2. What is your nickname?
People just seem to like saying my rather silly last name, so I often get Stitzel. As a teenager, my older sister got the nickname Stitz, so I became Mini-Stitz. I quite enjoyed that, and it’s on theme with my latest book!
3. What is your greatest fear?
Having to tear packing tape with my teeth. YUCK.
4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Playful, lyrical, musical rhyme,
Difficult task, takes a long time.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Determined - dog with a bone!
Determined - dog with a bone!
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Peter Rabbit, of course. He gets to be cheeky and adventurous in a beautiful garden, then comes home to the most cosy room and most warm and loving mother ever captured in print. Bliss!
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’m a huge fan of early rock ’n’ roll and Elvis in particular. I would have to go back to 1956 and scream at one of his concerts.
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
“Wow, did you really draw that?” I loved drawing as a kid, but was very harsh on myself. I hope I would be impressed with the skills I’ve gained!
9. Who is your greatest influence?
Graeme Base. And like so many people my age, I spent hours poring over his books. There are so many little tiny things to find that seemed like a special secret, just for the real bookworms. This is something I try to emulate in my work. I remember getting Sign of the Seahorse as a gift as a tween, when I was ‘too old’ for picture books, but I still loved them. That story is quite sophisticated and has such rich illustrations. I adored the rhyming text and how complex the story was. I was aware that an adult made this book, and realised it was okay to hold on to imagination and beauty, and it was okay to be dreamy and whimsical in your adult vocation. As a little homage to that book, I included my version of the two tiny crayfish characters from Sign of the Seahorse in one spread of Tiny.
10. What/who made you start writing?
I really just started writing as a way to get into children’s books! I’m an illustrator first and foremost. I was trying to get my portfolio in front of publishers, and thought it would be fun to make a manuscript at the same time. I was lucky enough to get that manuscript picked up, and it became my first book, Mr Mo Starts to Grow. I have educated myself a lot about writing since then, and moved into rhyme. I’m aware I still have a lot more to learn, and it’s a fun journey!
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Oh, what a great question. I think my favourite word is ‘yet’. It is so versatile; it can bring
suspense, or conflict, or it can up the ante. It always feels dramatic and at the same time rather
quaint.
Oh, what a great question. I think my favourite word is ‘yet’. It is so versatile; it can bring
suspense, or conflict, or it can up the ante. It always feels dramatic and at the same time rather
quaint.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates. It tickles my fascination for the 1950s, and it is one of those books that changes depending on which life stage you are at while reading it. Heartbreaking, funny and inspiring.
Laura is an illustrator, author and animator in Naarm / Melbourne. She has been working as an independent artist in Canada and Australia since 2008. She is the author and illustrator of three books – Tiny, Moonlight Mums and Mr Mo Starts to Grow. She is the illustrator of several junior fiction and picture books, and her artwork appears on many book covers. Her art has also appeared in many television series. Laura has created background art, character animation and storyboards at studios creating content for Disney, PBS, Adult Swim, Fox Entertainment and Netflix. Laura completed a Post Graduate study in Animation and Interactive Media at RMIT in Melbourne and studied classical drawing and painting at the New York Academy of Art. For more information, see www.laurastitzel.com.
