Rivertime is sort of a cross between a comic and a picture book. It documents a little number lover's (we like the main character already) slightly reluctant family trip down the Glenelg River, which is near us. What Clancy thought would be an afternoon trip with Uncle Egg was instead a 10 day sojourn down the river.
This is a book I can see my 7 year old spending a lot of time in, soaking it up, relating to Clancy and spotting the myriad of Australian birds and wildlife that appear on it's pages. It's a book to take time over, a book to digest and absorb. It has a slightly hypnotic feel to it - as you read it you feel yourself actively slowing down and floating along at river pace.
I got to ask some questions to the author/illustrator Trace Balla and this is what I asked. (Slightly edited for space).
1.
How is it to have a book you've written published and in your own hands?
It feels good, but
even better was witnessing a friend’s child (who got an early copy of the book
) being totally absorbed in it. My childhood dream was to get a kids book I created in the
library..today I got an isbn! that was a really lovely moment for me.
How
important was it for you to write something that really reflects Australia?
I think it's great
for people to find a book they can identify with, as well as to inspire them to
take a closer look at and appreciate whats around them.
When I was a kid I remember the stories by May Gibbs with the gumnut babies, and Storm Boy by Colin Thiele, which was my favourite. Otherwise most of the books I remember weren’t set here. These days there are much more Australian settings and content in childen’s books, which are inspiring readers to appreciate this country and it’s creatures and cultures.
When I was a kid I remember the stories by May Gibbs with the gumnut babies, and Storm Boy by Colin Thiele, which was my favourite. Otherwise most of the books I remember weren’t set here. These days there are much more Australian settings and content in childen’s books, which are inspiring readers to appreciate this country and it’s creatures and cultures.
I was really pleased
that the Gunditjmara Elders group (aboriginal people from the area where the
book is set) were happy to have some Gunditjmara kids depicted in the story. I
hope the Gunditjmara kids (and other aboriginal kids) will be pleased to find
that in the book as often if you are not the mainstream, you are a bit
invisible in the media. It was really important to me to include the indigenous
subject matter, and without taking their stories. (yes I love this!!)
2.
How long did you spend writing the text for the book and how long for the
illustrations?
I wrote journal
entries with images for the book whilst I was on a ten day canoe trip on the
Glenelg river. Putting the story together took at least a couple of months,
maybe 3 or 4, its hard to say as there was a lot of editing and communications
with the publishers. I used a lot of sticky notes all over the wall to help me
structure the story. The final illustrations took about 6 months. I think I’d
done most of the storyboard by then… the whole thing took about one and a half
years.
3.
What is your main hope, as the author, for this book?
I would love for readers of all
ages -… to take some
messages from the book..or lessons from the river, as I did on my canoe
journey. These are mostly about appreciation of nature, facing challenges, not
needing so much, connecting with the earth…. I would also love the readers
to get a feel for the journey, I guess I would love to be able to share the
experience in this way, for them to get the feeling of slowing down..And be
inspired by the story to take a closer look at this beautiful planet…and then
care for it more…
I’d also love them to enjoy the humour and have a chuckle!
4.
How closely does the book follow your own river experience and how much do you
use creative license?
The story is based on
a canoe journey that I did with my partner.I created to a boy character so that
kids could relate to the book, and also to change the boy to more of a reluctant
urban kid. My son Joey loves maths and numbers so he inspired a lot there.
Uncle Egg is very similar in some ways to my partner Greg, they both loved bird
watching and slept a lot!
I did see a lot of
birds and animals, but not quite all of those depicted. I wanted to include
endangered and threatened animals of the area. And yes, I did see a swimming
wallaby! Twice. And a running koala!
I liked
finding little jokes and puns I could add that may not have been my own
experience. However much of the action where Clancy had trouble getting off the
jetty’s, and when he made a sail from the tarp were from my journals of what
actually happened. I named the locations
creatively in the book, as well as on our journey, so there are times when
experience and creativity overlap!..Whose truth is it!
I didn’t meet those
Gunditjmara people. But I didn’t want the characters to just read some signs
about them like we did, I wanted the aboriginal content more tangible and to do
so in a respectful way everyone was comfortable with. I went and spoke with the
Elders about it and got their blessing.
5.
What is your favourite Australian bird?
Oh I’m not wanting to
have favourites…but I’m quite partial to the Nankeen Night Heron...and I’m
really excited when I see Emus running..oh and that spotted pardalote is just
so gorgeous…..and what about the dawn chorus…ahh... don’t get me started’.. I
knew I couldn't have a favourite!
6.
If you were a bird which would you be and why?
oh too many choices...maybe
a Great Crested Grebe..they look a bit wacky and they love to swim…and
sometimes I’m a bit of a galah! oh or maybe one of those bowerbirds... I’m a
hopeless collector of junk.
7.
What parts of the process from idea to published book were the most enjoyable,
and which were the toughest?
Being in the canoe
with Uncle Egg (woops I mean Greg!) amongst the trees and birds all those days,
just living a version of the story was so brilliant... I love to sketch and
write snippets when I travel, it connects me to the place and the moment… so
that was all just such a lovely part of it.
I found structuring
the story quite challenging, but at times when it came together was really
pleasing. Now and then when I was writing or drawing or both I had these
magical little creative moments where things just worked so well, so
satisfying. Storyboarding was pretty good, but with the editing sometimes
it was like canoeing into a headwind! I really enjoyed inking up the
final drawings, and coloring them in. It was like entering a little refuge from
some really hard stuff going on in my life at the time.
I really had a great
rapport with my lovely Editor Elise Jones. It made the whole publishing side
such a friendly supportive experience. We have now got these “characters” of
ourselves that have a connection... she’s the wombat, and I’m the possum… I
think the poss and the wombat both had a bit of excitement to see the finished
book. It was also an exciting moment to receive an email telling me that David
Suzuki, one of those people who I have so huge a respect for, was endorsing the
book. It felt very encouraging like getting a pat on the back saying,
you’re on the right track here kid…
8.
How much does storytelling play a role in your day to day life?
I love to catch
stories. They are everywhere. Its like having a butterfly net. I have made
stories for different reasons, like when someone dies, or to honour something
special. I often have a journal of words and images going... I’ve written
lyrics for a few songs too. I’m more into making things though. I like to sketch and weave and play with
clay and make stuff.
9.
I see you are an art therapist, what is your approach for getting children to
engage with and make art?
Don’t be too precious
- wonky is the way! Art making is an adventure - and a great way to express!
10.
What adventures should every Australian child have?
Ooh! Apart from art
adventures… to get into nature..camping, waking up with the birds, cooking on a
fire, gazing at the stars, spending slow time in the bush , leaving all
those electrical gizmos back home… having enough unstructured time to explore
and relate to what’s around us … simple things like being up a tree or
paddling in a creek… climbing on rocks… getting muddy…tasting bush
tucker…
Trace’s new book, Rivertime is published by Allen &Unwin and will be available at all good bookshops and online. RRP $ 24.99. You can also download a free bird watching guide from their website to go with the book.
What questions have you always wanted to ask an author you love?
love you more than losing a hour immersed in a lovely book xxx
