Q&A
Tell us something interesting about yourself:
My spirit animal is an otter!
Current job title:
Illustrator.
How would you describe your identity?
Disabled/Deaf.
Tell us your favourite medium for reading:
I love reading actual books because of the feel and smell. And I keep all books I've read on my bookshelves.
Tell us your favourite location for reading:
My favourite location for reading is in bed or on the sofa in silence.
Book title:
One Extra Sparkle: Ellie and the Marriage List.
What inspired your creative process in writing or illustrating your book?
I was contacted to illustrate this book, and when I heard about its plot and main character, I immediately said yes because it has all I wanted in working on a book: positive disability representation.
Favourite character or moment from the book – and why?
My favourite character would be Ellie — she is so energetic, bold, and passionate. She's hard-working and wants to learn new things all the time.
What themes or messages does your book raise?
My book raises positive themes for disability representation. It shows that disabled people can also have fun, exciting, and funny stories written about us — not just more sad stories about the daily discrimination and struggles the disability community face, while adding more to the trauma book trope.
How would you describe your artistic or writing style in three words?
Playful, vibrant, and inclusive.
What aspect of the story did you most connect with, and how did it shape your illustrations?
I connected most with the friendship Ellie has with her older brother Ben. It reminded me a lot of my own relationship with my younger brother. She looks up to her brother, and I wanted to create illustrations that convey the love and friendship between Ellie and Ben.
Materials and techniques used for this book’s illustrations:
The book illustrations are digital, all drawn on my iPad in Procreate. I also used a sketchbook at the beginning for sketching and brainstorming.
Favourite illustration – and why?
My favourite illustration would be the one where Ellie and her best friend Ling are sitting under the weeping willow tree with the haunted treehouse hidden amongst the leaves. I loved this piece because I think it really tells you what the story is about — haunted trees, Ellie’s love of nature, friendship, and growing up.
