It was awesome to see my book Ski A to Z on the bookshop shelf in Waterstones. I signed the copy while I was there.
Seeing my book on a bookshop shelf and book signing in Waterstones is one of my dreams coming true.
Ski A to Z at Waterstones Chichester
My Mum was delighted that my book was displayed on the shelf above Roger Federer and John McEnroe’s books.
The trip was to visit family we’ve not seen since before Covid.
The Waterstones team member thanked me for signing the book and placed a ‘signed by the author’ sticker on the book cover.
This experience was made extra special as my young goddaughter was with me to see the book on the shelves. We had a nice time later looking at my copy of the book together.
This was thanks to my wonderful Uncle Richard who had ordered his copy from there which prompted the book to be stocked.
To order a signed first edition of Ski A to Z email inspirebykim@outlook.com and for more information about the book and how it can help you and your ski buddies click here.
Ski A to Z is an illustrated introduction to skiing suitable for all ages. Level up your ski experiences, reduce fear and maximise your enjoyment of time on the slopes. Order here.
It is these human experiences that are lovely bonuses of creating the book. I wanted to document this so I am sharing it here. Thank-you Waterstones.
Ski A to Z is published by Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd. ISBN: 9781782552338
I was at the event to sign books and to raise awareness of Ski A to Z as an ideal resource for school ski trips. The book is informative and engaging on skiing, a great help to teachers, parents and pupils who are embarking on, or wanting to develop, their skiing.
It was fun to chat about skiing, and the feedback about my work was both heartwarming and inspiring.
Lovely to see some good ski friends not seen for years including Danny; we used to race together at Ski Rossendale and Rossendale Ski Club.
I used some of my ski fabric on my table and also customised my shirt sleeves. To see and buy my fabric designs click here.
If you are based in the UK and would like a signed first edition of Ski A to Z please email inspirebykim@outlook.com
Th ski racing was exhilarating and the enthusiasm of the youngsters skiers was inspiring. The energy was high and I’m sure the youngsters were pleased to be skiing on a school day.
Some of the children arrived in their school uniforms carrying ski boots and ski helmets.
Here is one of the school ski trip themed illustrations I have been working on lately for an upcoming magazine article.
Ski A to Z is published by Meyer and Meyer Sport (UK) for more information and to order your copy click here.
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Media coverage is great for raising awareness and helping people know about something that may resonate with them, so thank you Where to Ski and Snowboard.
It was wonderful to take ‘Ski A to Z‘ to where my ski story began at Ski Rossendale, in Lancashire for a book signing event on Saturday.
Kimberley Kay with Dave Fuller, manager of Ski Rossendale
At a book signing event on Saturday it was great to meet skiers and youngsters starting their own ski journeys. Thank you to everyone who came along to the book signing and to all the team at Ski Rossendale.
I hope everyone enjoys the books, and the bookmarks and ‘colour in’ check ‘lists’ created for the event. Thanks to Killaprint for printing them.
This is the press release that was issued about the book signing…
Ski Book Author/ Illustrator Brings Ski Book Home for Signing
The author and illustrator of new ski book Ski A to Z will be returning to her ski roots to sign books at Ski Rossendale.
Kimberley Kay, debut author and illustrator of Ski A to Z will be signing books at Ski Rossendale, the artificial ski slope where her skiing career began, on Saturday 9th April between 9 am and 12 noon.
Kimberley spent much of her childhood and teenage years skiing and working at Ski Rossendale. Ski Rossendale is now part of the The Hill outdoor entertainment venue.
Kimberley said, “I’m excited to be going back to my ski roots to sign books where it all started. Having skied, raced and worked at Ski Rossendale it will be great to be there with the book to chat about skiing. It is a chance for people to buy a signed copy of Ski A to Z, or to bring their copy of the book along for signing.”
Kimberley Kay as a youngster at racing at Ski Rossendale
New book Ski A to Z is a practical, fully illustrated introduction to Alpine skiing, intended to answer all the questions new skiers may have and to help prepare them for mountain experiences.
Dave Fuller, manager of Ski Rossendale, said, “Many new people are introduced to skiing through artificial ski slopes such as Ski Rossendale. Kim’s book Ski A to Z complements the instruction we offer at Ski Rossendale, through group and private lessons, so we are delighted that Kim has created this book that can help people with the information they need to get into the sport. The book’s story started here and is now helping skiers across the globe.”
