I used to be a soldier in the army reserve when I was at university. I didn’t take it very seriously and thought charging through the bush in army greens with a self-loading rifle was a hoot.
2. What is your nickname?
Caz.
3. What is your greatest fear?
I’ve always been scared of the dark and I still am. My mind goes crazy, imagining all sorts of horrific things if it’s pitch black, so I still have a night light.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Irreverent, silly, amusing and ridiculous but also tender and heartfelt.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Observant, flexible, determined, humorous, perfectionist.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Dr Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat. He has way too much fun causing chaos, but gets away with it.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d go back to when I was nine years old, the year my youngest sister was born. It was such an exciting time.
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Don’t worry. Just grab a book and read, and you’ll forget all your worries.
9. Who is your greatest influence?
My two children. They have taught me so much about what’s important in life.
10. What/who made you start writing?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
My favourite word is tidious. It’s the opposite of fastidious and describes my approach to keeping the house tidy. (I might have made it up!)
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
The Roald Dahl Treasury – 444 pages of some of Dahl’s best writing. And if I was sick of the words, I could pore over Quentin Blake’s delightful illustrations.
Caz Goodwin is an award-winning author who writes picture books, short stories, poetry and junior fiction for children. She lives in Melbourne, but has also lived in Brisbane, Auckland and Singapore. Her work has been published internationally and illustrated by Gus Gordon, Ashley King, Kerry Millard, Loo Joo Hong and others. She is also head of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in Victoria. Caz’s latest book is Lazy Daisy, the first in a series of picture books to be published by Little Hare, an imprint of Hardie Grant Egmont. They feature Daisy the lazy koala and are illustrated by Ashley King. For more information, see www.cazgoodwin.com.