David Bedford David Bedford was born in the West Country and now lives in East Anglia with his wife and daughter. He did a degree and PhD in Biology and worked as a biologist in England and the USA, studying antibiotics. He gave it up to write full-time in 1997. He has had several books published by Little Tiger Press, and spends his spare time listening to music and doing t’ai chi.

You made quite a career change switching from your work as a biologist, to writing children’s books, how did that come about?
I very much enjoyed being a biologist, finding out and making new things. Sometimes I was the first person in the world to find something new, and that was very exciting! The problem was, I also liked reading and writing, and I soon realised that there wasn’t time to write all the stories I wanted to write and be a scientist. In the end I decided to be an author, and it looks like that was the best decision I ever made because I enjoy being an author very much. I still find things out and I am often the first person to discover something new, because all of these can happen when I’m writing my stories.

Do you miss using the scientific part of your brain?
The scientific part of my brain must still be there because I still think scientifically, at least some of the time! In fact, writing stories is more scientific than people think because they have to be thought about, and I’m always making changes to them, to make them as good as I can.

Are your stories completely imagined or do you take inspiration from your own experiences?
Sometimes stories are completely imagined, but most stories are from my own experiences. LITTLE BEAR’S BIG JUMPER is about two young brothers, the older boy who is mostly in charge, and the younger boy who does his best to get along and enjoy himself. Big Bear is very much like my older brother, and I am Little Bear, of course! This story describes our relationship when we were boys very well - and my older brother can still get grumpy, just like Big Bear!

Do you often use your own children as sounding posts for your stories? Are they fans of your books?
I always ask my own children about my books! They are just the right age, so I get all kinds of good advice from them. It is a great test to read my stories out loud to children before there are any pictures to go with them. That way I really find out if they are fun and interesting - or not! The worst is when my children look bored. Then I have to change things… My children are both fans of my books and they often demand that I write a new story for them!

When you are working on a book, do you have a set routine? Is there a special place where you find it easier to concentrate?
When I’m thinking a story through, I like to sit on the sofa with a cup of tea and my notebook and pen. And when I think I have nearly finished the story, I rush to my office, turn on my computer, and type it up, changing it as I go along. Both of these places are good for my concentration. One unusual thing is that I have my computer on a very high desk, and I stand up as I type. That way I don’t get dozy from sitting too long. And it gives me very strong legs!

Do you look forward to seeing the artwork for your books? Is it strange having someone else illustrating your text?
The best days of all for me are when the postman arrives with a big, heavy envelope that won’t fit through my letterbox, and inside I find the pictures for one of my books. Often what is inside the envelope is a ‘proof’ book, which isn’t quite finished and the pages aren’t bound together properly, but it looks exactly like a book. I can turn the pages, and enjoy the pictures. It is quite strange to have someone illustrate my text, but also wonderful because the pictures, and the finished books, have always been better than I have imagined. I like writing, but I’m absolutely rubbish at drawing!

What is the best thing about writing for children? Is there a particular part of the process you find most enjoyable?
There is a lot of excitement for me about having my story, which is just a few words that I have worked very hard to write, made into a finished book. I can’t do that by myself because it involves lots of clever people with their own particular skills, including the illustrator of course. It’s a real team effort, and I enjoy that. The best thing about writing for children? I’m not sure. It could be thinking up the story in the first place while I sit on my sofa, or having a big, bright book that I’m proud to see sitting on a bookshop shelf. Maybe the best thing is reading the finished book to a hushed school assembly… These are all very different experiences, but I enjoy them all!

David has written many books for Little Tiger Press, the most recent are:
LITTLE BEAR’S BIG JUMPER, BEDTIME FOR LITTLE BEARS!, I’VE SEEN SANTA!
and BIG BEAR LITTLE BEAR

M Christina Butler M Christina Butler was born in Scarborough. She had an idyllic childhood in the country where she spent her weekends playing on a farm among the animals. Christina has worked as a nurse, a pre-school nursery supervisor, and a governor at her local primary school, as well as writing a number of children’s books. She now lives in Driffield, East Yorkshire with her husband, and has two daughters and three grandsons.

What are the books that have influenced you as an author?
I am not conscious of being influenced by any of the books I read as a child. Living in the country, I did like animal stories, and I’m sure Beatrix Potter and THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS played a part. I loved stories where animals and dogs were the heroes. The fate of Ginger in BLACK BEAUTY always reduced me to tears. Out of the many very good writers for young children today, Martin Waddell and Jill Murphy are my all-time favourites.

How do you create your stories? Do you have a set routine, a special pen you have to use, or something you look to for ideas?
When I’m with children I try to pick up on their reactions: what makes them laugh, or what upsets them. I have notebooks and bits of paper with ideas all over the place. But that doesn’t always produce results. When you least expect it, a story idea suddenly presents itself and off you go! I’ve no set routine or special pencil. I use the computer now, as the inevitable alterations are so easy, and much quicker than producing a dummy book as I used to do.

What is your favourite childhood winter memory?
The winters were always colder (no central heating!) and the snow deeper. I have so many happy memories. My friend and I would spend all day after a good fall of snow trying to yoke the ponies to our sledges. It never worked, but we had a great time trying! I remember winter nights round the fire with stories read by my grandmother or mother, usually from Hans Christian Anderson. THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL was a great favourite (a very sad story!).

Do you have any advice for young people who’d like to embark on a writing career?
I remember John Betjeman refusing to answer this question when asked, so I hardly feel qualified! But I’ll try! Everyone approaches writing differently. I know you must keep trying, and forget the reject slips. Read as many children’s books as you can and compare them with your efforts – notice the structure, the humour, the situations and, above all, be honest with yourself about your own work. If you think it’s rubbish, don’t throw it away, keep it — perhaps the idea was good and only needs a re-write, maybe years later! Try and work with children, and share stories with them.

