Local artist profile: Katrina Nannestad

THIS week we speak to award winning children’s author Katrina Nannestad.

 

What motivated you to become an author? 

I love the magic of books.

A well-told story provides an escape into many other lives and worlds.

I wanted to create some of that book magic myself, to be a part of the world-wide collection of beautiful books.

 

Can you describe your writing style and how you developed it? 

I write with humour and heart.

I like to create loveable characters and tell stories that focus on family, friendship and belonging, because these are what matter most.

In a crisis, they’re what see us through. Humour is a part of every story I write, even the serious historical ones, because humour adds light and hope (and gutsy defiance) to the darkest of moments.

While you’re developing a book idea, how much of that is spent planning and organising versus the actual creative writing process?

I plan all my novels in detail. Planning is where the creativity begins – where the wild ideas flow, then get organised into something sensible and structured.

It’s also where most of the research takes place for a historical novel.

By the time I start writing a story, I know my characters well, and I have a clear picture of the journey they’re supposed to be taking

 

Why did you choose to focus mainly on children’s/young adult fiction?

I’ve been a primary school teacher and a mother, so children are an audience I understand.

Engaging books are the key to children becoming literate.

Get a child to fall in love with stories and they have the ultimate motivation to learn to read.

I feel like that’s a worthy thing to be part of.

 

Which authors inspire you and why? 

Morris Gleitzman, because he deals with serious subjects with respect and humour. He really gets the balance between literary brilliance and remaining accessible to children.

P.G. Wodehouse, for his rip-roaring humour and superbly woven plots.

 

What have you been working on lately? Are there any new releases on the cards?

My next historical novel, Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief, will be out in November.

It’s about a little boy who joins the Red Army during the Second World War. It’s fiction but inspired by the story of a real boy soldier.

I’m working on a series called The Travelling Bookshop. It’s about a quirky family who travel the world in their horse-drawn caravan which is their home and their bookshop. Book one, Mim and the Baffling Bully, has just come out.

I’m also writing another historical novel.

 

What are some highlights or fond memories you have from your career? 

The highlights are the moments when I’ve been told that my stories have brought joy and comfort.

I especially love hearing from families who’ve read my stories together. My Girl, Dog, Writer series has been fun for families. We Are Wolves seems to have inspired some deep conversation – and tears!

I was pretty excited when I won the NSW Premier’s Award for The Girl Who Brought Mischief.

 

How has your work been affected by COVID at all? 

My writing life hasn’t been affected at all, but my public life has!

In a normal year, I spend a chunk of my time travelling, visiting schools and participating in festivals/events. None of that has happened since COVID.