Today is day 2 of The Llandeilo Lit Fest 2018.
One of our makers, Jon from Shippo Greetings Cards, has authored a number of Children's books that are available in the shop along with his humourous greetings cards.
Here's a short interview he did with some school children about his inspirations and writing. Enjoy!
Q: What were you like at school?
A: Worried. I was sent away to boarding school when I was seven
Q: What did you want to be when you were a child?
A: A train driver so I could escape from my school - there was a train line at the bottom of the playing field.
Q: Which three words describe you best?
A: Curious. Creative. Curmudgeonly.
Q:What is your favourite word?
A: Flapdoodle
Q: What are you afraid of?
A: Things that go bump in the night.
Q: What do you do as a hobby?
A: I’m a cartoonist and card maker
Q: What strange habits do you have?
A: I whistle a lot.
Q: What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve done?
A: I'm saving it up for when I'm much older.
Q: What’s your favourite food?
A: Cheese
Q: What do you day dream about?
A: Being a bird.
Q: What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve done?
A: I'm saving it up for when I'm much older.
Q: Do you feel younger or older than your current age?
A: When I was young I felt old; now I'm older I feel quite young.
Q: What quality do you most admire in a person?
A: Playfullness.
Q: What is the most interesting place you have ever visited?
A: The temples of Gokarna in South India.
Q: What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
A: People who don't make mistakes don't make anything.
Q: What has life taught you?
A: Some people can dance and I'm not one of them.
Q: How long have you been a writer?
A: Since I was about ten.
Q: Where do you do your writing?
A: I always start my writing at the kitchen table with pen, paper and biscuits and then I when I'm happy with the rough outline of a story or poem I move on to the computer and leave the biscuits behind.
Q: What are the best and worst things about being an author?
A: The best thing is knowing that your words are being enjoyed by people all over the world. The worst thing is spending months working on a story only to discover it is utter rubbish!
Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?
A: Children.
Q: Which of your own characters do you most identify with?
A: Emily because she is quite stubborn and crazy and loves guinea pigs.
Q: What do you do to combat “writers’ block”?
A: I tidy up my desk, throw things away and dig up potatoes
Q: What was your favourite book as a child?
A: A tiny picture book called 'The Inquisitive Harvest Mouse.'
Q: What book do you wish you had written?
A: 'Where the Wild Things are' by Maurice Sendak
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
A: Read A Lot.