What do you like most about being a children’s writer?
When one of my stories is published! I can never believe it started with an idea, possibly months before, when I said, “I wonder if…” and finally it’s a book! However, I might add, with a great deal of help from a lot of people!

Do you have anyone in particular in mind when you write?
Not really. I do think about my grandsons and they do seem to like my stories (along with other writers of course!).

Do you base your animal characters on real people?
Very often, but it’s more a certain characteristic, not a particular person. However, I once wrote a book called TOO MANY EGGS and Mrs Bear was definitely my friend’s mother, who never measured anything when she was baking, but she was a wonderful cook. Mrs Bear on the other hand was not up to her standard!

Do you have a favourite character from one of your books and, if so, why?
At the moment, it’s Little Hedgehog. He’s kind and tries to help his friends regardless of his own safety. But when he gets into trouble there’s ‘something’ out there that takes care of him.

	Jane Chapman Jane Chapman was born in the West Country. She studied Illustration at Brighton University where she gained a First and a husband, illustrator Tim Warnes. They have two young sons and a hectic lifestyle juggling work and childcare. Jane enjoys walking in the countryside and embroidery, but spends most of her time off playing with lego and playpeople.

When did you decide you wanted to become a children’s book illustrator?
I decided to become a children’s book illustrator after my husband-to-be introduced me to the team at Little Tiger Press. It seemed a better career move to follow his lead instead of painting pictures to sell.

What medium do you use to create your illustrations?
I use acrylic paint.

What inspires and influences you in your illustrating?
I am influenced by the world around me – colours from magazines and TV, landscapes from photo references and inspiration from a good text. I need a good story to inspire me to make pictures.

Do you show your illustrations to your sons before they are published?
I show my illustrations to my oldest son (he’s seven years old) because he is always very encouraging. Sometimes he does a bit of drawing or painting for me, but my youngest son just eats everything I show him, so I have to keep it out of his way!

What is your favourite childhood winter memory? I love it when it snows – snow is so infrequent in the West Country where I live. When I was little we used to borrow my mum’s tray and slide down the hill at the top of our road. One year it snowed enough for my brother to build an igloo which we could actually sit in!

What is the best and worst thing about being a children’s book illustrator?
The best thing about my job is getting to sit quietly and listen to the radio while getting on with a big splodgy, snowy background. The worst thing is painting whiskers with a tiny brush, which makes my hand hurt and my head feel like it might explode.

Do you have a favourite character from one of your books, and if so, why? I like the baby polar bear in BIG BEAR LITTLE BEAR because he reminds me of my son when he was little – he was always having to be carried home when he was asleep. And I like Spike in DILLY DUCKLING because he is so cute.

Who are your favourite illustrators?
My favourite illustrators are my husband, Tim Warnes, because he’s my husband…and I like his work; Lauren Child because her work is very cool; and Lucy Cousins because everything she’s done has been a huge hit in our house. We’re reading her books all over again now and we never get fed up with them. I also like Anita Jeram, Flora McDonald, Richard Scarry, Satoshi Kitamura…the list goes on and on. I try not to think about them too much because they are so good, I feel like a fraud in comparison.

Jane Chapman has illustrated many books for Little Tiger Press including:
THE BEARS IN THE BED AND THE GREAT BIG STORM, THE DARK, DARK NIGHT,
A LONG WAY FROM HOME, THE VERY SNOWY CHRISTMAS, THE SNOW ANGEL,
BIG BEAR LITTLE BEAR, DILLY DUCKLING and THE VERY NOISY NIGHT

Jason Chapman Jason Chapman spent much of his early childhood drawing birds, animals, lorries and aeroplanes. He went on to study at Bradford and Camberwell College of Art and now illustrates full-time. Jason has been the official illustrator of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home since 2001 and also illustrates greeting cards, advent calendars and educational material. TED, BO AND DIZ – THE FIRST ADVENTURE, conceived whilst on holiday with his family, is his first children’s book.

This is your first book to be published. Had you always wanted to write and illustrate a children’s book?
Yes, but initially my illustration was suited to areas other than children’s books. A move to Suffolk and becoming a father spurred me on to develop my own stories and ideas, with the ambition to sit down with my children and read to them a book written and illustrated by myself.

Where did you get the idea from for TED, BO AND DIZ – THE FIRST ADVENTURE?
The idea came one day during a relaxing and much-needed family holiday on the Pembroke coast in Summer 2005. Each morning after bath-time my son, George, would sit on his bed with his sister, Iris, and his teddies (named Ted, Bo and Diz), and ask me to tell them a “made-up story”. On this occasion I thought about the previous day on the beach when George and I played in a small rubber dinghy on the calm, blue sea. The adventure started there.

Have you ever seen polar bears or penguins in the wild?
No, only in books, on the internet and television, which for the long-term survival of certain animals is possibly the most suitable way. I’m not sure that because an animal exists we need to get on several modes of transport to see it. That privilege should be for the few who have the animal’s sole interests at heart and who can inform the rest of the world on how they are doing.

What is your favourite animal?
Such a difficult question when you’re amazed by all animals! As the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home’s illustrator, I’m very much drawn to dogs and cats…so they are very high on the list. I’m fascinated by insects and I’ve always had a soft spot for birds – I walk in the countryside where I live and I’m always thrilled to see deer, owls, kestrels, hares, frogs, toads, foxes and rabbits. But if I had to choose a favourite it would be an animal that you have to pinch yourself to believe that it’s part of the world we live in. I would choose the tiger – such a beautiful creature with immense strength and beauty. I find it a tragedy that, in such a short space of time, man has driven them and many other species almost to extinction.

