A chat with author and illustrator Renée Treml

Torquay based author and illustrator Renée Treml is truly the complete storytelling package.

Her way with words, delightful drawings, and sense of fun are the perfect tools for creating her acclaimed children’s books.

Upon moving to Australia in 2007, Renée was immediately smitten with our native animals – so much so they became the star characters in her stories.

Renée, who is taking part in this month’s #notthesurfcoastartstrail, has published 16 books and will soon treat young readers to a fresh adventure when Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature hits bookstands in September.

She sat down with Kylie Oliver for a wide-ranging Q&A covering everything from her first book deal and facing a cancer diagnosis, through to her environmental science background and her latest hobby … taxidermy.

What are your earliest memories of writing and drawing?

I grew up in an area that had a lot of stray cats and when I was about eight years old, I wrote a tragically sad story about a kitten who lost its mother. I remember that no-one in my family enjoyed reading it.

Did you always want to be an author?

As a child, I was told that a person could not make a living as an artist and, because I loved animals, I decided to be a veterinarian. At university I discovered that I was not interested in medicine and changed my focus to biology.

Can you remember how it felt when you got your first book deal?

My first book deal arrived just as I was finishing up treatment for invasive breast cancer. I still remember that phone call with tears in my eyes. It was an amazingly uplifting opportunity and it came when I needed it most.

What inspires your writing and illustrations?

I find inspiration in nature – I love being outdoors and visiting natural history museums and wildlife sanctuaries. I also get wonderful ideas from silly conversations with my 10-year-old son.

Humour is a feature of your books – why is that important in children’s reading material?

When a book makes a child laugh and smile, reading becomes a fun activity. Humour is one way of engaging kids with books, and this is especially important in kids who may resist reading, or think of it as a chore.

How has your background in environmental science influenced your work?

I find science fascinating and almost all of my books include something about nature and animals. I have baby books that feature native Australian animals and junior fiction stories set in natural science museums with lots of sneaky facts and information hidden in the pictures. I hope that my books help spark an interest in animals and the environment.

What inspired the character of Sherlock Bones and how would you describe him?

Sherlock Bones and the Natural History Mystery was inspired by a gorgeous exhibit of tawny frogmouth skeletons on display at the Queensland Museum in Brisbane. They have big goofy eyes and hilarious expressions (if you don’t believe me, Google it!).

Sherlock Bones himself is a walking, talking, mystery-solving skeleton, with just the right amount of silliness and mischievousness. His best friend in the world is a silent stuffed parrot named Watts and a very sassy stowaway raccoon known as Grace.

What can you tell us about the upcoming sequel?

Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature takes place in a natural history museum (inspired by the amazing Melbourne Museum) whose newest aquarium exhibit is rumoured to house a sea monster. The monster is scaring children and damaging displays, and Sherlock Bones is determined to find it … even though he has no idea what he’ll do with the monster when he does.

You have won or been shortlisted for several awards. How does it feel to be recognised for doing what you love?

It is an honour to be recognised by literature awards, and I am particularly excited that Sherlock Bones and the Natural History Mystery has been shortlisted for three different awards. This book is a bit different and unusual – it’s a graphic novel about a mystery-solving skeleton who talks to a dead bird. I am thrilled that it is being considered for the Readings Children’s Book Prize, the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Award, and the Aurealis Award for Best Graphic Novel/Illustrated Work.

Is feedback from kids themselves the best kind of feedback?

Getting feedback from kids is by far the best part of creating children’s books. I have received amazing letters from parents and kids, as well as photos from museum visits and Book Week dress-ups. One gorgeous boy even designed and made his own Sherlock Bones t-shirt.

Has moving here from America heightened your appreciation for our native fauna?

Yes, absolutely! Before I moved to Australia I had never even heard of a wombat or quoll or tawny frogmouth.

Your illustrations feature on products such as stationery, ceramics and fine art prints. Tell us about this aspect of your work.

Australian wildlife has captured my imagination and is the primary subject of all of my illustrations. I make stationery and fine art prints featuring scratchboard illustrations of sleepy wombats and animals in teacups, and I also create artwork for Australian-based companies Kim Wallace Ceramics, Urban Products, La La Land and Rodriquez Tea Towels.

When it comes to writing and illustrating, does one come more naturally than the other?

I believe I am naturally a visual storyteller, so I create stories and artwork simultaneously. All of my artwork tells a story … even if it has no written words to go with it.

How, if at all, has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted you?

All of my in-person speaking engagements, book promotions, and school visits have been cancelled because of the pandemic. This is the hardest part for me – I love connecting with kids and they are so energising. On a positive note, I can now deliver school and library visits via Zoom, which means I can virtually visit any school regardless of lockdown or geographic location.

What do you love about living and working on the Surf Coast?

The first time we came to the Surf Coast, I knew this was home. I love the community feel, the people and the gorgeous landscape and ocean. I also love seeing kangaroos and heaps of native trees and birds on a daily basis.

What are your hobbies?

I love cooking and making sculptures. I am currently learning how to needle felt and I’ve been making a collection of taxidermic bird specimens (just like Sherlock Bones).

How long do it generally take to get one of your books published from start to finish?

I’m always working on several projects and deadlines at one time. A Sherlock Bones book (280+ pages fully illustrated) might take me a year to create, while a 24-page board book might only take two months. A lot of that time is back and forth with my publishers and editors, making changes and revisions, reviewing designs, etc.

Tell us about your involvement with the portal for the #notthesurfcoastartstrail.

The #notthesurfcoastartstrail is such a brilliant idea and has been beautifully orchestrated and organised. I am so excited to be a part of it this year and I hope, even when we open our studios again, that we keep some of the online aspects.

As part of the #notthesurfcoastartstrail you are doing a virtual studio tour. What can you tell us about your studio space?

My studio is a dedicated work space that was custom designed for me. I have a large drawing table with cups full of coloured pencils and tubes of paint, heaps of shelves with books and trinkets, and my very messy computer and drawing-tablet desk.

Renée will be part of a panel on July 21 at 8pm with local children’s authors Kaye Baillie and Stef Gemmill as they chat with Nicol Maher of Great Escape Books about getting published. The local authors are also running virtual storytimes every Thursday at 10am with Torquay Books. Find more information on the Surf Coast Arts Trail website or Facebook page. Discover more about Renée Treml by visiting ReneeTreml.com or on Facebook @ReneeTremlAuthorIllustrator or Instagram @ReneeTreml

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Renée’s top 4 tips for budding authors:

Network and socialise with other creators: I’d highly recommend checking out CYA Conference and KidLitVic and attending meetings with Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). These events are for everyone and you will learn a tonne
Read: read everything and anything in the age group/genre you want to write
Practice: join a writing group, take writing courses or read books about writing
Persist: don’t let rejections or criticism stop you, learn what you can from it and move forward