{{short description|American author and illustrator|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see :Template:Infobox writer/doc --> | name = Dallas Clayton | image = Dallas Clayton (13973341287).jpg | alt = | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_name = | birth_date = <!-- uncomment the template to use it: {{Birth date and age|1980|mo|da}} --> | birth_place = | occupation = Illustrator, writer | language = | nationality = American | ethnicity = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | years active = 2008{{ndash}}present | genre = Children's literature | subject = | movement = | notableworks = ''An Awesome Book!'' | spouse = | partner = | children = 1 | influences = | influenced = | awards = | website = {{URL|http://dallasclayton.com/}} }}
'''Dallas Clayton''' is an American author and illustrator best known for his children's works in the ''Awesome Book'' series.
==Early career== 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.<ref name="latimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-02-tm-44709-story.html|title=Getting Literary Buzz at the Sidewalk Level|last=Schwartz|first=Mara|date=June 2, 2002|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2011-03-04}}</ref><ref name="lodown">{{cite news|url=http://www.lodownmagazine.com/index.php?page=26&modaction=showItem&id=1532|title=Dallas Clayton|author=Lenny|date=March 16, 2010|publisher=Lodown magazine|access-date=2011-03-04}}</ref>
==Work== After the birth of his son in 2003,{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} Clayton wrote, illustrated, and published ''An Awesome Book!'', a 64-page children's picture book about "dreaming big".<ref name="tank">{{cite news |url=http://www.tankmagazine.com/magazine/interviews/dallas-clayton-ali-golsorkhi-436 |title=Dallas Clayton talks to Ali Golsorkhi |last=Golsorkhi |first=Ali |date=September 2010 |publisher=Tank Magazine |access-date=2011-03-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308022559/http://www.tankmagazine.com/magazine/interviews/dallas-clayton-ali-golsorkhi-436 |archive-date=2011-03-08 }}</ref> 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, after which the book sold over 50,000 copies to date.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}{{when|date=July 2016}}
Clayton was hired in 2009 as the editor-in-chief of ''We Love You So'', an art magazine founded by director Spike Jonze, designed to tie into with ''Where the Wild Things Are'', Jonze's adaptation of the children's book of the same title.<ref name="itsnicethat">{{cite news|url=http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/2674-an-awesome-book|title=An Awesome Book|last=Bec|first=Alex|date=May 11, 2010|publisher=It's Nice That|access-date=2011-03-04}}</ref>
Clayton released his next book, ''An Awesome Book of Thanks!'' (2010) through online bookseller Amazon.com's new publishing imprint, AmazonEncore.<ref name="journalno">{{cite news|url=http://www2.journalnow.com/entertainment/2010/nov/28/local-writer-has-his-own-ideas-on-marketing-his-ch-ar-572384/|title=Local writer has his own ideas on marketing his children's books|last=Young|first=Monica|date=November 28, 2010|newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal|access-date=2011-03-04|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127075629/http://www2.journalnow.com/entertainment/2010/nov/28/local-writer-has-his-own-ideas-on-marketing-his-ch-ar-572384/|archive-date=January 27, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="url">{{cite news|url=http://www.urlesque.com/2010/11/18/an-awesome-book-dallas-clayton/|title='An Awesome Book!' Series by Dallas Clayton - The Internet, Drawn|last=Douglas|first=Nick|date=November 18, 2010|publisher=urlesque.com|access-date=2011-03-04|archive-date=2011-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307090142/http://www.urlesque.com/2010/11/18/an-awesome-book-dallas-clayton|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''An Awesome Book of Thanks!'' followed the pattern of ''An Awesome Book!'', this time delivering a message about the importance of being thankful.
In 2011, The Hollywood Reporter announced<ref name="thr">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/publishing-sensation-dallas-clayton-signs-219428|title=Self-Publishing Sensation Dallas Clayton Signs Deal With HarperCollins|last=Lewis|first=Andy|date=August 4, 2011|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2012-01-27}}</ref> that Clayton had signed a three-book deal with HarperCollins as well a two-book deal with Candlewick Press. ''An Awesome Book!'' received a full scale re-release from Harpercollins in March 2012.<ref name="hcc">{{cite news|url=http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Awesome-Book-Dallas-Clayton/?isbn13=9780062114686&tctid=100|title=HarperCollins Children's online catalog|access-date=2012-01-27}}</ref> 2012 also saw the release of ''Awesome Book of Love!'' (Harper).<ref name="harp">{{cite news|url=http://www.harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780062116666|title=HarperCollins Publishers: Browse Inside|access-date=2013-10-04}}</ref>
Clayton released a collection of children's poetry entitled ''Make Magic! Do Good!'' (Candlewick Press) in 2012.<ref name="candle">{{cite news|url=http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?mode=book&isbn=0763657468|title=Candlewick Press Catalog|access-date=2013-10-04}}</ref>
He released a "children's book for adults" entitled ''It's Never Too Late'' through P. Putnam's Sons in 2013.<ref name="penguin">{{cite news|url=http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780399163081,00.html|title=It's Never Too Late - Books by Dallas Clayton - Penguin Group (USA)|access-date=2013-10-04}} </ref>
Clayton's 2014 releases included ''A is for Awesome'' and ''Lily the Unicorn''.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}
In 2016, he wrote an early draft of a film adaptation of ''Harold and the Purple Crayon'' for Sony Pictures Animation before the film was cancelled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/MyTrackingBoard/status/806410462137110528?p=v|title=Twitter |date=December 7, 2016|access-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref>
Clayton, along with Australian singer-songwriter Sia, wrote the screenplay for musical film ''Music'', which was released February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sia's 'Together' Video: Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/sia-together-song-announcement-9377468/|date=2020-05-20|website=Billboard|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref>
==Personal life== With actress Shannyn Sossamon, Clayton has one son, named Audio Science, who was born on May 29, 2003.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}
Clayton founded the non-profit Awesome World Foundation in 2009 with the intention of traveling the world, reading to kids, and promoting childhood literacy.<ref name="neato">{{cite news|url=http://www.neatorama.com/neatobambino/2010/08/23/an-awesome-book-interview-with-dallas-clayton/|title=An Awesome Book: Interview With Dallas Clayton|author=Tiffany|date=August 23, 2010|publisher=Neato Bambino|access-date=2011-03-04}}</ref> The foundation has donated books worldwide and supported various other children's causes.<ref name="dailytwo">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailycandy.com/kids/los-angeles/article/77087/Awesome-World-Foundation|title=Sweet Charity|date=November 9, 2009|publisher=DailyCandy|access-date=2011-03-04|archive-date=2011-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307085803/http://www.dailycandy.com/kids/los-angeles/article/77087/Awesome-World-Foundation|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Bibliography== *''An Awesome Book!'' (November 1, 2008) *''An Awesome Book of Thanks!'' (November 18, 2010) *''Make Magic! Do Good!'' (November 13, 2012) *''An Awesome Book of Love!'' (December 26, 2012) *''It's Never Too Late'' (November 7, 2013) {{ISBN|9780399163081}} *''A Is for Awesome'' (March 11, 2014) *''Lily the Unicorn'' (April 22, 2014)
== References == {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://dallasclayton.com/}} *[http://veryawesomeworld.com/ Awesome World Foundation]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Clayton, Dallas}} Category:Living people Category:American children's writers Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Year of birth missing (living people)