Did you show the book to your two children as it was being developed? Are they fans of your illustrations and stories?
I work in a studio from home so they often drop in to chat and see what I’m working on. Though to be honest it’s usually a request to play football. They were both very young during the earlier development of the book but became more interested in watching the paintings progress. The made–up stories are still requested on a nightly basis, which is good practice for creating new ideas.

Do you like sailing?
I wasn’t such a good swimmer as a child. I’m not brilliant now, but I tend not to sink as much. So, together with growing up in a city and rarely visiting the coast, sailing was never high on my list of interests. However, since moving to Suffolk the riverways and coastline have become very important to me, so now sailing is very much something I would like to learn in the future.

What medium do you use to create your illustrations?
The final paintings are created using acrylic (Liquitex soft body) paint applied, not too thickly and not too thinly, in layers on MDF board primed with gesso. Before painting, the composition of the spreads and placing of text is worked out with a combination of pencil/paper sketches and drawings made on the computer using a tablet and pen. Elements can then be erased, cut and pasted, enlarged or reduced to improve the design.

What would be your ideal way to spend a day off from illustrating/writing?
I would start the day with a run to re-energise the mind and body after too many hours at the desk. The rest of the day would be spent having fun with my family – making bread, playing football, having a picnic on the beach, swimming in the sea, eating ice creams, walking in some old oak woods, cooking food and listening to music. All with a sketchbook at hand – just in case there’s a chance to draw or note an idea down.

Who are your favourite illustrators?
Edward Ardizzone, SR Badmin, John Burningham, Bagram Ibatoulline, Richard Scarry and Fritz Wegner.

Jason is the author/illustrator of TED, BO AND DIZ – THE FIRST ADVENTURE

Alison Edgson Alison was born in County Down in Northern Ireland. She worked in the computer department of a bank before coming to her senses and studying Visual Communication at the University of Ulster in Belfast. After graduating with a First, she and her husband Jeff moved to an old chapel in the Usk Valley in Wales, where she now concentrates on illustrating children’s books. Alison spends most of her free time chasing her chickens out of the vegetable garden and brushing her cat. She also loves running and cycling in the countryside.

Do you have a set routine when you are working on a book, or do you only sit down to work when the inspiration hits?
I try to stick to a routine as much as possible because I like to have time off at weekends when everybody else is off. But it doesn’t always work like that! I try to work as much as possible in natural daylight because it’s much easier to get the colours right, but as a deadline approaches I work flat out! I haven’t worked right through the night yet, but once I start it’s hard to stop!

What medium do you use to create your pictures?
For children’s books I use acrylic paints on paper primed with gesso [a hard compound of plaster of Paris, sometimes used in sculpture or as a base for painting on wood]. The gesso allows me to create a surface to work on with the right amount of texture for my style of illustration. To finish off an illustration I work into the acrylic painting with coloured pencils, which allows me to add little touches of detail and make final corrections.

What’s the best thing about being a children’s book illustrator?
I love painting and drawing – and I get paid to do it! It’s so much fun seeing a book develop from the first character sketches through pencil drawings to the finished colour illustrations. And each stage has its perks for me. Doing the pencil roughs is fun but quite intense, so when I start the colour artwork, and can finally have the radio on while I’m working, it makes a lovely change!

And the worst?
It can be a bit isolating if you work from home. I used to teach watercolours for one afternoon a week just to break the routine and socialise, but now my husband works at home too so it’s not a problem for me any more. You also have to be careful not to strain your eyes – especially if you work at night. I like to get out for a run or a walk every day to give my eyes a rest and get some exercise thrown in!

Have you ever seen a bear in the wild?
Does a koala count? I’m not sure I’d like to come face-to-face with a grizzly, but I’d love to see a wild polar bear some day.

Do you have any pets? We have Kitty, our very cute black-and-white moggy. She likes to sit and stare so she’d be a good subject to paint! We also have four lovely chickens, who keep us well supplied in eggs. And I’d like a rabbit and two dogs but we think Kitty might object.

What would be your ideal way to spend a day off from illustrating?
My perfect day would be to pack a picnic and set off for a lovely, long walk with my husband, a camera and a pair of binoculars…and maybe, one day, our two dogs, who would be beautifully trained and wouldn’t chase rabbits!

Who are your favourite illustrators?
My current favourites are Alison Jay, Rob Scotton and Richard Johnton because their work is so quirky and colourful. But I should also mention Heath Robinson because he could illustrate beautifully both with line drawings and watercolours, and had a great sense of humour!

Alison is the illustrator of LOST IN THE SNOW, SILLY GOOSE,
FOLLOW THAT BEAR IF YOU DARE! and ME AND MY DAD!

	Claire Freedman Claire Freedman lives on the Essex coast. She is the author of a number of children’s books. When not writing, Claire spends her time sailing, walking in the countryside and, when she can, travelling.

You write about a lot of different animals in I LOVE YOU, SLEEPYHEAD, from pandas to foxes and whales to owls. But which animal is your favourite and why?
This is a very hard question! I love animals of all kinds, but if I had to choose just one, I think it would have to be tigers. They are just such beautiful, powerful and magnificent creatures.

