1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I used to be a break-dancer; dragging large sheets of cardboard to school to do back spins and head-spins with my rock-steady crew!
2. What is your nickname?
It used to be Corky but now it’s ‘Daaaaaaad!’.
3. What is your greatest fear?
Wasps and sharks or worse - Sharky wasps.
4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Combine some rhyme with colour; then add some giggly fun!
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Fun, creative, visual, positive, relaxed.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
I hate to say it but Gandalf from The Hobbit because I love the idea of being a wizard. Then I could summon fireworks or Tim-Tams out of thin air; or a herd of wild beasts to storm parliament.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
1000 years into the future because time-travel should exist by then and I could travel back in time to when I was ten and give myself a hover-board!
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
Thanks for the hover-board.
9. Who is your greatest influence?
Theodor Seuss Geisel (or Dr Seuss). His rhyming style and character development was just pure genius. I have always been drawn to his positive philosophical approach to writing and quirky illustration style.
10. What/who made you start writing?
Friends of mine lost their daughter in a tragic forceps delivery and this inspired them to setup the Elise Sneddon Foundation to support the neo-natal unit at the Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital. One day I said to them, "Hey I'll write a book and the proceeds can support the foundation." The experience was so rewarding, I just kept writing.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Imagination: because it opens the creative mind to escapism beyond what we are taught to think.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I was going to say a cook book so I wouldn’t be eating baked-beans and cheese for the rest of my life; but I would sacrifice that for Dr Seuss’s ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go!’. Yep, it’s a kids book but it is always good for a laugh and a lift-up - I love it! And it would inspire me to cook something other than baked-beans and cheese!
Daniel's hilarious new book is out now. Click here to visit his website and for more info on how to snaffle your copy of I Brushed My Teeth and My Head Exploded!
If you are an author or illustrator who thinks they are BRAVE enough to answer our questions,
OR if there is an author or illustrator you would like to hear from, LET US KNOW!
We will see if they are up to the task. Just email: susanATkids-bookreviewDOTcom
