Dallas Clayton
Encyclopedia
Dallas Clayton is an American author
and illustrator
best known for his children’s works
An Awesome Book! and An Awesome Book of Thanks!
focusing on the idea of “dreaming big.” 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
, Wired Magazine, and The Huffington Post
. The book also became a favorite among the Hollywood elite, including Gwenyth Paltrow, Christina Aguilera
and Justin Timberlake
. It even made a prominent appearance in the Joaquin Phoenix
mockumentary
, I’m Still Here, in which Phoenix reads the book aloud.
With the publication of his 2010 follow up, 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. 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.”
. 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.
, designed to tie into with Where the Wild Things Are
, Jonze’s adaptation of Maurice Sendak
’s classic children’s book
.
Clayton is the father of Audio Science Clayton, born on May 29, 2003, with Shannyn Sossamon
.
Merchants
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
best known for his children’s works
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
An Awesome Book! and An Awesome Book of Thanks!
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.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 bookChildren's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
focusing on the idea of “dreaming big.” 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
DailyCandy
DailyCandy is an e-mail newsletter based in New York. It was founded by Dany Levy in March 2000. It was sold to Bob Pittman's Pilot Group Ventures for around $3 million in 2003, and then sold to Comcast for $125 million in August 2008. Previously a New York-only insider's newsletter; DailyCandy has...
, Wired Magazine, and The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
. The book also became a favorite among the Hollywood elite, including Gwenyth Paltrow, Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
and Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
. It even made a prominent appearance in the Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Rafael Phoenix , formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is an American film actor. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and his family returned to the continental United States four years later...
mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
, I’m Still Here, in which Phoenix reads the book aloud.
With the publication of his 2010 follow up, 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
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
’s new publishing imprint, AmazonEncore. 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.”
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 ShoesTOMS Shoes
TOMS Shoes is a for-profit company based in Santa Monica, California, that also operates a non-profit subsidiary, Friends of TOMS. The company was founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, an entrepreneur from Arlington, Texas. The company designs and sells lightweight shoes based on the Argentine...
. 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.
Personal life
Clayton was hired in 2009 as the editor-in-chief of We Love You So, an art magazine founded by director Spike JonzeSpike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
, designed to tie into with Where the Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are (film)
Where the Wild Things Are is a 2009 American fantasy drama film directed by Spike Jonze and adapted from Maurice Sendak's 1963 children's book Where the Wild Things Are. It combines live action, performers in costumes, animatronics, and computer-generated imagery...
, Jonze’s adaptation of Maurice Sendak
Maurice Sendak
Maurice Bernard Sendak is an American writer and illustrator of children's literature. He is best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963.-Early life:...
’s classic children’s book
Where The Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are is a 1963 children's picture book by American writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak, originally published by Harper & Row. The book has been adapted into other media several times, including an animated short in 1973 , a 1980 opera, and, in 2009, a live-action feature film...
.
Clayton is the father of Audio Science Clayton, born on May 29, 2003, with Shannyn Sossamon
Shannyn Sossamon
Shannon Marie Kahololani Sossamon is an American actress. She starred in the film A Knight's Tale, which gained her wider fame and praise. She has since established herself in Hollywood after starring in several films such as 40 Days and 40 Nights, Wristcutters: A Love Story, and One Missed Call...
.
Publishing history
- An Awesome Book! (November 1, 2008)
- An Awesome Book of Thanks! (November 18, 2010)
External links
- Awesome World Foundation
- Dallas Clayton on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
- Dallas Clayton on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
Merchants
- An Awesome Book! on Amazon.comAmazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
- An Awesome Book of Thanks! on Amazon.comAmazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...