What was your favourite book when you were a child? And which books have influenced you as an author?
I have always been an avid reader and my favourite book as a child was A LITTLE PRINCESS by Francis Hodgson-Burnett. I must have read and re-read this many times and it always brought a tear to my eye – I still have my original dog-eared copy! I also loved the CHRONICLES OF NARNIA books by C. S. Lewis. And, as a young child, WINNIE THE POOH was a much-loved character, with great humour that has stood the test of time. I’m not sure if any particular books influenced my work, but I very much admire the work of modern-day writers Martin Waddell, Debi Gliori and Geraldine McCaughrean.

How do you create your stories? Do you have a set routine or a special place where you go to write?
I don’t have a set routine – that doesn’t work for me. I usually have the germ of an idea while I’m in the middle of doing something else, like washing up or shopping. Or I’ll read a line in a book or see something on TV that might spark me off. I then rush off and write my idea down before it disappears, and I’ll add bits of dialogue or narrative as it comes to me. I always write in longhand on scraps of paper or old envelopes that I save for this purpose. I dislike writing on lined paper as it seems to restrict me. Very strange!

Are you a tidy-desk person or a messy-desk person?
I’m definitely a tidy-desk person – I have to be as I have very little space in which to work! Having said that I do tend to surround myself with lots of scraps of scribbled bits of paper and pictures to give me inspiration – but they are always in neat(ish) piles!

Do you have the reader in mind when you write?
I write the sort of books I think I would have enjoyed reading or being read to as a small child.

Do you look forward to seeing an illustrator’s interpretation of your ideas?
This is one of my favourite bits! Seeing how the illustrator has interpreted my story, and whether he/she visualises my characters in the same way as I do, is always a surprise and very exciting!

Do you have a favourite character from one of your books, and if so, why? I like Daisy (the rabbit) from my book OOPS-A-DAISY! as she just keeps on trying – and succeeds in the end. I was also very pleased with the ending of the story.

If you weren’t an author, what do you think you would be?
When I was young I wanted to be a vet until I realised it wasn’t just fluffy kittens and cute puppies! I never had a burning ambition to be a writer – it happened almost by accident. Before then I had quite a few different jobs. If I could start all over again I would have liked to go into medicine.

How do you reward yourself when you have finished a book?
I go shopping and treat myself to some new clothes!

What would be your ideal way to spend a day off from writing?
I love travelling, so it would be wonderful to be whisked off to Paris for the day! A bit of shopping, eating, culture and exploring – all in one. Great! The weather would be perfect, of course!

What do you most like about being a children’s book writer?
Seeing the surprise on people’s faces when I tell them I make my living from writing – I obviously don’t look like a children’s author!

Claire has written many books for
Little Tiger Press. The most recent ones are:
ON THIS SPECIAL NIGHT, THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS,
THE CHRISTMAS ANGELS, I LOVE YOU, SLEEPYHEAD,
FOLLOW THAT BEAR IF YOU DARE!, A KISS GOODNIGHT,
ONE MAGICAL DAY and SNUGGLE UP, SLEEPY ONES

Ruth Galloway Award-winning author-illustrator Ruth Galloway studied art at A-level, but is basically self-taught. She knew she was going to be an artist from the age of eight, although she is also a trained aerobics teacher. In her spare time she enjoys making jewellery and mountain biking. She is married with two children, and lives in Oxfordshire.

I have always been fascinated by the sea – there is something magical about it. I enjoy snorkelling on holiday, but usually the sea is a bit cold in the UK! What’s your favourite sea creature and why? I think my favourite sea creature would have to be a lobster – they have such a lot of character.

What did you enjoy most about writing and illustrating FIDGETY FISH, SMILEY SHARK and CLUMSY CRAB?
The part I really find fun is painting the ‘supporting cast’ – all the tiny fish and creatures that are dotted around throughout my books. I like giving them funny or surprised expressions to make the pictures more interesting.

When did you decide you wanted to write and illustrate children’s books?
I had always been interested in illustration, then when I had my first son, Mortimer (who is now six), I used to make up stories to entertain him, and the story of FIDGETY FISH developed from there.

Who are your favourite children’s authors and illustrators?
I have a huge appreciation for children’s picture books, especially now I know how much hard work goes into them. I particularly like bright, colourful illustrations, and stories that are humorous. I like Michael Rosen, as his stories are very funny, and Jane Chapman’s illustrations are lovely and vibrant.

If you weren’t an author-illustrator, what else would you be?
I would still like to do something creative, like painting pictures. I also love cooking and gardening, but I’m not sure I would enjoy these so much if I had to do them every day as a job.

Do you have any tips for aspiring authors or illustrators?
Keep practising as much as you can, and don’t get discouraged if you don’t succeed straight away.

SMILEY SHARK won the Nottingham Children’s Book Award – how does it feel to be an award-winning author-illustrator?
I am delighted to have won this award. It feels wonderful to know that so many people enjoy my books, and this award is especially important to me because it is voted for by the children themselves.

See details of FIDGETY FISH AND FRIENDS, FIDGETY FISH, SMILEY SHARK, CLUMSY CRAB and TICKLY OCTOPUS

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John Henderson John was born in Glasgow and has lived there all his life. John has done many different jobs during his lifetime, including delivering newspapers, painting and decorating, but it was when he started working as a gardener that he found his true vocation. John enjoys running and has completed several Glasgow half-marathons. When the weather is good, he also likes cycling and fishing.

What was it like working with such a successful author as Julia Donaldson?
She was very inspirational to work with and the whole process was great fun.

What inspired you to start writing this story about your childhood?
Julia suggested that I write down some memories from my childhood or school years. When she read the story about me finding an injured pigeon when I was about 12, she felt it was good – especially the bit where I put a stone in the box instead of the pigeon!

