I am happy to have children’s author and illustrator, Heather B. Moon, as September’s author interview guest.
Heather’s books include the Tillie series, Lottie series, Silly Trunk, as well as a short story for adults.
Currently, Heather is working on releasing Tillie and the Golden Phantom just in time for Halloween.
Welcome, Heather, and thank you for these great answers. (#9 should at the very least put a smile on your face). 🙂
Interview
1. Do you remember the first book you read that had an impact on you – in what way and what was the name of that book?
I love animals! Horses, dogs dolphins … all my books include animals of some kind. As a kid I read Black Beauty. It is written from the horse’s point of view. This really influenced my writing. My present work in progress is ‘Tillie and the Golden Phantom’. I love to include chapters which flick to the ghost horse’s point of view. This worked well with ‘Lottie Saves the Dolphins’ where I split the story by using the voice of the baby dolphin, Splash.
2. When did you first realize you wanted to write?
I’ve always had a passion for writing stories, and I have a passion for illustrating too. In my opinion they go hand in hand. As a primary school teacher I would make up stories and draw pictures on the blackboard using coloured chalk. It all sounds a bit antiquated now but the kids used to love that.
3. What is your favourite thing about writing?
The feeling I have when the character totally takes over. She comes alive …it’s as though I’m not really in control any longer.
What is your least favourite thing about writing?
Editing, editing and editing! Need I say more? It’s totally necessary though. Even if I think the manuscript is perfect my editor will pick up on some mistakes.
4. Where do your ideas come from?
I suppose you could call me an eco-warrior.
My passion for caring for the environment and animals inspires my ideas.
I want to get the following messages across:
Don’t swim with dolphins in captivity!
Care for the bees!
Recycle plastic items!
Look after our planet!
Our planet is like an intricately woven tapestry. If one small thread unravels then the whole planet will fall apart.
5. I’ve often found that creative people have more than one talent, what is yours?
Definitely painting and drawing. I love to paint animals. People are always asking me to paint their pet’s portrait. I also paint animal portraits for various charities. Take a peek at my website under the header ‘My Art’.
6. What are you working on now and can you tell us about it?
I’m inspired by my environment mostly. I live part of the year in Cornwall and part in Lanzarote. The scenery is incredible in both. Also the lovely places I’ve travelled to. I had a motor home (R.V.) so travelling around France, Italy and Greece influenced Lottie Saves the Bees.
Lottie Saves the Dolphins is set on a fictitious island, Canario Bonito, which I based on Lanzarote. I’m currently writing
Lottie Saves the Turtles is set on a beautiful fictional Caribbean island of Wadadidily. I based this on St. Kitts. I found that Wadadidily was the original name the first inhabitants gave to St. Kitts. What a lovely discovery!
I’m never working on just one book though. I’m currently writing ‘Tillie and the Golden Phantom ‘. The launch date is 1st October, 2018. Just in time for spooky-wooky Halloween!
7. Do you have a favourite vacation spot? Where?
My friends call me International Heather! (That is why I chose the series title ‘Lottie Lovell International Investigator). I have been fortunate enough to travel to some amazing places.
Micronesia was a favourite of mine. As a scuba diver it was the ultimate experience. Truk Lagoon (sometimes spelt Chuck) is the Japanese equivalent of Pearl Harbor. Diving amongst the many military ship wrecks was amazing but very emotional at the same time. Not a subject I could use in a children’s book! But on the same trip, to Palau, I swam through a jellyfish lake. Ugh! Now that experience will definitely be used in my next book, Lottie Saves the Turtles.
Yes, I have travelled the world over and driven throughout Europe and New Zealand in an R…V. I could go on but Sandra would have to cut it short!
8. Are you superstitious? Do you have any rituals for good luck?
I’m a crazy-mad Manchester City supporter! From an early age I have always wore City blue knickers on match day. If I wear any other colour, City loses the game. (In my time City has lost a lot anyway but I still believe my blue knickers help them win!
9. Can you tell us about an embarrassing/funny moment?
I was once skiing with a school group in Austria. I desperately needed a little tinkle so I stepped slightly to the side of the piste (no pun intended!). I thought I could get away with a sneaky little tinkle behind a tree managed to wiggle my bulky ski gear around my ankles but unfortunately, and rather lazily, kept my skies on. As I turned, my skies pointed parallel to the slope and I began to move slowly backwards.
There’s nothing quite as scary as whizzing past a crowded restaurant doing a Moonie whilst producing a stream of yellow snow!
10. What makes you happy?
Kids’ happy smiling faces beaming at me when I read my books to them!
Heather B. Moon Contact Details
Sign up for my Newsletter http://www.heatherbmoon.com/contact-me.html
Website http://www.heatherbmoon.com/
Moonbeams http://www.heatherbmoon.com/moonbeams.html
My Art http://www.heatherbmoon.com/my-art.html
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/heatherbmoon1
Twitter https://twitter.com/Heather_B_Moon1
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com
Lottie Saves the Bees https://goo.gl/TNgQg8
Lottie Saves the Bees Manchester Special Edition https://goo.gl/Myq8CZ
Silly Trunk https://goo.gl/RRVyoz
ABOUT HEATHER B.MOON
Heather B. Moon was born in Royton, Lancashire and is married with two grown up children and three beautiful grandchildren.
After teaching for some time in the Oldham area, Heather acquired her own school in the north of England. She now spends time at her villa in Lanzarote and walking the South West coast path close to her home in Cornwall.
Heather’s passion for animals is greatly expressed in her writing.
‘I believe that wild animals should enjoy their freedom and not be held in captivity for entertainment purposes. I also believe in signing every petition there is for banning certain pesticides that harm our insects and birds. We all have a responsibility. Our world is like a tapestry…if one little thread becomes unravelled then the whole planet may fall apart.’
#EMPTYTHETANKS #SAVETHEBEES
EXPRESSIONS 