What a unique and wonderful experience at Paperchain, Manuka tonight. Canberra welcomed a flying visit from Graeme Base, internationally-renowned children's book writer and illustrator, whose book career spans an impressive 30 years.
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| reading out Graeme's impressive list of books |
The packed audience tonight, comprising everyone from retirees to poppets, was testament to Graeme's enormous crossover appeal - and his warmth and good humour made for a relaxed, thoroughly entertaining evening.
We loved learning about the inspiration behind Graeme's books, how he takes a visual cue and draws themes and characters and complete storylines from something as simple as a lampshade (which, incidentally, inspired The Legend of the Golden Snail).
Graeme is currently celebrating the launch of his most recent book - Little Elephants - and he admitted the idea had stemmed from a fantastical idea to send miniature flying elephants into battle with a throng of locusts - love it!
It was wonderful to hear about Graeme's past working history (advertising - he hated it; part of a rockband - he married the lead singer) and how he has peppered his own children through a few of his books.
Audience question time was also fascinating - we could have gone all night!
But the queue for book signings was long - so we wrapped things up and Graeme set to signing and drawing the sweetest creatures in everyone's book - what a divine treat.
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| some book lovers await their turn |
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| queue to the door |
What a thrill it was to experience this wonderful evening with Graeme Base - such a gorgeous atmosphere with lots of book-loving people and friends in attendance.
As the National Year of Reading begins to draw to a close, I asked Graeme what he is reading - Anna Funder's All That I Am was his reply, although he is currently so busy, he's become stuck on page 62. His all-time favourite book? The Lord of the Rings, and his all-time favourite Base book? Animalia - for this was the book that truly launched his amazing career.
And may there be many more books to come.
{Warmest thanks to the lovely Leanne Barrett for taking the piccies!}
2 comments:
Sometimes I think the most wonderful thing would be if you were somehow able to inhabit a brain like Graeme Base's for a short time - just to experience the tantalising thought processes that lead to all sorts of creations!
Thanks Tania and Graeme.
I just want his hand transplanted to mine!!
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