Katie Flannigan is a full-time children’s author with experience in illustration. Previously, she worked in the Health Sector for twenty years as an Occupational Therapist. She has a Masters in Neuro Linguistic Programming and has worked in three major teaching hospitals in Melbourne: The Alfred, the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Royal Children’s Hospital. She is also an Honorary Life Member of the Women Chiefs of Enterprises International, the largest organisation of female business owners in the world. Katie lives in Melbourne with her husband, three children and way too many dogs. Her latest picture book is called A Boy, His Bear and a Bully.
Today, Katie Flannigan is on the blog to take on our Ten Terrifying Questions! Read on …
Katie Flannigan
1. To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled?
Born, raised schooled in Melbourne, bit boring really.
Completed a degree in Occupational Therapy, worked in the burns and plastic surgery units in the major teaching hospitals in Melbourne and specialised in Hand and Upper Limb Therapy.
Went into private practice and grew the practice to employ staff and therapists across seven clinics around Melbourne. Later, I finished a masters in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP).
2. What did you want to be when you were twelve, eighteen and thirty? And why?
12-year-old me wanted to a be a vet because I love animals but my Mum told me I would be too emotional about sick or injured animals. I think she was right.
18-year-old me wanted to make props for theatre productions but my Mum told me I would make no money and encouraged me to do Occupational Therapy. Not sure if she was right about the money and direction, but I have had a lot of fun along the way.
30-year-old me was busy running a private practice, but I do remember mentioning to one patient that I wanted to write books for children.
3. What strongly held belief did you have at eighteen that you don’t have now?
That hippies are weird, and now that I have increasingly strong, hippy tendencies, that has to be wrong doesn’t it? Or maybe I am weird. I think my sister has mentioned that, actually.
4. What are three works of art – this could be a book, painting, piece of music, film, etc – that influenced your development as a writer?
The Harry Potter series told me to get in touch with my imagination.
An artist that I met serving meals on wheels. He was the centre of a picture book manuscript that I wrote, which taught me to use my memory and experiences to create richer, more authentic stories.
A podcast called Writers Routine, which taught me to have faith in my own process. Is a podcast a work of art???
5. Considering the many artistic forms out there, what appeals to you about writing a children’s book?
That children are so receptive and seeds can be sewn when young that may get watered and grow. Also that an author’s influence can reach many and last a lifetime.
6. Please tell us about your latest book!
With A Boy, His Bear and a Bully, I drew inspiration from an incident that happened between two children attending an early learning centre also attended by my children.
It is a story about a boy, Scott, who is being bullied, his friend, Rosie, who is a great support and how Scott manages to find enough brave to confront the bully, Duncan.
I got to see first-hand the damage that can happen to young self-esteem if bullied and the effect on those surrounding them. I incorporated these elements into the story.
“Children are so receptive and seeds can be sewn when young that may get watered and grow.”
7. What do you hope people take away with them after reading your work?
I hope they have empathy for the issue of bullying on both sides.
I hope they are empowered by skills that they can use if they find themselves in a similar situation.
I hope they feel brave enough to help someone they see in the same situation.
8. Who do you most admire in the writing world and why?
This question is too hard but the answers will be self-explanatory:
Dr Seuss, clever, funny, subtle, wise.
Mo Willems, funny, simple, clever.
Julia Donaldson and Lynley Dodd: masterclass in rhyme.
J. K. Rowling: masterclass in fantasy, plotting and foreshadowing and raised a family at the same time.
9. Many artists set themselves very ambitious goals. What are yours?
To have a new picture book published every year. Is that greedy?
To finish a 5 book fantasy series which gets very cranky pants with me if I leave it untouched for any length of time.
10. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Keep going. Attend special interest groups and workshops. Be patient.
Good luck!
Thank you for playing!
—A Boy, His Bear and a Bully by Katie Flannigan, illustrated by P. J. Reece (Exisle Publishing) is out now.
A Boy, His Bear and a Bully
Meet Scott, Buttons and Duncan, otherwise known as A Boy, His Bear and a Bully.
Scott takes Buttons to school with him every day to help him feel brave. He has to, because every day, Duncan is mean to him. Just this week, Duncan has called him names, ripped his painting, and stolen his snack from his lunchbox. Then Buttons goes missing. With his one comfort gone, Scott has to look elsewhere to find his brave, and much to his surprise, he does...
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