I don’t like driving over bridges.
2. What is your nickname?
Sal
3. What is your greatest fear?
Driving over bridges!
4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Succinct - allowing the illustrations to do much of the work.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Succinct, dedicated, quick, creative, collaborative.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Mary from The Secret Garden. I was spellbound by this book as a child. Mary had a mansion and huge gardens to explore. I’ve always found English walled gardens so enchanting.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I think I’d like to go forward in time, maybe 2030 and gather a few ideas for writing stories relevant to future children.
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
It took you a while! Well done!
9. Who is your greatest influence?
Oliver Jeffers! I love this guy!! His ideas are brilliant and he is totally gorgeous too! Oh and Steven Michael King and Peter Carnavas and Jon Klassen. All these talented author/illustrators create books that I LOVE!
10. What/who made you start writing?
My first memory of writing narratives was in year 5 with my teacher Leanne Lenegan. I wrote a story called ‘Pea’ it had a big green pea on the cover and it was about the life of a pea. I am devastated that I did not keep that book. This teacher used to draw the most amazing illustrations around the edge of the blackboard every morning. I’d really like to tell her that I still remember those drawings and when I became a teacher I did the same to be just like her. So if anyone knows her please tell her she was a great inspiration to me.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
IMAGINE! Because it doesn’t matter what other stuff is going on around you, you can always retreat into your mind and imagine whatever you want. There are no limits and you can experience anything in your mind with your imagination. I love this word so much that I want to tattoo it on my wrist. To tattoo or not to tattoo???? Still deciding.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pezzetino by Leo Lionni. This is an old book picture book that I recently discovered. It was written the year I was born, 1975. It has a wonderful message that I think I could read every day to remind me that I am just me and that is all I need to be.
Sally Fawcett is an Australian author and illustrator living in Western Australia. Her debut picture book, What Could It Be?, is published by EK Books. Visit Sally's website and Facebook page for more information about her writing and creative projects.