FAQ

Do you want to know more about Tania? Check out the FAQ below.

Where were you born?

I was born in Whyalla, South Australia in 1971, which makes me…HOW OLD?! 😯

My family moved to Adelaide, South Australia when I was 13 years old. I remember feeling really sad about leaving all of my friends behind and terrified about starting at a new school. It all worked out ok though.

Where do you live now?

I live in Adelaide, South Australia.

What were your favourite books as a kid?

The Ghost of Thomas Kempe by Penelope Lively was a book I read when I was about ten years old and it really blew me away. I’ve since read it many more times (the last time being last year!) although I do need to find a new copy of the book now as my old one is literally falling apart.

Anything Enid Blyton. I loved the Famous Five, the Magic Wishing Chair, The Faraway Tree Series and many of her other books (more than I can write here). In fact I enjoyed reading them all over again with my daughter when she was little.

What was the first book you published? 

My first book was a picture book called Dog on Log, which came out in February 2013.

To see more of my books click HERE.

Where do you get your story ideas from?

A lot of my early ideas came from talking and playing with my daughter. Dog on Log was a game that we used to play in the sandpit when she was a toddler. It was my way of teaching her prepositions (under, on and in), rhyme (dog, log, hog, frog) and opposites (near – far, up – down).

The Jinny and Cooper series started after my daughter asked for a story about a magical, talking guinea pig. I don’t think Cooper was exactly what she had in mind but she loved him nonetheless.

Some of my other books have been based on my own experiences. For example, Aggie Flea is based on me as a kid. I also had a big imagination that got me into trouble! I once even thought that my neighbour was an alien robot.

Who are your favourite Australian children’s book authors?

I have so many favourite authors it is hard to know where to start!

Australia is lucky to have many fantastic authors! Some of my favourite picture book authors including legend Mem Fox (Where is the Green Sheep?), Jackie French (Diary of a Wombat), Janeen Brian (I’m a Dirty Dinosaur), Katrina Germein (Bev & Kev), and Heidi McKinnon (I Just Ate My Friend).

When it comes to novels, it’s even harder to choose! I love Aaron Blabey (Bad Guys), Amanda Graham (The Hats of Marvello), Nathan Luff (Nerd Herd), Sarah Armstrong (Big Magic) and Katrina Nannestad (The Travelling Bookshop and Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief).

How about overseas authors?

When it comes to picture books, I love Julia Donaldson’s sense of rhythm and rhyme, especially Tyrannosaurus Drip, which is a fabulous book to read aloud. Lynley Dodd’s Hairy Maclary series is also a favourite and always make me laugh and I adore Emily Gravett’s books (Wolf Won’t Bite!).

In regards to novels, I love Neil Gaiman’s books for children, especially The Graveyard Book and Coraline. Kate DiCamillo (Flora & Ulysses) is also one of my favourite authors and Kelly Barnhill (The Girl who Drank the Moon) is someone I could read all day. And of course you can’t go past Roald Dahl (Matilda).

What are 5 things only your closest friends know about you?

1. I love chickens! My husband thinks I am weird. As a child I spent hours sitting in our chicken yard talking to the chickens. Come to think of it…I still do this! 😀

2. In my spare time like to crochet toys. Really!

3. I hate cockroaches. I can handle snakes and spiders but cockroaches completely freak me out!

4. I am mad about bunting! I have bunting all over my house. In fact, my family are too scared to stand still just in case I cover them in bunting. When I first saw the cover of Dog on Log I was so thrilled that it had bunting!

5. I’m partially deaf. I had an operation as a child that left me quite deaf in one ear.

So I guess now you are one of my closest friends! 😀

Do you have children?

I have one wonderful daughter who I suspect is going to be a writer too when she is older.

Got any writing tips?

You can check out my TOP TEN TIPS FOR YOUNG WRITERS HERE