Fi. When I was little my brothers called me Fifi or Fiffle
3. What is your greatest fear?
I have two: leeches and heights. When I am bushwalking in the riverbeds and threatened by leeches I wish I was high on a cliff top but when my legs go wobbly looking at the drop I think I’d prefer to risk the leeches.
4. Describe your illustrating style in ten words.
Realistic, atmospheric but with movement. Girls must be pretty.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as an illustrator.
Flexibility, enthusiasm, draftsmanship, imagination, reliability.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
I would be Bilbo Baggins’ great niece and go on adventures. First stop would be Mordor after the ring was destroyed to regenerate it into viable, productive land.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d go to the Middle Ages and be a musician.
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
I stopped growing up when I was seven so I will never know. I do have dreams where I’m not sure if I’m grown up or not although I know I’m a granny.
9. Who is your greatest influence?
The Italian medieval poet Dante Alighieri.
10. What/who made you start writing?
Narnia. I fell in love with Narnia when I was eight. Our second class teacher read us the Magician’s Nephew. I remember her drawing a diagram of the row of terrace houses that Polly and Diggory lived in. It was love at first sight and I am still trying to find a door in.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Probably chocolate.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This is the hardest question ever. I’m going to cheat and say: The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien or The Silver Chair by C.S.Lewis.
Fiona McDonald is an artist who makes dolls, puppets, paintings and sculpture. She has recently illustrated Two Selkie Stories from Scotland, which features two Scottish folktales retold by author Kate Forsyth. You can find out more about Fiona’s creative projects by visiting her website and blog.
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