Calling all budding editors

Children's author Andrea White challenges student readers to help edit her nextnovel

Andrea White
Upcitychronicles.com
Help author Andrea White fill in the blanks.
UpcityChronicles.com

Andrea White is changing typical teaching techniques. For her next project, the noted children's book author, whose historical fiction and science fiction novels attract middle school readers, is challenging students to help edit her next novel, Time Angel, in her Upcity Chronicles trilogy.

White launched the online interactive "e-book" this summer to give students the opportunity to become an editor for a day before the book hits stores next spring. Students "sit" in the book editor's chair online and offer ideas and feedback to White. The first name and school name of all participating students will appear in the back of the book when it is published.

“I have posted a draft of my new book, Time Angel. But I know I’ve made mistakes. I know you can help me tell the story better."

In her online note to students White writes, “I have posted a draft of my new book, Time Angel. But I know I’ve made mistakes. I know you can help me tell the story better."

She told CultureMap that having an online book provides a huge opportunity to enrich students' reading skills through the technology that we have today. "This is a great way for kids to understand writing is a form of communication," she said.

The interactive book also provides teachers a simple teaching tool. Not only is White letting students have the opportunity to help her change and edit her book, she will also engage them via Skype in classrooms when school starts again in August. The author lecture via Skype is part of the VIVA (Virtual Interaction with Visiting Author), a Texas Virtual Literarcy Enrichment Project.

"Schools no longer can afford author visits so talking to them via Skype is a cool thing," White said.

White championed support for public schools when her husband, Bill White, was mayor of Houston from 2004 to 2010 and she continues to be a fierce education advocate. She said that she believes that people of all ages become intrigued by reading books by authors with whom they can identify. "Kids gain the connection from book to author from using Skype, since most kids haven't met an author before," she said.

She added she is looking forward to seeing what kind of feedback students will give her. "Kids' imaginations are wild, so I can't wait to see what kind of input they have," she said.

Time Angel, the second in a triology of science fiction novels aimed at teenagers,is now available online and with a free download.

unspecified

SKIN IN THE GAME

Renowned Hill Country tattoo artist inks new sacred geometry app

Photo courtesy of Dillon Forte

Dillion Forte at his "tattoo ranch" in the Texas Hill Country.

In the world of tattooing, there may seem to be few better rat traps left to build, but Dillon Forte aims to change that. In October, the renowned Wimberley-based tattoo artist and entrepreneur introduced a new iPadOS app to bring ancient symbology into the digital age.

Forte has made a worldwide name for his black dot work (a contemporary take on stick-and-poke techniques) and ambitious undertakings like tattooing underwater and opening a “tattoo ranch.” His ink appears on Usher, Chris Hemsworth, and Kehlani.

Still, he is most recognized for his sacred geometry designs, using patterns to convey various meanings. His interest led him to create the Sacred Geometry Drawing App, a convenient way for novices and experts to develop and export their creations.

The app grew out of his own practice. Over the past decade, he has used tablets and freehand techniques to achieve his highly symmetrical artwork but grew to realize existing tools were not always easy to use.

“The app is an attempt and fulfillment of my desire to make sacred geometry accessible and bring the ability to create into the fingertips of as many people as possible,” Forte tells CultureMap via email, adding a tagline: “symmetry made simply.”

He says he wished the app was available when developing his signature style as a tattoo artist, but it was designed with a broad range of users in mind. He hopes that designers, educators, and artists will find a use for it.

A short intro to the app's capabilities is available on YouTube. It looks like a standard drawing app, starting with a blank canvas and some tools like pens, pencils, colors, and of course, straight line and dot makers.

A "symmetry index" anchors the functionality and expands it to something between 2D art and 3D modeling. In addition to generating shapes like repeating patterns and spirals, the app also creates 3D shapes with grids, so that the artist can map their design in real space or even create sculptures. There is also an index for explaining the spiritual meaning of some standard designs.

“Geometry often prompts an intimidating feeling when it comes to making art,” Forte continues. “The fundamentally complex and often academic nature of math-based art can induce a sense of fear in the potential user instead of creating a sense of awe. The purpose of the sacred geometry app is to cultivate the latter."

Creatives interested in constructing their own geometric masterpieces can download the app at the App Store for free, and in-app purchases are available.

technology apps tattoos arts