I am unsinkable. I can float in a pool without treading water.
2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Mr Hyde as he reminds the world that inside every villain is a hero wanting to get out.
3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Enid Blyton – So I can thank her for instilling in me my love of reading and writing.
Julia Donaldson – But only if she talks in rhyme the whole time.
Anh Do – So he can paint a picture of all the guests while holding a great conversation.
Andrew McDonald – So I can get tips on how to write graphic novels as great as Real Pigeons. (Something I want to do this year.)
Kitty Black – Because she is one of my BFF writers
4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
Time travel, so when I conduct research for my books, I can travel to that time and place to truly experience what my characters would be see, taste, smell, hear and feel.
5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Intentional – Most weeks I don’t have a lot of time to write, so when I do I dedicate myself to it. Structured – I am a plotter. I like to know where my characters are going and why.
Generous – I love to support fellow writers on their journey.
Engrossed – Once I enter my character's world it is hard to get me out of it.
Fun – I like to have fun with my stories and characters.
6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
Humorous, generous, prolific, inspirational, versatile.
7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
Plants – I love to see the green of nature. Organised desk – I struggle to work on a cluttered desk. A comfy chair. Trusty laptop, which I try and back up on a regular basis. Books, picture books, middle-grade books, my own books. Artwork from local illustrators, my children and my students.
8. Grab the nearest book, open it to page 22 and look for the second word in the first sentence. Now, write a line that starts with that word. (Please include the name of the book!)
Back, from Bedtime, Daddy my debut picture book.
Back to bed little one, it’s time to rest your weary head.
9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
Enid Blyton – "Where did all of your ideas come from and can you give me just one?”
10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
Tough question. Never read another book. I can’t physically and mentally stop writing stories. I get antsy if I haven’t written for a few days. I have to write!
Sharon Giltrow grew up on Yorke Peninsula in South Australia surrounded by pet sheep, sandy beaches, fields of barley and her seven siblings. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband, two children, a tom cat and a miniature dog. Having worked with children for all of her career, she has been a teacher of children who are hearing impaired and Deaf-Blind, and is now an Early Childhood Educator and Teacher Education Support working with Young Children with Developmental Language Disorder. For more information, see www.sharongiltrowauthor.com.
