Childrens Book Event: Day 4- Interview & giveaway with childrens author & illustrator Tatyana Feeney


 
It's day 4 of the Children's Book Event and today I bring you an interview with author & illustrator Tatyana Feeney who published her first picture book this year, Small Bunny's Blue Blanket! Enjoy the interview and check out the giveaway where two winners will recieve a copy of Small Bunny's Blue Blanket!

Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing and illustrating?

I am from North Carolina in the US but now live in Ireland. I was read to a lot when I was very small and always loved picture books, even when I was old enough to read by myself.
Small Bunny's Blue Blanket
I studied Art History in college and then logically worked in a pre-school for a few years. I think the combination of an interest in art and an interest in books for that age group is what started me thinking about children's books. After that I went to college in Wales to study Illustration.

Can you tell us about your first picture book that you wrote and illustrated, Small Bunny's Blue Blanket?

Small Bunny's Blue Blanket started from some drawings I did in college for my "corporate identity". The bunny was supposed to be my logo -anyway I drew him a lot and as I did his personality started to develop. I imagined him as being a little bit cheeky but still a very young bunny . After a while the blanket came into the drawings as well…

What was the inspiration for Small bunny's blue blanket?

Once I finished art college and was thinking about stories to send to publishers I remembered a story about my husband as a child- basically his story is very similar to Small Bunny's, although he used to hold onto his blue blanket while it was still wet on the line! I thought that could make a cute story and could work well with the bunny.

As a creative person fo you prefer writing or illustrating or both?

I really think of myself as an illustrator more than a writer. I still start a story with a drawing of a character and then think about who the animal or child is and what they might do. I definitely prefer illustrating.

What are your plans for furture books? Are you working on anything at the moment?

I have just finished a second book with Oxford University Press called, Little Owl's Orange Scarf, you can see a bit of a theme here!- Actually the owl and his scarf have a very different relationship….
Little Owl will be available next April.

Small bunny carries a blue blanket round with him/her what do you always carry around with you?

At the moment my kids are pretty small, so I try to always carry baby wipes! But I also do try to have a pen and small notebook with me too because I often see things that might go into a story that I want to write down or draw a quick picture of.

Giveaway time. Oxford university Press has kindly donated two hardcopies of the book for a giveaway!  The book is suitable for children aged 1-3 years :) The giveaway is open internationally! Fill in the Rafflecopter to enter!

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway


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48 comments

  1. I used to carry my blankey,too. Now it's my cell phone!

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  2. Ha, good question. I'm considerably older than Small Bunny so, no blanket, but I seldom go anywhere without a roll of Tums in my pocket.

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  3. I always have lip gloss in my pocket.

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  4. I always carry my keys!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

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  5. I carry around my earphones and cell phone. In cases wherein it's too awkward to talk to people and fake texting doesn't really work for me.

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  6. I carry my daughter around. :-)

    Snowflake Day Play at gmail dot com

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  7. I never carried a toy but I used to play with the labels on my clothes, strange I know!

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  8. I always carry wet wipe always a must with kids

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  9. I always carry my cell phone.

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  10. I allways carry my phone, some book and my purse :)

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  11. I always carry a pen, even in a digital age you would be amazed just how often a pen is the only solution and if you don't have on your in trouble.

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  12. I always carry around a photo of my daughter and husband

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  13. I always carry my Kindle. Also my handbag :)

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  14. My mobile i cant go anywhere with out it lol :)
    Xx

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  15. Tissues and lip balm. My nose is always runny like I have a cold, yuk! And I can't stand to be without lipbalm, its like my comfort blankie!

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  16. Always my mobile I think its more out of habit than anything else now.

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  17. omg im so embarrassed to admit but i had a manky old shoe called Jeremy , my mum tell everyone about it too ... it had a hole in the front that i used to tell everyone was his mouth lol :( @chanson2010

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  18. My mobile phone if I forget it I am in panic mode

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  19. I always carry around a photo of my children

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  20. Baby wipes - they are always so useful!

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  21. my kinkle. Never go anywhere without it!

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  22. My mobile phone, I'm embarrassed to admit if feel lost and alone without it!

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  23. I always carry mints. I have a packet in every pocket!

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  24. Small bunny carries his blue blanket around with him what do you always carry with you?
    my handbag!

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  25. My cell phone!
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  26. My phone! Can not live without it.

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  27. Joshua's(my son) tag blanket.

    Robyn Logan Clarke

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  28. Not very attractive but poo bags! just incase the doggies need to "go" whilst we're out and about, best to be prepared!! x

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  29. My walking stick - I wouldn't get anywhere without it!! :)

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  30. I always carry my purse round

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