Marc Remus

Marc Remus is German painter and author of eight children's books. His novels have received many literary awards and have been translated into ten foreign languages.

Remus was educated in the United States, graduated with a BA in art and illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, and lived in Japan and Central America. He has traveled to seventy countries and visited over a thousand cities. His work has been featured on TV and in many magazines and newspapers in Germany, USA, and Mexico.

During his art studies in California in the 1990s, Remus took his first children’s book illustration class. His college teacher inspired him to start writing and not just illustrating. The result was a picture book called Painting Brian, which led to his first book and eventually to the Magora series. In the early 2000s, Remus studied for four years at the Institute of Children’s Literature. In 2016 the Magora book, which he had initially written more than twenty years before, was finally published. During the five years that followed, eight more books were published, and Remus received many literary awards for his achievements.

Having a sweet tooth since childhood, Remus embarked on a new journey in 2019. Surrounded by many overweight friends and family members, Remus came up with an idea to teach children a healthy way of eating without preaching. This idea resulted in "The Chocolate Clouds." It took the author two years to illustrate the book. With over 150 drawings, it is a rarity in children’s literature.

Today, Marc Remus has finished a new children's book and is currently working with "The Hunger Games" editor Jennifer Rees on the changes.

https://www.marcremus.com/author
See profile
Award Category
Book Award 2023
Book Award Sub-Category
2023 Best Book Genre
This submission is private and only visible to judges.

Comments

Charlotte Valentine Wed, 16/08/2023 - 12:39

This is so clever and imaginative! I loved the words and the illustrations equally. My congratulations on a superbly executed idea and I look forward to seeing more of this!

remusmarc Sun, 17/09/2023 - 16:57

Thank you so much, Charlotte. I really appreciate your words. I'm very happy to hear that you enjoyed the book. I have already completed writing the follow-up, but it will take a while to publish it because the illustrations take me forever. :-)

Stuart Wakefield Mon, 04/09/2023 - 09:09

From the get-go, "The Chocolate Clouds" promises to be a delightful addition to the world of middle-grade literature.

You swiftly drew me into this whimsical universe, balancing a sense of urgency with the charm and humour that middle-grade readers will undoubtedly relish. The premise is innovative, presenting chocolate as a vital natural resource, akin to water or sunlight, adding a unique layer to the tale. It effectively raises stakes from the beginning, compelling readers to root for Henry as he embarks on what promises to be a grand adventure.

What truly elevates the experience are the illustrations adorning almost every page. They're not just complementary but integral to the narrative, adding layers of emotional depth and whimsy. Whether it's the expressive faces of the characters or the lush Choco-Locoville, each illustration is a feast (see what I did there?) for the eyes, rendered with a level of detail that makes the story leap off the pages. The artwork adds a tactile element to the narrative, making the book feel like a complete sensory experience.

All in all, the first pages of "The Chocolate Clouds" serve as an engaging introduction to what promises to be an exciting journey through a mouth-watering magical realm.

remusmarc Sun, 17/09/2023 - 17:02

Thank you so much, Stuart, for taking the time and writing such a wonderful review. I really appreciate that you took such a close look at all the details in the novel. It took me four years to complete the book and finish all 150 illustrations. It was an exciting project, and it is a real treat to hear that you enjoyed it that much. :-)

Jennifer Bisbing Sun, 10/09/2023 - 18:58

This is great! My younger self was so brought alive reading this. What a great job at blending real-life issues into a magical story. Cloudy skies will never look the same. The artwork is fantastic as well.

remusmarc Sun, 17/09/2023 - 17:09

Thank you so much, Jennifer. I am so happy to hear that the book attracts sugar addicts ;-) Seriously, I'm very excited to hear that you enjoyed my story and the illustrations. It took me four years to write and illustrate them. And to satisfy your sugar addict side, I am already working on the illustrations for the follow-up book. It's about ice-cream mountains. :-)

Nadine Matheson Wed, 13/09/2023 - 19:16

A great children's book takes the reader on a journey and the prose and the illustrations did exactly that. I read read this with a smile on my face. This was witty, engaging and informative. Well done. It was great.

Book Cover Image