Interview by Shannon Barnes
Tell us about your latest book or a project you are working on.
My third book, which I’m writing and illustrating, is called The Cow in the Dark at Night. It's about a cow that sneaks away from her farm to explore the night, and she runs into a bunch of unsavoury characters out there. It’s also fully made with collage, with construction paper! I’m really excited for people to see it.
Tell us about your writing process.
So far, I’ve started the idea and writing process with a mental image and a good line or two, and that pretty much starts the whole thread that carries on from there. It usually goes from a note in my phone, to a drawing, to a loose-ish manuscript and then some page sketches with the text. I’m always visualizing what each page looks like as I’m writing, because half the story is always in the image, whether it's a joke or a softer moment. I also don’t like writing text-heavy stories, and usually let the pictures do about 70% of the heavy lifting.
How did you first get published?
I had used a student book project based on a folktale in my art college’s graduation show that won the Jon Klassen Award, the third-place medal, and that ended up helping me get my agent and started the whole ball rolling. My agent, Hannah Mann, then reached out, and we got to work on my first book, Spider in the Well, pretty soon after! I’ve been able to work on books since 2020, and it’s been the absolute best.
What do you like about writing for young people?
It feels the most natural to write and draw for young people! I am lucky enough to have what I feel is a very direct line to kid-me’s brain and tastes, so it’s the best treat in the world to be able to make what I would have loved as a child (and still do love). I want to cause a riot at bedtime, and make the book that would have a two-year-old memorizing all their favourite parts and give older readers a treat to get to perform for kids. My mom loved reading to me and my younger sister, and it showed when she had a good one, so I want my book to be that good one you remember 20 years from now and laugh about with your family.
Tell us about writers who inspire you.
Tomi Ungerer, Mac Barnett, Jon Scieszka, Maurice Sendak and Margaret Wise Brown are usually my go-to writers. They all have a very good link to exactly what excites kids, and all of them respect the picture book as an absolutely serious art form that demands care, and respect kids as the thoughtful, worthy audience that they are. They may not be deep-cut picks, but you can't argue with the greats; that's why they’re the greats.