Bridget Strevens-Marzo
Bridget Strevens-Marzo’s illustrations for Philemon Sturges' book How Do You Make A Baby Smile? published by HarperCollins (US 2007) were selected for the Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators in New York in 2006. Her latest book, Les Petites Mains Jouent avec les Formes (Bayard) is due out in March 2008 to follow Les Petites Mains Dessinent, now with Tate UK and Harry N Abrams US as The Big Book for Little Hands, and shortlisted for the 2007 British Book Design Award. Bridget is one of the speakers at the Bologna Biennal Conferenceon 29th & 30th March 2008 and was interviewed by Anita Loughrey in November 2007.
In her interview Bridget Strevens-Marzo said:
“I spent of lot of time living inside pictures – just one image could keep me quiet for a while. In the US in the 1960s, I remember looking intensely at Mary Blair’s I Can Fly as well as cereal packets. I loved some other Golden Book illustrators too, though I didn’t know any of their names. There was never just one favourite. With my French cousins I tried to grab the picture of a chocolate bar out of the Pere Castor Imagier. I fell in love with the boy in the book of Lamorisse’s film Le Ballon Rouge. In England, after overdosing on Rupert Annuals, I liked Saturday comics for their games, and Puffin paperbacks, for their smell as well as their stories and pen drawings. Noel Streatfield’s Ballet Shoes was an early teen favourite along with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and stories of Robin Hood and King Arthur. Perhaps the biggest influence on me was all the time I spent in my father’s studio, looking through his much-thumbed collection of old illustrated books (Dulac, Heath Robinson...), painting or watching him paint.”
Bridget Strevens-Marzo (author illustrator UK/France)
All interviews are immediately available to registered SCBWI Bologna Biennial Conference attendees. Full interviews will be available to the general public at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com in the near future.
You can view Bridget Strevens-Marzo’s books and illustrations on her website: www.bridgetstrevens.com
To register for the conference, please go to: www.scbwi.org/events.htm and click on SCBWI@Bologna.
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David Saylor
David Saylor is Vice President, Creative Director for the Trade Book Group of Scholastic Inc. and has guided the art direction and design of hardcover and paperback trade book publishing since 1996. He has worked closely with many award-winning illustrators and authors, including Saxton Freyman, Christopher Myers, Stephen Savage, Maurice Sendak, Lauren Thompson, and Walter Wick. Anita Loughrey interviewed David in November 2007 as one of the speakers at the Bologna Biennal Conference, March 29th & 30th 2008.
Here is a small preview of the interview:
Is there an area on your list that you would like to grow at this time?
DS: Graphic novels for children.
What is the ideal art sample submission?
DS: I suppose one could say the best sample is one that leads to a book being made.
David Saylor (Scholastic Inc, US)
All interviews are immediately available to registered SCBWI Bologna Biennial Conference attendees. Full interviews will be available to the general public at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com in the near future.
To register for the conference, please go to: www.scbwi.org/events.htm and click on SCBWI@Bologna.
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Emmanuel Guibert
Emmanuel Guibert is a talented comic author whose works include, The Professor's Daughter, Sardine in Outer Space, La Guerre d'Alan and Brune. He lives in France with his family. Anita Loughrey interviewed him in November 2007, as one of the key speakers at the SCBWI Bologna Biennal Conference on the 29th-30th March 2008.
Here is a small preview of the interview:
Do you have favourite medium you work in? If so, did the medium choose you or did you choose it? Can you elaborate?
EG: I draw with anything. And technique is a matter one can only deal with a tool in the hand. I'd rather show you, someday, than heavily write about it.
What are you currently working on?
EG: Alan's war volume III.
Emmanuel Guibert (Author-illustrator, France)
All interviews are immediately available to registered SCBWI Bologna Biennial Conference attendees. Full interviews will be available to the general public at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com in the near future.
To register for the conference, please go to: www.scbwi.org/events.htm and click on SCBWI@Bologna.
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Fiammetta Giorgi
Fiammetta Giorgi is Editorial Director for Mondadori Children's Books. She was interviewed as one of the Bologna 2008 speakers, by Anita Loughrey in December 2007, as she is on the Publisher’s panel at the Bologna Biennal Conference 2008, which takes place on March 29 & 30.
Here is a small preview of the interview:
What does the ideal cover letter say?
FG: It is difficult to find a standard because I prefer “surprising” cover letters that can express what is new in each book.
Is there any area on your list you’d like to “grow” at this time? Do you look at art samples?
FG: I’d like to work more with Italian authors. As for the art samples, I’m working a lot with our art director and we like looking for new artists.
Fiammetta Giorgi (Mondadori Children's Books, Italy)
All interviews are immediately available to registered SCBWI Bologna Biennial Conference attendees. Full interviews will be available to the general public at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com in the near future.
To register for the conference, please go to: www.scbwi.org/events.htm and click on SCBWI@Bologna.