Published by Europe’s leading sports publisher, Meyer & Meyer Sport, Ski A to Z provides information, tips and insights to help novice skiers of all ages grasp the sport. The accompanying illustrations are intended to resonate with avid skiers as well as new, demonstrating the exhilaration and joy of skiing.
Kimberley Kay said, “Ski A to Z is helping to make the sport increasingly accessible to a more diverse audience by helping people to feel that they have adequate information to give skiing a try. Many people may be put off beginning the sport as they simply haven’t a clue where to start, what questions to ask – or even the confidence to ask those questions. Ski A to Z removes that barrier, giving all new skiers access to the information they need to venture into the sport and opens the door to experiencing the wonder of skiing.”
Kimberley Kay with Ski A to Z in Val Thorens March 2022
Since starting skiing aged five Kimberley has over forty years of ski experience including racing, teaching, and heli-skiing, as well as ski holiday promotion during a 20 year career in travel PR, which included running the press offices for Going Places and TUI UK.
In full colour hardback format and ebook, Ski A to Z is available to buy now on all online book retailers and through bookshops. More information about the book can be found at www.skiatoz.com
ENDS
The author is available for interview, comment, and has broadcast experience. Review copies, book extracts and some editorial illustrations can be provided.
ISBN: 9781782552338
For further information about Ski A to Z click here
“While the title immediately made me think this would be a kids’ book, it is not. Instead, author and illustrator Kay has created a surprisingly comprehensive guide to the basics of skiing in just 80 pages. Full of defintitions, pro-tips, and the basics all beginners need to know, it’s a reference volume for any family discovering the joy of snowsports.” Brave Ski Mom
Have you read Ski A to Z. Please share your review where you purchased the book or on Google Books. Reviews help more people to find the book and benefit from its info and tips.
The first is a ski-themed band taking centre focus in the après-ski by performing in a cable car suspended above a crowd who are dancing on the snow.
The characters and mountains are painted in watercolours. The setting has been created from scratch digitally in Procreate app.
The ski band is available as a limited edition art print in my shop.
The following illustration recollects a challenging ski run, whilst teaching children to ski in Austria. Due to circumstances outside of my control I had three children under four years of age that I needed to get safely from the top to the bottom of a run. A slow, thigh burner of a descent, with the combined weight, but it worked.
The next piece is an ‘uplifting’ illustration of a ski gondola lifting passengers to the top of the mountain. Painted in watercolours, with a fresh colour palette, finished digitally with my iPad and pencil.
As a challenge I decided to give some animals the chance to enjoy some winter sports. I designed this festive greeting and rendered it in coloured pencils and made the final touches digitally. Including adding snowflakes with the brushes that I created in the Procreate app.
As a Valentine greeting I created this illustration in coloured pencils.
These pieces follow on from my illustrations for the Ski A to Z book – which contains over 100 of my ski illustrations. For more information and/ or to buy the Ski A to Z book click here.
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⚠️Warning, you may experience a sugar rush whilst ‘consuming’ this article.
As a private project for ongoing skills development I took the challenge of illustrating an excerpt from a new children’s book by author Zoe Tucker. An assignment from Lilla Rogers’ Make Art That Sells Bootcamp.
This first piece was a warm up exercise. It was fun to paint these sweet treats and illustrate their characters and interrelationships.
The theme if the story excerpt was about a donut, named Coco Moloko, being decorated.
I sketched out the action of the narrative (above), whilst Coco Moloko (below) pondered what look to go for.
It was therapy to work in the assignment as I was feeling helpless at the unfathomable unfolding situation in Ukraine.
Below is my final double page spread for the assignment. I enjoyed deciding which aspects of the text to illustrate, and to bring the character to life. And adding lustre to any illustration is fun.
I created the elements of the illustration in watercolours and then worked with these digitally.
The second aspect of the assignment, this part set by Riley Wilkinson, was to take the donut character forward, and design a toy concept. If you like your donuts warm you’ll probably enjoy this comforting microwaveable plush design.
I feel that the assignment moved my work forwards, which was my objective, so I’m pleased with the outcome.
Inspire by Kim 
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