Do you have any pets? No, not at the moment. Have you ever thought of owning your own racing pigeon? No! What do you like most about living in Glasgow? I like everything about the city – it’s a great place to live. I really cannot see myself ever moving away from Glasgow.

Do you have any plans to write any more books about your life?
Not at the moment – family has got in the way slightly, but maybe one day I will write more.

See details of FLY, PIGEON, FLY!

Diana Hendry Diana Hendry is a poet, children’s author and short story writer. She has written over 40 children’s books ranging from picture books to teenage novels. She writes poetry for adults and children and has won a number of awards for her work, including the Whitbread Award. Diana has worked as a journalist, teacher and creative writing tutor. She has a son, a daughter and three grandchildren, and now lives in Edinburgh.

Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
My ideas come in many ways: something remembered, a dream, a conversation. I tend to jot down ideas in a notebook and keep them in reserve. Mostly my characters are imagined, though sometimes a real person sneaks in.

Do you ever get ‘writer’s block’? What do you do to get the creative juices flowing again?
Whenever I get a case of ‘writer’s block’, I play the piano, go for a walk, brainstorm or just get very bad-tempered!

You’ve written books for so many different age ranges. Do you find it easier to write for children or adults?
I like writing for children of all ages – and for adults. The variety pleases me. Only occasionally do I find writing easy, but the difficulties in writing for children and adults are different.

The words in OODLES OF NOODLES beg to be read aloud. Did you enjoy reading to your children when they were younger?
I always read to my children at bedtime – probably at other times too. Now I have grandchildren I can read to as well.

Have you been influenced by any particular books or authors?
I think Russell Hoban’s books about Frances are wonderful. I read a lot of poetry.

Do you find it exciting having an illustrator interpret your stories? Do you look forward to seeing the results?
Yes. It’s always a surprise to see how an illustrator has shown the characters I’ve created, and to have someone else’s imagination added to the story. That’s a delight.

Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?
Read and read and read. Write a first draft really fast then go away and think about it and re-write it. Then repeat that process!

Diana is the author of OODLES OF NOODLES, THE VERY BUSY DAY,
THE VERY NOISY NIGHT and THE VERY SNOWY CHRISTMAS

Julia Hubery Julia was born in Stamford and trained as an architect. She loves the countryside and nature and finds it a pool of inspiration to draw on in her writing. Julia now lives in Gosport with her husband and three children and hopes one day to get back to doing pottery, one of her favourite hobbies – once her children have all grown up! A CHRISTMAS WISH is her first book for Little Tiger Press.

Are you a tidy-desk person or a messy-desk person?
What’s a desk! Believe it or not, I sit on my bedroom floor and spread books, files and texts across my bed to write – usually it’s the only guaranteed peaceful place in the house. I like to think that if I had a lovely little writing room, I’d be ‘Mrs Tidy’ – but maybe not.

What are your habits when you are working on a book – do you have a very set routine or will you only sit down to work when the inspiration hits?
As I work part-time and have three children, I have to grab the writing time whenever I can and hope the ideas flow. I nearly always have a few texts bubbling along, so my writing day varies. Sometimes I’ll play with new ideas, maybe a picture or a sentence, to see if anything comes. Other times I’ll prod and stir my half-way texts to see if I can move them on. Inspiration likes to strike in awkward places, like on the way to work – so I have to scrabble for a pen and scribble it down to play with later.

Do you look forward to seeing how an illustrator has interpreted your story?
Yes – it’s like Christmas – waiting to see someone else’s imagining of the pictures I’ve had in my head. And I love picture book illustrations – my computer’s full of samples from illustrators I’d like to work with one day.

Decorating the Christmas tree is one of my favourite jobs, and always has been, but I don’t “theme” it – I just add maybe one or two lovely things each year to my “best decs” box. I can still get lost in the magical mix of twinkle and sparkle and reflections, in the gorgeous green of a real tree. When I was young, my favourite decorations were birds made of shiny woven ribbons, with ringlet tails draped through the branches – I used to perch them all over the tree.

What is the best thing about writing books for children?
I like the way writing absorbs you, and the fun of playing with words and characters. But best of all is when a story starts to have a life of its own, so it almost writes itself.

What would be your ideal way to spend a day off from writing children’s books?
Never mind a day off – I’d love a full day “on” writing children’s books. With work and a busy house, my writing hours are precious. But if I could write full time, then a walk in the woods or up on the Downs would probably be my choice for a day off.

What was your favourite book as a child and has it influenced your work as an author?
Does anyone out there remember Pookie the Flying Rabbit or Orlando the Marmalade Cat? I loved them, but if there’s any influence on what I write, it’s subconscious, because I can’t remember the stories themselves and I can only just picture Orlando. Reading to my own children, I enjoyed Jane Hissey’s stories, and Jill Murphy’s tales of the Large family, among many, many others.

Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?
Enjoy yourself. Don’t fret about having a plot or a start, middle and end when you’re starting something. If the blank page is scary, just write anything about anything – nobody but you needs to read it, and it’s surprising how the pen takes over once it gets started. I never start a story knowing the end, and I often start with just a sentence that I love the sound of or a picture in my head. Then I’ll write forwards, backwards and around that nugget until it starts to lead somewhere.

If a story gets “stuck”, try making one big change for the fun of seeing what happens – add a new character, or some silly event to loosen things up. A CHRISTMAS WISH only came to life some months after I started it, when I gave Gemma a little brother. If a story really won’t play, let it rest for a while. Just because you can’t make it work now, doesn’t mean you never will – and you’ll see it with fresh eyes when you come back to it.

