1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
While filming a baby’s birth, I fainted on the hospital floor. Luckily, I kept my finger on the record button. I didn’t want to miss the action.
2. What is your nickname?
2. What is your nickname?
Frangi, short for Frangipani and Franzilla.
3. What is your greatest fear?
Jumping out of a plane without a parachute into shark and crocodile infested waters.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Conceptual.
Self-taught. Inventive. Off-beat. Abstract. Mosaic. Unpredictable. Ungrammatical.
Slangy. Attemptive.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Self-taught. Inventive. Off-beat. Abstract. Mosaic. Unpredictable. Ungrammatical.
Slangy. Attemptive.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Tenacious. Resourceful. Informative. Flexible. Fun.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Sal from the 1948 Caldecott award-winning book Blueberries for Sal. She’s reminds me of my three-year-old adventurous self.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
Year 0 to observe how the universe began, but without getting blown up in the Big Bang.
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Grow up!
9. Who is your greatest influence?
9. Who is your greatest influence?
My father. He was the funniest, warmest, most generous person. He had a gift for making everyone laugh.
10. What/who made you start writing?
10. What/who made you start writing?
The love of the Caribbean island of Montserrat. I wanted to share this special part of the world in words and paintings.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Smile. It makes you feel good and it’s contagious.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
1000 Places to See Before You Die. If you can’t travel to all 1000 places, you can travel vicariously from the comfort of an armchair.
Frané Lessac is an award-winning author-illustrator, with over 40 books for children. She is a recipient for the Muriel Barwell Award for Distinguished Service to Children's Literature and was the inaugural Regional Advisor for SCBWI Australia West. Frané visits schools, libraries and festivals in Australia and around the world sharing the process of writing and illustrating books. For more information, see www.franelessac.com.
