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Interview: Joanna Marple on uTales.

Darshana Shah Khiani‘s interview on her Children’s Book Review site, “Flowering Minds”, with new children’s picture book author, Joanna Marple, is revealing on lots lof levels.

Joanna and Darshana met on children’s writer and illustrator FaceBook site, 12 x 12 , a very lively, supportive, share and learn community set up by Julie Hedlund. When Joanna released her very first picture book, a collaboration with the very talented Maja Sereda, Darshana jumped in with the interview offer.

“Snow Games” is a fun tumble and rumpus in winter’s wonderland aimed at 3 to 7 year olds. Maja’s wonderfully endearing little animal characterisations beautifully complement the story.

Joanna  shares what it was like to collaborate with Maja to create “Snow Games”. Close collaboration between author  and illustrator is a circumstance largely [and sadly] foreign to most traditional print publishing. For Joanna and Maja it was a fun and very rewarding experince. But the interview goes beyond the creation of  ”Snow Games”. It also details Joanna’s experience of the uTales website and her thoughts on traditional and digital publishing.

Joanna mentions my collaboration with noted animal and wildlife illustrator, Muza Ulasowski, a story about surviving change, “The Sea Cat Dreams”. Muza was one of many wonderful illustrators I met on the uTales Facebook group and have since worked with to create a varied range of children’s books.

I have found the opportunity to collaborate with illustrators something eminently rewarding, an experience that  enriches both participants and results in a more vibrant and much richer work. My first picture book, “Mending Lucille” was also a result of a collaboration. Working with the amazing Sarah Davis was inspirational! I have gone on to collaborate closely with illustrators all over the world to create numbers of other picture books, some digitally published**, some in process with p

I was just forwarded these lovely, sensitive reponses from a primary school class who studied Mending Lucille. They're a very perceptive and thoughtful group, I think!

Josh “ …thinks it would have been hard to write the book feeling so much emotion. The book is heart warming”
Phoebe said “ ..the pictures look like photos.”
Kira said “ the plane is taking the mother to heaven.”
Jess “…thinks it’s very moving”
Mia said…” the story is enchanted”
Matt thinks that …”at the end, it’s a new world for the family as they are happy together.”
Anna thought the art looks a bit like a journal.
Amy said the artwork is colourful and has cuddles.
Alex said “…the book is very descriptive.”
Kobey thought the story was sad. The artwork is wonderful.
Noah said that…” The illustrations show the girl is broken hearted.”
Sadie said “… I feel connected to the book. And when the girl let go of the healed bird, she also let go of her grief.”

Thanks to all of you for your lovely comments.

The first time I met Sarah at the SCBWI Conference and saw her work I was drawn into her complex emotional and creative life. Her art is sensitive and thoughtful like her. I knew she’d be one of those special illustrators and the Children’s Book Council has acknowledged it by giving her this prestigious award. I felt moved by it and love the recognition. She deserves it on many levels. Her generosity to SCBWI and to everyone, when she has her own work and family demands is typical of Sarah.

Sarah gave me one of the illustrations from Mending Lucille. It’s so beautiful and hangs in The Hughenden in the Reading Room with illustrators like Shan Tan, Donna Rawlings, Wayne Harris and Carolyn Magerl. I want everyone to admire her art.

Congratulations to a special illustrator, artist, mother of 3 fabulous kids and friend.