For picture books, always read your text aloud as you develop it – to yourself in the early stages and to a patient friend when you think it’s nearly ready. Reading aloud really shows you where the “dead words” are and where the flow needs to be.

Julia is the author of A CHRISTMAS WISH

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Cecilia Johansson Cecilia Johansson was born in Västervik, a small town on the east coast of Sweden. Since graduating from Nottingham Trent University in 1999, Cecilia has worked full-time as an illustrator. She now lives in Stockholm, and likes to draw and paint, read books, travel and spend time with her dog, a Welsh Springer Spaniel called Dustin!

Tell us about the way you work. Where do you draw? Do you have a particular routine? Do you listen to music as you work?
I share a studio with six other people (and two dogs!) in a very nice part of Stockholm. I travel there by bus, which takes about 40 minutes and I spend the time reading a book or just listening to other people’s conversations. My friend, Jessica, and I have a room to ourselves. We listen to the radio most of the day. We don’t have the same taste in music, but she chooses the channel in the morning and I choose in the afternoon. We also talk a lot – the others tell us they can hear us chatting all day long!

What medium do you use to create your illustrations?
For most of my children’s books, I work in acrylics. It’s fun and a bit messy. And the good thing is you can make as many mistakes as you want – you can always paint over it until it looks like you want it to! However, I enjoy working in different styles. I often make quick line drawings, almost like sketches, and then colour them in using the computer. Hopefully one day I will be able to illustrate a whole book in this style!

Lots of different animals feature in TEN ON THE BUS. Which animal did you most enjoy drawing and have you seen any interesting animals in the wild?
I think I like the camel best. I gave him an iPod to listen to while travelling on the bus. I had just bought one myself at that time so I thought that was fun. Working with the drawings you kind of get to know the animals’ characters, you give them attributes and think of them as friends. I like animals a lot! Dogs are my favourite but I am a bit allergic. When I was in Australia four years ago, I met some kangaroos in the zoo. They were so tame and just lay on the grass while we fed and patted them. I was curious to see if I was allergic to kangaroos too, but now I know I’m not!

You lived in England for seven years and now live in Sweden. Which is the best country you have ever been to?
I am very happy in Sweden. I live in the capital, Stockholm, but I am very close to green areas, parks and forests. It’s a nice country which gets cold enough for skiing in the winter, and warm enough for swimming and sunbathing in the summer! But I also miss England a lot and I think a part of me will always be left there. Now when I go travelling I often take the chance to visit friends. My best friend lives in North Cyprus and I have been to see her and her family a few times. She takes me to places normal tourists don’t usually find, and we go diving and fishing and have barbeques on the beach!

Who or what are your influences?
Well, I read a lot and I collect children’s books for inpiration. Quentin Blake is, of course, one of my favourites, but I also like French artist Benjamin Chaud and Swedish talent Pija Lindenbaum. I like the kind of clever humour these illustrators all have. Another source of inspiration is my dog, Dustin! I think all of the animals I draw have a little bit of him in them…

What would be your ideal way to spend a day off from illustrating?
I’d probably spend it outdoors somewhere. I like jogging and I always say I’m training for the marathon. It will probably not happen for many years to come but that’s one of my goals anyway! I get very excited when the picnic season starts. My friend and I have decided to try out all the parks in Stockholm before the summer is over!

If you hadn’t become an illustrator, what do you think your career would have been?
Both my parents were teachers and I saw how hard they worked, so I always said that’s not for me! I had lots of different career plans when I was younger, for example, dolphin trainer, pottery artist, librarian, photographer for National Geographic… Now, however, I think teaching would not be such a bad idea after all… A PE teacher perhaps?

Cecilia is the illustrator of     ME AND MY MUMMY     ME AND MY DADDY     TEN ON THE BUS     JUST LIKE MUMMY     JUST LIKE DADDY

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Tina Macnaughton Tina Macnaughton was born in Edinburgh and did a BA Honours in Illustration before going on to work as a graphic designer for Grosvenor of London and Hasbro. She now illustrates picture books full-time. Tina loves travelling, sailing, cinema and animals. She worked in the Cayman Islands for a year before going to college, and has been on many safaris as well as sailing around Britain and Europe. She lives in Guildford.

What medium do you use to create your pictures?
I use soft pastels on tinted pastel paper with pastel pencils for fine detail. It’s brilliant for creating the soft fur of animals and snow. Plus, it’s great for instant colour, with no mixing, and makes planning a colour scheme very easy, though pastel paintings are very delicate because they smudge like crazy.

Do you listen to music or the radio while you work? Yes, I listen to radio that has a mix of music and topical conversation, though I have found classical music is best for doing grand magical landscapes and upbeat pop music is best for doing pictures with humour.

When did you decide you wanted to illustrate children’s books?
At the age of 10 or so I was asked if I was going to be an artist when I grew up and surprisingly I said “NO WAY” as I thought you could not make a living at it. Then at 14 I went to a careers evening at school and learned of graphic design and illustration, which I was delighted about because I really loved art above anything else.

Did you enjoy art at school? Yes, it was always my favourite subject and I was always the top of my class. I even won the painting cup at sixth form college, though art school did not do much for my confidence because it’s so subjective. One teacher may love your work, but another may hate it – it is all a matter of preference. With art, there is no right or wrong answer, which can be frustrating to a young artist.

What’s the best thing about being a children's book illustrator?
The best thing is creating worlds and characters in your head and making them come alive on paper. Not only that, it’s very, very fulfilling to know that so many people gain pleasure from looking at my pictures.

And the worst?
The worst aspect is tight deadlines and working late into the night.

