FTT
Answers to your Questions...
"Where do you get your ideas from?".... Anywhere and everywhere.
"What is your most favourite book you have written?".... Beware of the Vet
"What comes into your head first, the pictures or the words?".... They come at the same time it is like a film running through my head.
"How did you get started?".... By making friends with Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate who were involved in Children's T.V.
"What sort of paints do you use?".... It's a mixture of water colour die, pastel, pencil, crayon dash, and oil pastel.
"When did you write your first book?".... At about 7 years old, it was called "Memoirs of Babette Steele-Cole"! It wasn't very long.
"When did you think about writing and illustrating for a living?".... I always wanted to do it as long as I could remember. It was third option to being a vet or professional horsewoman.
"What was your first book to be published?".... Promise Solves The Problem in 1976 was the first one written and illustrated by me.
"Are your characters based on yourself or anyone else you know?".... Yes. Directly or indirectly. Princess Smartypants is my autobiography. Many of my horses and dogs turn up in the pictures also.
"Do you think the visual image and the written word have equal places in storybooks?".... It depends on the subject but from my point of view the pictures and words are of equal value.
"How important do you think visual images are in getting children interested in books and reading?".... Very, especially very young children.
"Are there different skills in book illustrating as opposed to other artwork?".... Yes, one has to be aware of how your work will actually look when reproduced. Knowledge of printing is usefull. Would be illustrators should all visit a reprohouse. There are many technical principals one should know.
"Which is your own favourite book or character?".... I have so many favourite books and characters it is hard to choose. Children's Books Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll The Duchess is my favourite character. Adult Books Blot on the Landscape by Tom Sharp Lady Maude is my favourite character.
"Were you drawn to colourful illustrations as a child?".... No I liked line drawings.
"What would you be if you were not a writer and illustrator?".... I would breed and show horses but would not earn any money!!
"Do you have any advice for children who want to be writers and illustrators?".... Do not attempt illustrating unless you have a gift for it. If you do then draw whatever you like and when ever you want to. Keep sketchbooks and eyes open. For the budding writer, read as much as you can. Keep your eyes and ears open and feed your imagination with whatever it likes eating!
"Do you feel that picture books are a very important medium for a child's learning?".... Yes. You see pictures before you learn words.
"Are you asked to write for a specific audience, i.e. for schools or between parent and child?".... No. I just do what I like!
"Is there a topic you would not cover for a children's book?".... There are many that would not be appropriate. I am only dealing with difficult questions that are always asked in the main stream by children.
"Do you feel that including humour in your books helps children to accept what the book is trying to teach more readily than those that do not use humour?".... Most definitely. If you can make someone laugh you get his or her attention.
"What age range do you aim at?".... The "issue" books are not aimed at any age. They are for when you or your child are ready for them.
"Do you feel that female roles have been improved since the Enid Blyton days?".... Well, all art is a reflection of society!
"How did you become an author and Illustrator?".... Basically by believing I was the best ever!! !! !! I was very determined to get my work seen by the best and most influential people. At first working with Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate for Children's T.V. and then making sure I was published by the best publishers there were for children's books. Having an editor that really believed in what I am trying to do. Being very hard working.
"Is it preferable to combine the two areas or do more opportunities exist for those who specialise in either writing or drawing?".... If you are one of those rare people who see things in both words and pictures at the same time you have a great advantage. One the publisher does not have to look for some one to illustrate your work. Two, you do not have to share your royalties. Illustrators are poorly paid compared to writers. Three, it is much harder to get illustration work.
"What Qualifications are necessary?".... Basically you just have to be very good. Be in the right place at the right time. Be very lucky. Be what a particular publisher is looking for at that time. Have a brilliant imagination.
"Are you married?".... No, but I have a man and we have been together for 18 years.
"Do you have any children?".... No, I never grew up enough!
"Do you try your books out on children?".... Sometimes, but very rarely.
"What is your favourite colour?".... The colour of the sea in Tortola, Cerulian Blue.
"What are your hobbies?".... Breeding and riding Show Horses, Sailing and Dancing.
"What is your favourite food?".... Pheasant.
"What advice would you give someone who wants to get a book published?".... Look at books similar to yours and look at the publisher. Send your book to that publisher or ask for an interview. Believe that you are the best thing in the world or nobody will believe you. Perceiver and don't be put off by "No Thank you" Send it to the next publisher!
"What is your favourite animal?".... Horses and dogs
"Was anyone else in your family a writer or illustrator?" No. My father was a painter with a wonderful sense of humour and my mum was a very good liar! I suppose that qualifies me as an artist and a writer. My great grandfather was a pirate, and some of my ancestors were circus people and horse thieves.
"What is your philosophy on life?".... Do as you would be done by. Be queenly from nose to navel", smile and keep going!
"Do you work from home or elsewhere?".... I do have a large studio at home and a smaller one in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
"Do illustrators have a steady supply of work?".... It depends on how established they are. I'm sure Helen Oxenbury is never without it! On the other hand an equally talented person straight out of Art School will not be able to live by the pen and paintbrush alone!
"Do you feel it is necessary to be a parent to write children's books?".... No. The best of us never have been parents. Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, E.M.Barry, Beatrice Potter and many others. I think if I had become a parent I would see things in quite a different way. I would have become more responsible perhaps! I am lucky that I never had to grow up, like Peter Pan. Perhaps it means I still see things in a childlike way but being a grown up at the same time!
"Do you consciously court controversy?".... I do not. I am, perhaps quite a controversial person. Or maybe some people do not have the same sense of humour that I have!
"What are the main comments you receive about books like "Mummy laid an Egg" or "Hair in Funny Places"?".... Mostly that people wish they had books like this when they were children. But you do get the odd person that objects to the frankness or irreverence of the book.
"Do you hope to spark some reaction in people with these kind of books?".... Very much so. All art must have some kind of reaction to be true art.
"What book are you currently working on?".... At this time, Dec 1999, I am working on a book called Mr Truelove. It is a book about what love means. I love it to bits!
"What would be your wish for the millennium?".... I would like to have just one day a year set aside for everybody in the world to just be nice to each other. Then maybe we could all remember why we are.
