Back in Week 7 I wrote about the people and stories behind the dedications in my Young Adult or Older Readers books, so now let’s look at my Younger Readers and Picture Books dedications.
Quite a number of the Mr Mosely stories in Just a Dog are based on real events involving dogs I grew up with, so this dedication is to all the dogs we had as a family over the years.
The two main dogs that I spent most time with and whose stories I drew on, were called Penny and Kim. Penny (below – I think on my first Holy Communion Day) was a cross breed with a bit of Collie in her. She used to wait on the footpath every afternoon for me to come home from primary school and when she saw me at the top of the street she’d come bounding up and jump all over me just like Mr Moe does to Corey in the book. I loved it.
As for Kim, one day she got a fishing hook caught in her jaw (true) that all ended up with me fainting at the Vets (also sadly true). Another story that made it into the book.
ERIC VALE EPIC FAIL 2012
Both the Eric Vale and Derek ‘Danger’ Dale trilogies were wonderfully illustrated by my son Joe so now you’re getting two dedications for the price of one!
My dedication is to my awesome daughter Meg (below pretending to laugh hysterically at Eric Vale Epic Fail). She was the inspiration behind discovering the character of Eric Vale. One day Meg noticed that I had mistakenly written ‘eric fail’ instead of ‘epic fail’ on a Facebook comment. She said at the time that it sounded like a character from one of my books – Hmmmmmmmm – and the rest is history!
Joe’s dedication is to his amazing partner Rita Artmann who is the other half of ARTSPEAR ENTERTAINMENT.
ERIC VALE OFF THE RAILS 2013
I based Mrs Booth, the librarian in Off The Rails on a friend who is a fantastic school librarian, so I dedicated the story to her and all her colleagues who do such a brilliant and crucial job encouraging a love of reading and stories.
Joe’s dedication is to both sets of grandparents.
ERIC VALE SUPER MALE 2013
Because this story is about Super Heroes and Heroes in general my dedication is to my childhood hero Shintaro from the 60s TV series the Samurai. A few years back I got to meet the actor Koichi Ose who played Shintaro (See below) They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes but its ok when they actually are heroes like this man is.
One of the thrills of my life.
Joe’s dedication speaks for itself đź’–.
The SERCET AGENT DEREK ‘DANGER’ DALE SERIES
THE CASE OF ANIMALS BEHAVING REALLY REALLY BADLY – 2014
I visited and gave talks at Padua Jnr College in Brisbane. They had read the Eric Vale books and they were so enthusiastic and friendly that I dedicated the first spin-off to them. They had even created a wall of of Erics! (See below)
In between the first Eric Vale book and this one, Joe and Rita were married hence his dedication to his new wife and in-laws.
THE CASE OF THE REALLY REALLY SCARY THINGS – 2015
Joe’s dedication đź’ť. Dedicator becomes the Dedicatee!
As for Joe getting the job as illustrator for the Eric and Derek books; he was the author’s son so he had to prove to the naturally very skeptical and wary publishers that he could actually do it. And so he did. Brilliantly.
As I said to my publisher when we discussed illustrations for the books: You could offer me any illustrator in Australia and I still think Joe would do a better job. Having seen the results I stand by that 100%. Despite the implication in Joe’s dedication, it wasn’t me doing him a favour. It was very much the other way around.
THE CASE OF THE REALLY REALLY MAGNETIC MAGNET – 2015
Two dedications in one! To my mother-in-law and Joe’s grandmother Betty who passed away in 2015 before this book was published. Betty, like her husband Ben, was a wonderfully enthusiastic supporter of all the books. She really did like a good joke but could tell an even better one, funny voices and all. Still loved and missed.
Jake and Anna (below) are grandchildren of Keith and Anne who were included in the Don’t Call Me Ishmael dedication. I stole their names for the characters in this book. At the time they were around the same age as the characters. They are now fourteen years older but they’re still characters!
When they were little I doubt a day went by when Meg and Joe didn’t draw something. Or more accurately, heaps of things! (See below) We still have boxes filled with their drawings, illustrated stories and cartoons. Under the expert artistic guidance of their beloved Benpa (grandfather Ben) they both became very skilled artists. I’ve already had the absolute joy of creating some books with Joe and hopefully sometime in the not-too-distant future I’ll share that same joy with Meg.
A no-brainer this one. Who better to dedicate a picture book to than your beautiful and brilliant grand children?
Well that’s it so far.
I have two picture books both due for release next year. That will mean two more dedications. But to whom? Maybe one just for Rowen and one just for Harley? Maybe someone entirely different? Maybe a dedication just to me for all my hard work!
I’ll really need to think about it. When it comes to dedications, I’m pretty dedicated to getting them right.
Cheers
Michael
PS: Read any good DEDICATIONS recently?
Michael Gerard Bauer Author 
They are all great dedications. Great work MGB.
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