1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I love to make lists! (Which is probably why I loved the book The Liszts by Kyo Maclear so much. Well, that and the gorgeous illustrations by Julia Sarda. Oh my goodness, those illustrations!)
2. What is your nickname?
2. What is your nickname?
Sadly, I’ve never had one. I tried to give myself one in high school but it never stuck. I don’t think you can give yourself a nickname anyway, can you? It doesn’t really work like that. The closest I have to a nickname is Kel.
3. What is your greatest fear?
3. What is your greatest fear?
I fear not having enough time on this planet to create all the things I want to create and make all the books I want to make and visit all the countries I want to visit.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
I write stuff that makes you go, “Huh?...ohhh. OK.”
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Spontaneous. Curious. Unplanned. Observant. Peculiar.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Rosie Revere, Engineer! She’s smart, sassy, resourceful and knows how to wear a head scarf!
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?
I would go back to the year I was 10 years old and whisper to myself, 'Don’t ever grow up'. Then I’d hop over to 1969 so I could go to Woodstock before heading home.
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
She would say, 'Oh, grow up already!' and also 'I’m proud of you'.
9. Who is your greatest influence?
9. Who is your greatest influence?
My mum.
10. What/who made you start writing?
10. What/who made you start writing?
Drawing and writing is something I’ve always done. I was an only child until I was 15 so growing up I had to entertain myself a lot and I would do that by drawing and painting and writing silly stories and poems for hours at a time and, I guess, I just never stopped!
11. What is your favourite word and why?
YES! Because, often, saying yes leads to great adventures.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
11. What is your favourite word and why?
YES! Because, often, saying yes leads to great adventures.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Lots, by Marc Martin. There’s so much to look at in that book. I’m sure I’d discover something new every time I opened it.
Author/Illustrator Kelly Canby was born in London, England, at a very young age. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia, and is quite a bit older. Kelly spends her days in the studio drawing and writing and when she isn’t in the studio drawing and writing she’s probably in another room drawing and writing. For more information, see www.kellycanby.com.
