Books the right stuff
It’s Book Week and the 2017 theme is Escape to Everywhere … or should we say, right here! One local children’s author has written a series of location books featuring our city.
Meet Sally Leary, who has agreed to give us an insight into her work and life: How did you get started as an author?
My first book, Food For Me Is Gluten Free, was written for my son, Lachlan. He had a rocky road to diagnosis and recovery and we went to the library to borrow a children’s picture book about coeliac disease so he could understand his condition and share it with his peers to promote inclusiveness and knowledge. There were no such books … so I wrote one! What inspired you to focus on local areas for your books?
Once again, my inspiration came from Lachlan.
I grew up in Melbourne and was a Collingwood supporter (as were my parents and sister and grandparents). I had ‘coached’ my son to barrack for Collingwood, however one day he came to me and explained that he was changing teams and wanted to support Geelong as that’s where he lived (and Collingwood didn’t mean anything to him).
I realised that the influence of culture and community was very strong and very important and wrote Corio Bay Kingdom to celebrate the magnificence of what is in our own backyard. This was the start of my series of five location books, which have become very popular. Did you work closely with the illustrator of your books?
Very much! All the illustrations came from my imagination and vision. He drew what I envisioned. He brought to life what was in my imagination so others could share it too. What did you want to be when you were a teenager?
Ah … many things actually. A journalist, a professional tennis player, a teacher, a forensic scientist …. When you were young, what was your favourite book?
I loved Enid Blyton books: The Magic Faraway Tree series, The Naughtiest Girl in the School series.
A favourite picture book was the classic The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr. I still have it. I had it rebound and handed it down to all my three children. It sits on my son’s bookshelf and I still read it from time to time as it brings me great pleasure and holds wonderful memories! What book do you wish you had written?
Wow! What an interesting and challenging question!
The Harry Potter series would have been great to author — they have brought so much joy and captured the hearts and minds of so many people … and put reading back on the map for a lot of people I think. What do you like reading now?
When in a library or bookstore, I still gravitate to the picture book section to have a browse, as I love picture books.
I read a lot of non- fiction these days. When brainstorming or mind mapping ideas for a story include everything! No idea is outrageous! If it comes to mind, jot it down. You never know how that idea might spark another idea later on.
Write from the heart, write from your experiences and write about what is important to you. If it is important to you, it is likely to be important to someone else.
The process of editing and redrafting is where we perfect our craft. Make sure you take the time to do this.
There are so many writing genres. Challenge yourself to experiment with different genres and different styles of writing. That’s how we grow as a writer.
Most importantly, have fun when you write! www.sallysbooks.com www.sallylearey.com