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Jana Novotny Hunter
Jana Novotny Hunter was born in Czechoslovakia and grew up in the UK. She has written over 50 books including the award winning Read My Lips. She lives by the River Thames with her dog and a piano. She was interviewed by Anita Loughrey in November 2007, as one of the key speakers at the SCBWI Bologna Biennal Conference on 29th-30th March 2008.
Here is a small preview of the interview:
Did you always want to be an author illustrator?
JNH: I started off wanting to illustrate and went to art school to do just that. But the writing somehow took over.
What were your other career choices, if any?
JNH: I was a textile designer and an art teacher. Now I’m an editor. I love them all but writing books has to be the best.
Jana Novotny Hunter (Author illustrator, Czech Rep/UK)
All interviews are immediately available to registered SCBWI Bologna Biennial Conference attendees. Full interviews will be available to the general public at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com in the near future.
To find out more about Jana Novotny Hunter take a look at her website:www.cambridgewigglypencil.com
To register for the conference, please go to: www.scbwi.org/events.htm and click on SCBWI@Bologna.
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Kathleen Duey
Kathleen Duey is the author of over 70 children’s and young adult books including historical fiction, nonfiction, picture books and dark fantasy. She was one of the 2007 finalists for the National Book Award for Literature for Young People, with her novel Skin Hunger: A Resurrection of Magic. She writes for adults with a partner; they have a finished novel with an agent and a second work being optioned by HBO. She lives in San Diego County, USA. She is a speaker at the Bologna Biennal Conference, March 2008, and was interviewed by Anjali Amit and Anita Loughrey in November 2007.
In her interview Kathleen Duey said:
“This year the Santa Ana winds were extra dry (a lip-cracking 5% humidity in my town for several days), extra fierce (70mph gusts) and in a few cases, arson and insane carelessness seems to have been involved. The Rice Canyon fire came within about a half mile to the south east of my house, then, a few days later, came within about that same range from the northeast. The moon was orange for a week, and the smoke drifted, causing false dusks that lightened when the wind shifted, then returned when it changed direction again. When the fires were headed our way, we were evacuated for four days and came home to soot and ash on everything. We were very grateful and very, very lucky. Over 200 homes in my town were burned to the ground. I wrote about it on http://kathleenduey.blogspot.com”
Kathleen Duey (Author, US)
All interviews are immediately available to registered SCBWI Bologna Biennial Conference attendees. Full interviews will be available to the general public at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com in the near future.
To find out more about Kathleen Duey and her books visit her website: www.kathleenduey.com
To register for the conference, please go to: www.scbwi.org/events.htm and click on SCBWI@Bologna.
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Marc Boutavant
Marc Boutavant is a French graphic artist, illustrator and children’s book writer. He is the co-creator with Emmanuel Guibert of the ARIOL comic book series. Marc was interviewed in January 2008 by Anita Loughrey, as one of the speakers at the SCBWI Bologna Biennal Conference,taking place on 29th & 30th March 2008.
In his interview Marc Boutavant said:
“When I was 8 years old, a teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. I did a comic on a single page showing me growing, drawing and moving to Paris. After that I didn’t think about comics again until Emmanuel asked me to work on ARIOL. I had to consider it for a while because, for some reason, working on comic books was the last thing I wanted to do! But I wanted to work with Emmanuel, so I said, “Yes.” And here I am, in Paris, drawing ARIOL and writing and illustrating children’s books!”
Marc Boutavant (Author-illustrator, France)
All interviews are immediately available to registered SCBWI Bologna Biennial Conference attendees. Full interviews will be available to the general public at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com in the near future.
To register for the conference, please go to: www.scbwi.org/events.htm and click on SCBWI@Bologna.
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Marie Wabbes
Marie Wabbes first picture book was published by Ecole des Loisirs over 42 years ago. Since then, she has produced over 175 picture books that have been published worldwide. Other interests include breeding Arabian horses and working with African illustrators, guiding them to produce their own picture books. Anita Loughrey interviewed Marie in January 2008, as one of the speakers at the SCBWI Bologna Biennal Conference 2008, which takes place on March 29 & 30.
Here is a small preview of the interview:
What was your favourite book as a child or adolescent?
MW: My favourite book was L’almanach du gai savoir by Colette Vivier. Later I discovered Barok Pimpol et Viginil by Simone Ratel. It is very funny and amusing.
How has your childhood influenced your illustrations and writing?
MW: It was the second-world-war. My father was a prisoner in Germany and we were sent to a farm and I loved everything - the smell of the fresh baked bread, the cherries on the trees, the cows and hens, getting up early in the morning to go mushrooming... in the wet grass.
My illustrations are always fed by details coming from that world. I live in the country and still love it.
Marie Wabbes (Author illustrator, Belguim)
All interviews are immediately available to registered SCBWI Bologna Biennial Conference attendees. Full interviews will be available to the general public at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com in the near future.
To register for the conference, please go to: www.scbwi.org/events.htm and click on SCBWI@Bologna.
