What do I like to write and/or illustrate? This is a question which makes me squirm in discomfort. I like to write what pops into or alternately, grows slowly in my head. There is no set formula. I seem to come back to a theme of non-judgement, uniqueness in each and every creature, fairness and magic. A dash of differentness. The possibility that anything might happen... As for illustrations – I think that each story has its own character and spirit which guides the type of illustrations I do. Some will be realistic, some more fantastic and some more simplistic. I love colours, but I love simplicity with a dash of colour as well. If certain images are required, certain images will be produced. But if free reign is given, anything could happen! Illustrating and painting faces are fond and firm favourites of mine.
What was my favourite book as a child? I loved Alice in Wonderland – the possibilities of what could happen out of the blue, the wackiness of the characters and the story, the delicious words and wordplay. Liewe Heksie also has a favourite spot in my heart. I loved her world and the characters and just knowing that poor Heksie was going to call the king some silly name again.
Did I draw as a child? Yes, I did. My mom told me I used to put a lot of effort and precision into my drawings from a very young age. And then one day I drew these ugly black flowers… She asked me why and I answered, “it’s the yellow witch… She’s not watering the flowers”. (The yellow witch is the “geel heks” in Liewe Heksie). Pinocchio and Gina was an absolute favourite of mine to draw.
How did I start illustrating children’s books? I wrote Bella-Blom en die Besonderse Ses and the publishers asked me to illustrate it myself as they knew I was an artist as well although I had not illustrated a book at that stage. It was a daunting, but very rewarding experience!
What materials and media do I use? I used watercolour pencils for Bella-Blom. I usually paint with acrylics. I love drawing with plain pencils. It’s not set in stone, though. I’m experimenting with different media to see what effects I can come up with.
Did I write stories as a child? I was part of this experiment for gifted children during my primary school years. My favourite “subject” was creativity. They gave us pictures and we had to make up stories about them and I loved it. And one of us would have to start a story and be stopped so that someone else could pick up the story where it stopped and so forth. I found it very exciting and liberating to think that the story could go into any and various directions. Apart from that, I’ve always been a big letter writer and have kept a diary since school.
How and when did I start writing children’s stories? A few years ago my goddaughter (then three years old) told her mom that one of her friends was fat and she asked her mom if she herself was fat as well. She is such a special little girl and I found it sad that judgement seemed to develop at such a young age as well as body image worries. I decided to write her a story which would hopefully make her see things in a different light, but in a fun way. And so, Bella-Blom and the six weird fairies were born.
Where and when do I write – what is my best environment? When I’m on a roll with my writing, I get lost in the world I’m writing about and it really doesn’t matter where I am. When I struggle to focus, I like to play classical music, Spanish or French music. It depends on what mood I’d like to create. Since I’ve had my daughter and time is always hard to come by, I can write in front of the TV or while I play with her, anywhere really. These days, when the ideas come, I make a plan. The “ideal” writing and illustrating environment will happen sometime in the future, not yet J.
Marguerite Moon - 2008
