Paula Xibberas
Nick Bland is a popular children’s author. His parents were an artist and teacher, and he spent his childhood climbing haystacks in Victoria. Later he worked in a bookshop which provided just the right inspiration and easy to access research materials for his future career of writer and illustrator. Now living in Darwin, Nick is also involved with the guardianship of 120 indigenous boys.
Nick was recently in Tasmania for special appearances as part of the ‘Get Reading’ promotion. He took some time out in his busy tour schedule to answer the following questions.
How often do you get to Tasmania?
Once when I was 12, once last year for the architecture awards at Mona, and today.
Anything in particular you want to see or do on this trip?
I’d love to get back to Mona if I have time because ironically, the architecture awards, whilst being held at one of this country’s most significant recent buildings, was held in a circus tent out the back.
Funny man that David.
Do you think having teacher and artist parents contributed to your creativity?
Certainly, but I was no more creative than most kids are at a young age. If anything, it should have shown me that creating art is time consuming, expensive and isolating. I chose to see a career in the arts as a challenge. And when mum went to teachers college when I was about 7, I got access to a whole new library of books at the age when most
kids stop being creative.
Did you ever consider another illustrator working on your book?
Well, there are 16 books and two of them are done by other illustrators. The Runaway Hug was illustrated by Freya Blackwood and the Magnificent Tree was illustrated by Stephen Michael King. I believe in the right person for the right job. If you mean Cranky Bear specifically, then no, this one was always going to be me.
What book most inspired you?
Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl.
A little wordless book from 1963 called A Boy, A Dog and a Frog by Mercer Mayer, one of the amazing New York book creators of that time and of course WTWTA by Maurice Sendak.
Australian books I liked were the Bunyip of Berkleys Creek (I’ll. Ron Brookes) Mulga Bills Bicycle (Debra and Kilmeny Niland) and One Dragon’s Dream (Peter Pavey).
But the best kids’ book I’ve ever seen is The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan.
Anything by Dr Zeuss.
What is your favourite book you have written?
I think The Wrong Book (autobiographical) and The Aunties Three (Roald Dahl type story…wicked Roald Dahl style.)
Tell us a bit about your work with the indigenous boys
The most rewarding 6 years of my life. Try raising several hundred teenagers…awesome time, very energizing.
Do you still climb haystacks?
Not for a long time. I climb cliffs and waterfalls these days.
What next for you?
I am planning to write a novel but I just started two new picture books which will take me through to the middle of next year. One is a fourth Bear Book and the other is a monster story. King Pig, the book I recently finished will come out around May next year.
