Interview
by Hereward L.M. Proops
Booksquawk: Tell us a little bit
about yourself and how you came to create "Florentine and Pig".
Eva Katzler: I grew up baking with
my mum, fighting bears with my brother and making things with my dad. My
childhood was packed full of silliness, fun, adventure and safeness and I have
wanted to create something which flies the flag for old-skool childhood and
play for a very long time. I went to LIPA, (Liverpool Institute for Performing
Arts) and I very early on met a dancer called Florentine. She became a
wonderful friend who had a cheeky sense of humour and the kindest of hearts -
the character Florentine was certainly inspired by her, while Pig’s loyal, fun
and silly characteristics are based on a combination of many of my friends and
family – me included!
B: Who are your favourite authors?
How have they inspired you to become a children's author?
EK: When I was small I loved Enid
Blyton, Jill Murphy and Shirley Hughes... I was certainly inspired by them as
they all created exciting and imaginary worlds for me to leap into and be safe
in... that is certainly something that I hope to achieve with Florentine and
Pig.
B: Do you have a particular routine
for writing?
EK: Nope!
B: Pen and paper or computer?
EK: Computer. But I have a million
scribbly notebooks in my bag.
B: There is a wealth of creative
talent that has gone into the book. How did you come to work with Jess Mikhail and
Laura and Jess Tilli?
EK: I found Jess Mikhail's work on a
blog I was reading. I whooped with joy, dropped her an email and the rest is
history! I have known Laura and Jess Tilli for many years - we all studied
together at LIPA and I've been waiting for the right project for us all to work
on together. They are made for Florentine and Pig!
B: How does a book like this come
together? Do you brainstorm the ideas as a group first or do you write the
story independently before presenting it to the others?
EK: I come up with the story idea
and then discuss it with Jess Mikhail. She often has ideas immediately about
how she sees the illustrations coming together and then I in turn become
inspired by that... I will bear her ideas in mind when I write my first draft. Once
the final draft has been done it gets whizzed over to her and she begins to
weave her magic! Laura and Jess work more with the overall theme of the story
and come up with all the crafts and recipes to compliment the story and make
the book even more exciting and interactive for the children reading it.
B: What are your plans for
"Florentine and Pig" in the future? Can you see yourself branching
out into other avenues? I can totally see the "Florentine and Pig"
story / recipe / activity format working as a children's television programme.
EK: That would be wonderful,
wouldn't it! I can tell you that there's lots going on in the pipeline but it's
a bit top secret. Watch this space!
B: The world of "Florentine
and Pig" is unbelievably nice and lovely. Was this a conscious decision or
are you just one of those sickeningly pleasant people? Be honest... Come on,
for our more misanthropic Booksquawkers out there, what's your worst habit?
EK: The world of Florentine and Pig
is exactly as it should be. I want children to see the characters, jump into
the world and feel calm, happy and safe. As a child should feel. I on the other
hand, am messy, I kill plants and I burn toast. But I do make excellent tea and
I ALWAYS have biscuits.
B: On the subject of biscuits,
what's your favourite?
EK: Hobnobs. Or jaffacakes. Or Rich
Tea. Or Gingernut. I do like biscuits.
B: Where do you stand on Jammie
Dodgers? Have you tried Toffee Dodgers? What about Chocolate Dodgers? They're
basically just glorified Bourbon biscuits.
EK: I love jammie dodgers. I have
not tried any other dodger. I do not intend to.
B: If a cake and a biscuit got into
a fight, who would win?
EK: Depends on the cake. Nothing
would get past my grandma's apple cake. Nothing.
Read the Booksquawk review here.
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