For the past year or more, Heidi Cooper-Smith has brought us a kaleidoscope of illuminating illustrators' insights but is now handing her paintbrushes over to the equally radiant, Katrin Dreiling.
Katrin's illustrative style has been described as quirky, fun, mischievous, original and very European. We just think it's oodles of fun, like Katrin!
Katrin was awarded the Harper Collins Illustrators Showcase Award 2019 at the biannual SCBWI conference in Sydney.
We first met Katrin a couple of years ago in her own Meet The Illustrator interview. Today, as she prepares to take over the reins of Coordinator from Heidi, we divulge a bit more of the delightful Katrin. Welcome!
1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I talk to magpies so they don’t swoop me in September.
2. What is your nickname?
Frau Dreiling (sorry it’s a bit formal).
3. What is your greatest fear?
Werewolves.
4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Quirky,fun, European, humorous, quiet, dreamy, unconventional, bright, unusual, undisciplined (I’m working on that).
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Eager to learn, punctual, fast, cooperative, determined.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Pippi Longstockings – she is both mentally and physically strong and full of humour.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
Medieval ages – fascinating yet scary.
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
Go, go, go!
9. Who is your greatest influence?
Illustrating: Beatrice Alemagna Writing: Astrid Lindgren, Janosch
10. What/who made you start writing?
Grade 3 – my primary school class teacher always encouraged my writing. I have then studied English and German literature at uni.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
My new favourite English word is ‘plumtastic’ (I found it at the Botanical Gardens). My favourite German word is ‘gurken’ which describes ‘moving’ in an aimless, useless way.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Thomas Mann Der Zauberberg (The Magic Mountain).
Katrin is a German-born language teacher but moved to Australia with her husband and three children and became an illustrator. Now she lives in a wooden house on stilts next to a creek filled with snakes and poisonous toads and hopes to spot a koala one day.
Her first picture book, The World’s Worst Pirate by Michelle Worthington was awarded as Notable Book 2018 by the Children’s Book Council of Australia and she also delivered illustrations for a highly successful video animation production on YouTube.
Katrin was awarded the Harper Collins Illustrators Showcase Award 2019 at the biannual SCBWI conference in Sydney. She is represented by Essie White at Storm Literary Agency.
Katrin also teaches art to children twice a week and conducts illustration workshops for both adults and children. In her free time she loves to spend time with her family, writing quirky stories and walking her Golden Retriever, ‘Loki’.