You illustrated lots of different animals in SNUGGLE UP, SLEEPY ONES. Did you do much research?
Yes, I always research animals. You can never have enough reference material and I am slowly building up a collection of books on animals, plants and scenery. I also collect images from wildlife magazines, plus I spend a lot of time searching on the Web as well. Sometimes I see a pose and think “Wow, that is so cute”, and keep it for future books.

Which animal did you enjoy illustrating the most and why? I think maybe the hedgehog because he is so small and vulnerable. Plus he gets things stuck to his prickles, which offers scope for cute humour.

Who are your favourite illustrators?
I am a fan of John Butler whose animals are so adorable. I also love Alan Lees’ work on THE LORD OF THE RINGS novels — he has such awe-inspiring talent. He is everything any artist would wish to be.

Do you have any tips for aspiring illustrators?
Self-belief, unique painting style and passion are nothing if you have not got discipline to sit down and work without someone nagging you. You have to be very self-motivated and organised. A lot of people fail because they are not prepared to work hard. On a practical note you need financial back-up in the form of savings or a part-time job in the beginning for at least one or two years. Never enter into this with big debts because you need to give it plenty of time to grow and allow you to work at it full-time. Finally, don’t let any rejection make you depressed or destroy your confidence — even the very best artists get turned down.

What’s your favourite animal?
I am absolutely nuts about dogs. They have such funny personalities with such a lust for life that could inspire anyone. They are one of the few animals with a sense of humour.

Titles illustrated by Tina are: ONE RAINY DAY, ONE WINTER’S DAY,
ONE SNOWY NIGHT, THE LITTLEST OWL, THE LITTLE LOST ROBIN,
ONE MAGICAL DAY, WHILE ANGELS WATCH, SNUGGLE UP, SLEEPY ONES,
and SNOW FRIENDS

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Mick Manning & Brita Granström

Mick has a degree in graphics and an M.A. in Illustration. An authority on birds and mammals, he has been a freelance illustrator since 1982 and has taught at various art colleges. Brita grew up on a small farm and studied Graphic Design and Illustration. When Mick and Brita first met, they began making children’s books together for fun in the evenings after their day jobs. They are now married and share a home and children.

How long have you been writing and illustrating books?
Mick & Brita: About 12 years in print – but we both trained to be illustrators and designers, Mick in England and Brita in Sweden.

Where did you get the idea for the story of COCK-A-DOODLE-HOOOOOOO!?
Brita: It was actually inspired by a newspaper article, from a Swedish newspaper, that my mum sent us. It was about an owl that had spent the sub-zero winter in a hen house. We have hens ourselves – but no owl! We have some ferrets too.

How do you organise yourselves when you are working together? Mick: We work quite closely together with an idea at concept and rough stage and then, depending on the book, we collaborate on the illustrations to a greater or lesser degree. We have four young children, so we tend to divide the days; one of us in the studio and the other pushing the pram or picking up the kids from school!

Where do you go for new ideas when writing a picture book?
Mick: We are always looking out for ideas. Many come from our own interests and day-to-day experiences – nature, history, children, pets, etc. We have recently published a book inspired by a family walk along Hadrian’s Wall.

Do you have anyone in particular in mind when you write or draw? Do you have a set of victims that you test your latest work on?
Brita: We tend to write books for ourselves, things we’d like to read or share with our children.

Which authors and illustrators influence your work?
Mick: We like many authors and illustrators, although I’m not sure if we are actually influenced by anyone. You’ll have to make your own minds up! I was taught by Quentin Blake among others, and Brita and I both love his work, attitude and spontaneity – but we don’t think our work shows an influence. Brita admires Janet Ahlberg and particularly Ardizzone, and I think her drawing shows a kindred spirit. I love Ardizzone too. Who else do we admire? Loads of people!

What is the best part of creating books for children?
Mick: It’s all exciting; from the first idea jotted down, to creating the book’s layout, to the artwork itself. It’s an intense process that can often feel like you’re rolling a heavy stone uphill! But when you get it to the top, the view is lovely!

Do you have any tips for aspiring authors and illustrators?
Mick & Brita: Don’t be disheartened. We had many book ideas turned down before we got our first one published together. You have to believe in yourself – it might sound corny but it is true. Be original. Know the market and don’t try to “re-invent the wheel”. Always remember you are making serial imagery not individual paintings. Think of your book as a film. Think about the progression from big to small, noisy and quiet, close and far away, and think about colour! Always make a dummy book for yourself to see how the illustrations work in sequence. Think about your audience.

Mick Manning and Brita Granström are the author -illustrator team behind COCK-A-DOODLE-HOOOOOOO! See details here

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Sarah Massini Sarah Massini began her career in corporate graphic design, and then settled as a designer in children’s publishing. After the birth of her son, she fulfilled a life-long ambition and became a full-time children’s book illustrator. She lives with her family in Sussex where she sits in her workroom each day, looking out over the fields, and being constantly distracted by her mad dog Tess! In 2008 Sarah was longlisted for The Big Picture campaign’s Best New Illustrators Award.

Where do you get inspiration for your artwork?
Everything, everywhere, everybody! Visual inspiration is around us all the time.

Are there any other illustrators, past or present, whose work you particularly admire?
There are too many to mention! I’m in awe of many contemporary illustrators – there is so much talent around. But one of my passions is collecting books from the 1950’s and 60’s. I love the style of the illustration and design, and the quality of the printing. I think this particular influence can be seen in OODLES OF NOODLES.