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Nancy Miles
Nancy Miles is the founder of the Miles Stott Children's Literary Agency. She represents many highly acclaimed authors, including Ronda Armitage who wrote The Lighthouse Keeper's stories, Dominic Barker who wrote Blart and Justin Richards who has adapted the television series, Dr Who. She was interviewed in November 2007 by Anita Loughrey, as one of the Agency panel speakers at the SCBWI Bologna Biennal Conference 2008, which takes place on March 29 & 30.
In her interview Nancy Miles said:
“I made my own start. My family decamped from London to the depths of west Wales with the birth of our third child. I didn’t feel ready to stop working in the industry and, with limited publishing opportunities in this part of the world, I had to look to myself for inspiration. With a background in rights selling and technology at my fingertips, I couldn’t think of a good enough reason not to start my own agency.”
Nancy Miles (Miles Stott Children's Literary Agency, UK)
All interviews are immediately available to registered SCBWI Bologna Biennial Conference attendees. Full interviews will be available to the general public at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com in the near future.
To register for the conference, please go to: www.scbwi.org/events.htm and click on SCBWI@Bologna.
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Pauline Mermet
Pauline Mermet is editor at Bayard Editions Jeunesse. Since working in Bayard, she has worked with many prestigious illustrators, including Marc Boutavant, Emmanuel Guibert, David De Thuin, Marion Montaigne, Muzo, Yvan Pommaux... and non-fiction authors: Nathalie Tordjman, Anne-Laure Fournier Le Ray and Yvette Veyret. She is a speaker at the Bologna Conference in March 2008 and was interviewed by Anita Loughrey in November 2007.
In her interview Pauline Mermet said:
“I think I’m proud of all the books I worked on. Each one makes me grow in some way. I especially liked working on La vie des Très bêtes because the relationship with the author was so good, and because it was absolutely entertaining to receive a few hilarious scenarios each week. Another book I liked working on is the Encyclo catho. It is the most challenging book I ever worked on: 544 pages with philosophical questions on almost every page. It was interesting to work with another editor on that book because an editor is often the only one in charge of a book and for such a big and ambitious book, it was a relief – and also challenging – to be two in charge!”
Pauline Mermet (Bayard Editions Jeunesse, France)
All interviews are immediately available to registered SCBWI Bologna Biennial Conference attendees. Full interviews will be available to the general public at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com in the near future.
To register for the conference, please go to: www.scbwi.org/events.htm and click on SCBWI@Bologna.
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Susanne Gervay
Susanne Gervay is an Australian author who writes children's and young adult fiction. As the daughter of Hungarian post war refugees, a mother and a cancer survivor, her experiences empower her to write books that reach out to youth on their journey to adulthood. Her young adult books break into new territory and include That's Why I Wrote this Song, The Cave and Butterflies. Her best selling younger fiction I Am Jack tackles school bullying with humour and insight. Anita Loughrey interviewed her in November 2007, as one of the speakers at the SCBWI Bologna Conference on 29th-30th March 2008.
In her interview Susanne Gervay said:
“I thought all eight year old kids wrote stories and poems. It was something I did for escapism from the turbulent family life of being the daughter of post war refugees. Sometimes my writing was funny. Other times it acted as a way of understanding life. I wrote because that is who I am. I didn’t think of it as a career. I’m always surprised that I became a writer and grateful for it.”
Susanne Gervay (Author, Australia)
All interviews are immediately available to registered SCBWI Bologna Biennial Conference attendees. Full interviews will be available to the general public at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com in the near future.
To find out more about Susanne Gervay and her books check out her website: www.sgervay.com
To register for the conference, please go to: www.scbwi.org/events.htm and click on SCBWI@Bologna.
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Susanne Koppe
Susanne Koppe is the founder of the Auserlesen-Ausgezeichnet Literary Agency in Hamburg, Germany. She represents both authors and illustrators, such as Katja Bandlow, Franziska Biermann and Antje Damm. Anita Loughrey interviewed her in January 2008, as she is on the Writer’s Agency panel at the Bologna Biennal Conference 2008, which takes place on March 29 & 30.
Here is a small preview of the interview:
What was the easiest book to sell and why?
Internationally, the books of Franziska Biermann to Korea: Because her book, Mr Fox Likes Books, is so successful there! In Germany the novel, Mimus, by Lilli Thal --outstanding novels always find more than one publisher interested -- and the Christmas song book, Am Weihnachtsbaume, because of the unique concept. Both nationally and internationally, Antje Damm's book, What Is This?, is very popular.
Do you get involved with the marketing aspect of the book?
I try to, it's very important, but sometimes it's hard because of my lack of time and/or the publisher's unwillingness. In any case, I always try to maintain my good relations with the media that prove to be so helpful again and again.
Susanne Koppe (Auserlesen-Ausgezeichnet Literary Agency, Germany)
All interviews are immediately available to registered SCBWI Bologna Biennial Conference attendees. Full interviews will be available to the general public at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com in the near future.
To find out more about Auserlesen-Ausgezeichnet Literary Agency take a look at the website: www.auserlesen-ausgezeichnet.de
To register for the conference, please go to: www.scbwi.org/events.htm and click on SCBWI@Bologna.
