Author raves
We have asked children's authors six questions about different topics. Check out their replies and have a laugh! Why not answer the questions yourself or ask family and friends the questions to see what their answers would be.
Andy Griffiths
Deborah Abela
Leonie Norrington
Michael Wagner
Pat Flynn
Phil Barry
Phil Kettle
Phillip Gwynne
Andy Griffiths
www.andygriffiths.com.au/
Describe yourself in three words.
A man who can't count.
If you could join the circus what act would you be in?
The clowns.
Where in the world would you like to go and why?
Down the drain outside our house so I can retrieve my giant super ball.
Have you ever read a book and wished you had written it or thought of that idea?
Yes! Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.
Who or what makes you laugh?
Monty Python's Flying Circus, Lano & Woodley, South Park, The Boosh, Terry Denton (he's got a really funny looking head!).
If you were a comic strip super hero what super power would you like to have?
X-ray vision of course!
Deborah Abela
www.deborahabela.com
Describe yourself in three words.
Clumsy, adventurous and short...which isn't a very good mix when you think about it.
If you could join the circus what act would you be in?
Trapeze...apart from my clumsiness and fear of heights, I think I'd be great!
Where in the world would you like to go and why?
Japan...the food, the manga and the vending machines where you can buy just about anything including underwear.
Have you ever read a book and wished you had written it or thought of that idea?
Dr Seuss' The Lorax...the most beautiful book.
Who or what makes you laugh?
My friends especially when we have adventures together. Like the time we got stuck in a fierce storm on top of a mountain in New Zealand.
If you were a comic strip super hero what super power would you like to have?
I'd have the power to enter any story I liked and be one of the characters....I'd love to help Max Remy save the world.
Describe yourself in three words.
loud, fast and. . . that's three words. But I need an and or it won't be grammatically correct. Perhaps 'Brash' would be loud and fast - then I could have 'impetuous' and 'disobedient'.
If you could join the circus what act would you be in?
I would love to be a lion tamer because I adore the smell of lions, or no I would love to work with the elephants so I could scratch their wrinkles and listen to their ancient tales no! No I know what; I want to be a snake charmer.
Where in the world would you like to go and why?
Alaska - I love the mountains and wolves and camping in a place where the forest all around you crackles with cold.
Have you ever read a book and wished you had written it or thought of that idea?
Absolutely. My best friend Kim Caraher wrote a book called, A Bat on the Balcony. I use it all the time in schools and would love to be able to say, 'I wrote this.'
Who or what makes you laugh?
My dog. He always runs into trees when he chases the ball and then gets embarrassed and sulks.
If you were a comic strip super hero what super power would you like to have?
The ability to fly - no wait, I want to be able to breathe underwater - that would be better because then you could sneak up on people and you wouldn't get water up your nose when you did back flips underwater.
Michael Wagner
www.michaelwagner.com.au
Describe yourself in three words.
Gorgeous. Handsome. Modest. Only joking!! I’m not really modest.
If you could join the circus what act would you be in?
I’d be a dancing elephant in a tutu.
Where in the world would you like to go and why?
To the circus to be with all the other dancing elephants. I so wish I knew more dancing elephants … But apart from that, I’d love to go to New York. I’ve been to lots of places around the world, but never there, and I really want to see if it feels like being in the centre of the world.
Have you ever read a book and wished you had written it or had thought of that idea?
I wish I’d written all of Roald Dahl’s books. They’re so funny and good hearted. But there’s one other book I’ve read that I not only wish I’d written, but I wish I’d eaten! It was a cook book and all the recipes looked soooooooo delicious.
Who or what makes you laugh?
Happy little kids make me laugh, they really do. They’re the most naturally funny people in the world. After that, I love comedians like Frank Woodley, Hamish Blake and George Bush. They crack me up.
If you were a comic strip super hero what super power would you like to have?
The ability to remove staples from my tummy. It must really hurt those poor comic book super heroes having staples going right through them. Ouch! Then, once I had that super power, I’d give myself the ability to make my imagination become real. That’d be very nice.
Pat Flynn
www.patflynnwriter.com
Describe yourself in three words.
Really lazy.
If you could join the circus what act would you be in?
A tightrope-walking juggling clown.
Where in the world would you like to go and why?
Wimbledon, 1985. Hopefully, I wouldn’t play like such a loser.
Have you ever read a book and wished you had written it or thought of that idea?
All the time. Usually I just go ahead and steal it.
Who or what makes you laugh?
My grandmother disco dancing.
If you were a comic strip super hero what super power would you like to have?
I’d jump back in time and become a tennis star, as well as writing a book about a wizard named Larry.
Describe yourself in three words.
Loves enjoying life.
If you could join the circus what act would you be in?
I’d be one of the fifty clowns getting out of a really small car because I’m useless at acrobatics or putting my head in a lion’s mouth.
Where in the world would you like to go and why?
I would go to the peak of Mount Everest because I hear there’s a pretty good view.
Have you ever read a book and wished you had written it or thought of that idea?
It would have to be The Twits by Roald Dahl because Mr and Mrs Twit are the most disgusting characters ever and disgusting things are always oodles of fun to write about.
Who or what makes you laugh?
Homer Simpson and getting tickled. You could touch me on the ear and I’d laugh.
If you were a comic strip super hero what super power would you like to have?
The power to climb out of the comic strip and give the reader a bit of a scare.
Phil Kettle
www.philkettle.com
Describe yourself in three words.
VERY, VERY, NORMAL!
If you could join the circus what act would you be in?
The peanut seller. I love peanuts!
Where in the world would you like to go and why?
In 2009, l'd love to go to Lords Cricket Ground and watch Australia beat England!
Have you ever read a book and wished you had written it or thought of that idea?
Harry Potter! If I’d written Harry Potter I’d be living in a castle!
Who or what makes you laugh?
Answering these questions, and my beautiful grandson!
If you were a comic strip super hero what super power would you like to have?
Superman! Then I’d never have to worry about catching another plane!
Describe yourself in three words.
Bald, fat, dude.
If you could join the circus what act would you be in?
Nude vegemite wrestling (do they still have that in the circus?)
Where in the world would you like to go and why?
I'd like to go to Gondwanaland before it disappears.
Have you ever read a book and wished you had written it or thought of that idea?
Yes, the telephone book. So many characters, so little plot.
Who or what makes you laugh?
Mostly, I laugh at my own jokes. They're not particularly funny, but they're cheap and in constant supply.
If you were a comic strip super hero what super power would you like to have?
Tracksuitman - able to wear tracksuit dacks in any social situation.
