My Book Corner is VERY excited to invite award winning author Nick Bland to answer our questions.
The Runaway Hug won the CBCA Early Childhood Book of the Year, and The Wrong Book is the chosen picture book for National Simultaneous Storytime 2013.
Nick Bland is the talented author of a plethora of great picture books and Book Apps – we’ve had much fun reviewing them, reading them and finding the hidden game in The Very Hungry Bear.
It is with great pleasure that he is welcomed to My Book Corner.
Tell us about you in 25 words or less.
I have worked hard and I have been lucky. It is a helpful combination.
What makes you happy?
When small people win big battles. And I don’t think I’ve ever felt happier than when I’m watching animals in nature. Seeing a White Bellied Sea Eagle catch a fish makes me particularly happy.
Where have you always wanted to visit, but haven’t made it to … yet?
The Amazon River. Rivers and jungles are probably my favourite natural features so it would be nice to see the biggest river before it runs out of jungle.
Where is your favourite place to write?
My front yard. I live in the tropics on a remote peninsula facing out towards Indonesia. I like to sit in the shade of the fig tree with paper or the laptop. But what I’m usually thinking is what a great place this would have been to write all that stuff that I just wrote on the back of my ferry ticket or on my phone or on the back of my hand.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
Bigotry.
What’s the best thing about being a published author and illustrator?
I can complain about bigotry and someone might listen.
What’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked?
From a 19 year old who had passed his N.T.C.E the previous year.
Q: How do you spell ‘THE’?
A: “t-h-e.”
I had the rest of the conversation with his school.
Who or what inspires you?
Reading about, or talking to people with great ideas.
What is your worst habit?
Forgetting the washing in the machine has finished and letting it get all crinkly before I put it on the line.
Your favourite word(s) and why?
WET SEASON. Until you’ve seen a decent wet season in the tropics, you’ve never seen weather. Where I live, there is an island about 60km north in the Arafura Sea. Above that island is the biggest known regular storm in the world. It’s name is Hector, and when the wet season arrives, Hector explodes.
What has been the highlight of turning your books in to Book Apps?
Watching two young computer genius’ take such care bringing my characters to life.
Are hungry bear and polar bear still great friends?
I’m thinking Bear doesn’t get any better at fishing, so I’d say yes.
Did we forget anything?
Footy tipping. I’m not very good at it.
Just for fun
Tea or coffee? Coffee
Paper books or e-books? Yes
Vegemite or Marmite? Vegemite
Write or type? type
Poetry or prose? PROSE
Beach or bush? Bush
Hot or cold? Hot
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