanks for the reminder. Off now to reflect upon and find inspiration in my own version of shark teeth!
I know nothing about shark's teeth, but I have been keeping a look out for fossilised dinosaur poo because our house is very close to where they mined for corprolates that went into fertilizer and then WW1 explosives. It intrigues me that dinosaurs presumably all did their poos in one place. Hmm. Hadn't thought of it as a picture book subject, but.....?!
Hedgehogs look a lot cuter, though
Laughed. I've often thought (as you do) that dinos must have created huge piles of poo, but I didn't know the fossil remains were explosive. Sounds like a picture book with great poo-tential :-)
I love your Gilbert books! Thanks for sharing the hobby behind them :)
That's a lot of teeth, Jane, what a great collection. Loved this post.
I have rather a lot of elephants, not life-size but made of all sorts of materials - ceramic, etched in glass, made of cork, volcanic rock, wood, cloth etc etc.. I just can't resist them.
Possibly why the main character in 'What Colour is Love?' (Small, Smooth and Grey), just had to be an elephant.
I love the fact that you give shark teeth away when you sign a Gilbert book - what a lovely idea!
That's a lovely hobby to go with a lovely book, Linda.
What a wonderful thought - a giant, explosive community dinosaur dunghill!
i love you book so so much
i love you book so so much
i love you book so so much
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