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The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sarah Dyer (view source)
Revision as of 11:11, 11 October 2009
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{{infoboxinterviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sarah Dyer
|reviewer=Keith Dudhnath
|summary=Bookbag was charmed by the unique illustrations and quirky tale in [[The Girl With The Bird's Nest Hair by Sarah Dyer]]. We jumped at the chance to ask Sarah some questions about her work.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>074759998X</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>074759998X</amazonus>
|date=22 May 2009
}}
{{adsense4}}
Bookbag was charmed by the unique illustrations and quirky tale in [[The Girl With The Bird's Nest Hair by Sarah Dyer]]. We jumped at the chance to ask Sarah some questions about her work.
* '''Bookbag: When you close your eyes and imagine your readers, who do you see?'''
Sarah Dyer: Everyone, I like to hope. From parents reading it to young children and children reading it themselves. I never like to see my books particularly for one age group or only boys or girls. I write the story because I want to tell it and hope there are plenty of people out there to enjoy it.
* '''BB: Is Hollie based on anyone in particular?'''
SD: She is named after a friend's daughter who has similar hair, but really she is a character for all little girls that at some point have to have their hair brushed by their mothers and perhaps don't enjoy it much!
* '''BB: We loved the quirky and fresh style of your illustrations. Which other illustrators or artists have influenced you?'''
SD: I love Kveta Pacovska - she is a true genius. Her charcters, colour and compostion are just amazing. I also love Bruce Ingman, Marc Boutavant and Jeff Fisher. I also have always admired Janet Ahlberg, especially as this time I wrote the book in rhyme - and [[Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet Ahlberg and Allan Ahlberg|Each Peach Pear Plum]] was always a favourite book of mine.
* '''BB: Which is better: scruffy or neat?'''
SD: My hair is super neat... but then it is very straight. I think any way is good - just watch out for settling birds...
* '''BB: Which of the birds in Hollie's hair is your favourite and why?'''
SD: I think it's too difficult to pick just one. I wanted to include as many British birds as possible and have a guide at the beginnning so you could tell what they were when looking through the book. The most fun to draw were probably the turkeys and the peacock.
* '''BB: Is it hard for children's authors and illustrators to get the recognition that adult novelists get?'''
SD: Yes probably, but that is probably because our audience is a lot younger than adult novelists and so that regonition comes in different ways. However, saying that, whenever I do any book festivals there really is nothing better than pleasing a group of 4-7 year olds with my story and illustrations. If they think you are the best thing since sliced bread then that is better than any other type of recognition anyway!
* '''BB: Which three books should every child read?'''
SD: Oh that's a hard question. I loved these as a kid and still do now, but I think everyone is different, so go out read and discover for yourselves, but in the meantime this would be a nice place to start - [[Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet Ahlberg and Allan Ahlberg]], [[Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak]] and [[Not Now, Bernard by David McKee]].
* '''BB: What are you reading at the moment?''
SD: I'm doing an MA at Brighton in Sequential Design & Illustration, so lots of books for that. Mainly books on narrative and fairy/folk tales - work related, I'm afraid, nothing fun!
* '''BB: Which book has most influenced you and do you still have a copy?'''
SD: I think as a student I was most influenced by Maurice Sendak and Kveta Pacovska. My favourite book as a child though was [[Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone]] but it's not a particularly great story. It's just something that reminds me of being young. I do have a copy of it though.
* '''BB: What's next for Sarah Dyer?'''
SD: I have just finished another children's book, this time for Frances Lincoln and I'm hoping to start work on something very soon for Bloomsbury!
* '''BB: Thanks a lot, Sarah - we can't wait to read the new books!'''
{{commentfeature}}
[[Category:Interviews|Dyer, Sarah]] [[Category:Sarah Dyer]]
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sarah Dyer
|reviewer=Keith Dudhnath
|summary=Bookbag was charmed by the unique illustrations and quirky tale in [[The Girl With The Bird's Nest Hair by Sarah Dyer]]. We jumped at the chance to ask Sarah some questions about her work.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>074759998X</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>074759998X</amazonus>
|date=22 May 2009
}}
{{adsense4}}
Bookbag was charmed by the unique illustrations and quirky tale in [[The Girl With The Bird's Nest Hair by Sarah Dyer]]. We jumped at the chance to ask Sarah some questions about her work.
* '''Bookbag: When you close your eyes and imagine your readers, who do you see?'''
Sarah Dyer: Everyone, I like to hope. From parents reading it to young children and children reading it themselves. I never like to see my books particularly for one age group or only boys or girls. I write the story because I want to tell it and hope there are plenty of people out there to enjoy it.
* '''BB: Is Hollie based on anyone in particular?'''
SD: She is named after a friend's daughter who has similar hair, but really she is a character for all little girls that at some point have to have their hair brushed by their mothers and perhaps don't enjoy it much!
* '''BB: We loved the quirky and fresh style of your illustrations. Which other illustrators or artists have influenced you?'''
SD: I love Kveta Pacovska - she is a true genius. Her charcters, colour and compostion are just amazing. I also love Bruce Ingman, Marc Boutavant and Jeff Fisher. I also have always admired Janet Ahlberg, especially as this time I wrote the book in rhyme - and [[Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet Ahlberg and Allan Ahlberg|Each Peach Pear Plum]] was always a favourite book of mine.
* '''BB: Which is better: scruffy or neat?'''
SD: My hair is super neat... but then it is very straight. I think any way is good - just watch out for settling birds...
* '''BB: Which of the birds in Hollie's hair is your favourite and why?'''
SD: I think it's too difficult to pick just one. I wanted to include as many British birds as possible and have a guide at the beginnning so you could tell what they were when looking through the book. The most fun to draw were probably the turkeys and the peacock.
* '''BB: Is it hard for children's authors and illustrators to get the recognition that adult novelists get?'''
SD: Yes probably, but that is probably because our audience is a lot younger than adult novelists and so that regonition comes in different ways. However, saying that, whenever I do any book festivals there really is nothing better than pleasing a group of 4-7 year olds with my story and illustrations. If they think you are the best thing since sliced bread then that is better than any other type of recognition anyway!
* '''BB: Which three books should every child read?'''
SD: Oh that's a hard question. I loved these as a kid and still do now, but I think everyone is different, so go out read and discover for yourselves, but in the meantime this would be a nice place to start - [[Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet Ahlberg and Allan Ahlberg]], [[Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak]] and [[Not Now, Bernard by David McKee]].
* '''BB: What are you reading at the moment?''
SD: I'm doing an MA at Brighton in Sequential Design & Illustration, so lots of books for that. Mainly books on narrative and fairy/folk tales - work related, I'm afraid, nothing fun!
* '''BB: Which book has most influenced you and do you still have a copy?'''
SD: I think as a student I was most influenced by Maurice Sendak and Kveta Pacovska. My favourite book as a child though was [[Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone]] but it's not a particularly great story. It's just something that reminds me of being young. I do have a copy of it though.
* '''BB: What's next for Sarah Dyer?'''
SD: I have just finished another children's book, this time for Frances Lincoln and I'm hoping to start work on something very soon for Bloomsbury!
* '''BB: Thanks a lot, Sarah - we can't wait to read the new books!'''
{{commentfeature}}
[[Category:Interviews|Dyer, Sarah]] [[Category:Sarah Dyer]]