2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Cruella de Vil of Hell Hall, from The Hundred and One Dalmatians, by Dodie Smith. Larger than life, stylishly evil, perverse, entitled, greedy, vain and shameless, Cruella is also graphically arresting — with hair half black and half white. She’s also a woman, and it’s time for more women villains.
3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Tom Stoppard, Lewis Carroll, Dr Seuss, Edward Lear, Germaine Greer.
4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
The Invisibility Cloak, whether from King Arthur, Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, or from any number of other folk tales and stories that feature such a wonder. This is one invention I know I could put to good use seven days a week!
5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Simultaneous (art and words come together), fun, consuming, spontaneous, explorative.
6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
Meaningful, interesting, timely, fun, courageous.
7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
A window to the garden, pens, paper, indoor plant, coffee.
8. Grab the nearest book, open it to page 22 and look for the second word in the first sentence. Now, write a line that starts with that word. (Please include the name of the book!)
‘Breakfast’ from page 22 of What’s Next, Shane?
Breakfast looked great, but it’s hard to tell with mushrooms these days.
9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
I’d ask Dr Seuss: “What was the genesis of the whacky design style of your imagery? Where did this mad world and kooky characters come from? Why is nonsense so important?”
10. Which would you rather do: Never write another story or never read another book?
I can’t stop writing. Maybe I can still read journal articles?
Maree Coote is a writer, designer, illustrator, photographer and publisher. She has enjoyed an award-winning career in advertising and understands Melbourne's unique advantage well. Her many creative passions converge in her studies of Melbourne's history, which is the focus of her work in object design and in publishing over the past ten years. Maree is passionate about a sense of place and history, and she brings this to life in multiple platforms for multiple audiences. Her affinity for Melbourne is unique and highly informed. Her skill is bringing ideas to life, and communicating ideas to any audience 'in whatever form gives them most power: books, artwork, song, stories, design, film...'. For more information, see www.melbournestyle.com.au.