As a former children’s book designer, do you think you find it harder to take artistic direction, or does it make it easier to get it right first time?
I always try to take artistic direction on board – it’s usually helpful and constructive. The ‘laying out’ of text and illustration is second nature to me. I don’t always agree with the typefaces chosen, although I’m very happy with my two Little Tiger Press books – Little Tiger’s designers are top notch!

Have you always wanted to illustrate children’s books?
I started painting pictures for traditional children’s stories as part of school projects. Illustrating was my passion, but I was told that it would be more sensible to choose an artistic discipline that would earn a proper living, hence a degree and career in graphic design! After my son was born, and I was combining motherhood with freelance work, I decided to try my hand at what I’d always wanted to do – illustrating at last!

Do you show your illustrations to your son? Is he a fan of your work?
Matthew regularly looks over my shoulder and gives me sound advice. I put this question directly to him and he said, “I’m definitely a fan,” and then pondered over the fact that he didn’t have any of my work on his bedroom wall. But then pictures of cute bunnies aren’t very cool when you’re a ten-year-old boy! I think he is quite proud of his mum though, and will show my work off to unsuspecting visitors, even when I’d rather he didn’t! One final thing: I always try to sneak a reference to Matthew’s name into my book illustrations, and there is one in OODLES OF NOODLES!

What is the best thing about illustrating children’s books?
Knowing that children all around the world can take pleasure in the little details that I’ve thought about, roughed out, drawn up, and finally painted, at my window overlooking Sussex fields and trees and sheep.

Sarah is the illustrator of I'M SPECIAL I'M ME! OODLES OF NOODLES

Marni McGee Marni McGee grew up in North Carolina and graduated from UNC, Chapel Hill, with “Highest Honours in English”, and from Yale with an MA in Religion. She has treasured books and words ever since childhood. In addition to her award-winning picture books, she has written poetry, easy readers and historical fiction. Her favourite things include beach walks, reading, theatre, crosswords, travel and music. She lives in Santa Barbara, California with her husband.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Realising and embracing my career as a writer was a gradual process, but I was always a storyteller. My big sister and I shared a bedroom when we were little, and I remember telling her stories after our mother had turned off the lights… We were supposed to be asleep, but we would put our heads between the legs of the bedside table and whisper in the dark. This is a happy memory and the starting point for me.

What is the best thing about writing for children?
A writer for children has the amazing privilege of affecting a child’s view of the world. A story told early can touch a child’s spirit; a nest of words can shape a child’s dreams. I am profoundly aware that this is not only a privilege but also a trust. I take the responsibility very seriously – which is not to say that all my books are serious. Some are quite playful, like SILLY GOOSE. But even the most light-hearted ones have a meaning tucked away. These hidden messages always boil down to the basics – love, loyalty, honour, acceptance and courage.

Do you have a set routine when you are working on a book or do you wait for inspiration to strike?
In the early days of my career, my writing times were more disciplined and more predictable, but now travel, speaking engagements, and school visits intervene. And I’ve become a grandmother to little people in faraway places, so travel is inevitable. I write all the time. I think about my plot and invite my characters to chat no matter what I'm doing. I feel that I am always involved in the process, even when I’m asleep. There are times in any particular story when I don’t know where to go, what to do – and then I wait. This begins a time of openness, watching and listening.

Are your animal characters based on real people? Do you know anyone as cunning as Fox, or as sweet and naive as Goose?
I don’t know about “sweet”, but more than any character I've ever created, Goose is me, my alter ego. She is hopelessly gullible – and so am I. Fox is such a shifty character, such a smooth talker. Yes, I've met Fox… I used to work for him… in an office job long ago!

Do you look forward to seeing your characters interpreted by an illustrator? Are they ever as you imagined them?
I absolutely love the picture book process! I find it thrilling to see how my characters turn out, and I’ve only been disappointed once – a long time ago. In talks, I often explain that there are three imaginations at work to make a picture book, and they are all essential. The author’s imagination usually, but not always, begins the process. The other obvious component is the illustrator’s imagination. In between is the publisher and their team – the people who make the magic happen by “marrying” a particular author and the perfect artist for the task.

Do you do anything special to relax and celebrate when you finish a book?
Not really. It’s awfully hard to know when to say that a book is truly finished. For me, the ideal time to celebrate is when the finished art arrives at my door and I see for the first time how the words and images have come together. That’s the very best time – a good occasion for a nice dinner out. Of course, by this time, I’m working on something else. Writing is such a joy and a source of satisfaction for me that it really is its own reward.

What advice would you give to anyone trying to get their children’s book published?
Require the very best of yourself because children are worth it. This means that you have to revise and polish like crazy. It means that you may have to face a lot of disappointment before you get to celebrate success. Never give up on your dream. Finally, don’t do it for the money… Only do it if it brings you joy!

See details of Marni’s books: SILLY GOOSE WHILE ANGELS WATCH

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Ann Meek Ann lives in Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire. She works as a Learning Support Assistant at a primary school and enjoys writing children’s stories, going to the theatre and reading in her spare time. Ann was the winner of the Little Tiger Press New Author Prize in 2003.

What was the inspiration for I’M SPECIAL, I’M ME!?
Working with so many different children and having my own family made me realise how different and diverse children can be, and how that uniqueness is special and should be celebrated in a positive way. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we were all the same?

What do you hope children will draw from the story?
I hope children will read the story and realise that it’s great to be different from anybody else; we’re all good at something – we just have to find out what it is!

How long did the book take you to write?
Actually not very long, but I kept revisiting it and changing words or adding bits and pieces until I was happy with it.

Is Milo based on anyone you know?
I think Milo is a combination of lots of the children that I have had the pleasure of working with, but I do have reddish hair and wear glasses for driving!

What was your favourite play