Jane Simmons
About Author
Before Jane could walk she was painting and drawing. She cried after her first day at school because they hadn't taught her to read and write in one day. From then on she hasn't stopped. Jane moved with her family and many animals around the world, living in houses, flats and camper vans moving from school to home education and back to school. Jane has continued to travel, write, draw and paint, always with animals, living in squats, tents, vans and boats. As a mature student she studied a BA in illustration at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge and won the highest awards given in the Macmillan Children's Book Prize for both her final two years. Jane shot to fame with the success of her DAISY picture books, all about an irresistible little duck with big feet. More success followed with EBB AND FLO, whose characters were brought to life on television. Jane, her husband, and her menagerie of rescued animals travelled to and around the Mediterranean on her ex-fishing boat home and her adventures have provided the inspiration for many of her books. Most recently Jane has turned her hand to fiction, with the exciting adventures of BERYL GOES WILD and SHIP'S CAT DORIS. Jane is currently living in France with her boat not far away.
Author link
Interview
It's hard to believe that it has been 15 years since we first met Daisy in the picture book, Come On Daisy, when her curiosity and an overwhelming desire to explore her world took her away from her mother's side. Author and illustrator Jane Simmons talked to ReadingZone about creating Daisy as a picture book.
Q: Which came first, Daisy the duckling or a story about a character getting lost?
A: They sort of came together. I looked after this little boy who was so hard to keep track of all the time and I was surrounded by ducklings when I lived on the river, who were just the same. Their mothers would be crying for them all day long, but with so many other things to discover it was hard for them to take any notice.
Q: Did you make a lot of changes before you were happy with Daisy's 'look' or did she arrive fully fledged?
A: I sketched a lot of ducklings and she was born out of that process.
Q: What is it about Daisy that made you feel there were more stories in her, and which is your favourite Daisy story?
A: When I showed the first Come On Daisy roughs, the editor wanted her to be just one of many ducklings. I had just left college, so managing to draw Daisy so she looked the same each time was really difficult, the thought of drawing lots of other ducklings chilled me to the bone. So I lied and said she needed to be alone because the next story she gets a brother, to my horror they asked me to send it in ASAP.
I wrote Daisy and the Egg on the way home. I love living in her world, so stories just seem to arrive luckily. I don't have a favourite, to me they are just another excuse to be in her world again.
Q: Daisy confronts a number of dangerous situations - do young children enjoy jeopardy?
A: I think everyone loves living through another character's danger. It doesn't matter what age you are, suspense, release and humour can be great fun.
Q: What do you enjoy about revisiting a specific character, compared with beginning entirely new books?
A: It's like staying with an old friend in their world, a bit like a holiday.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about the technique you use in illustrating your Daisy books?
A: I work with very wet acrylics and watercolour, so each picture is layered with thin washes until it builds into the finished work. It is a long process.
Q: How much do you feel that your stories speak to your 'inner child'?
Completely, only I'm afraid it's not so 'inner' having never properly grown up.
Q: Is there something special for you about this age that has kept it alive for you?
A: It really is an age where you either like or dislike something, before things become too precious. I love the idea that my Daisy books are enjoyed but not necessarily looked after.
Q: You trained in illustration as a mature student why did you come to this career later rather than earlier?
A: I have always painted, drawn and written, but had so many things to do when I was younger. I never really thought I'd live past thirty, so when I did I decided to really explore my writing and painting as much as I could.
Q: What are the highs and lows of being an author / illustrator?
A: The highs are easy, living in my made up world with characters I love, but the lows are trying to make a living from it.
Q: What is the funniest thing someone has ever said to you about one of your books?
A: One woman was adamant they had been on holiday in the village where POG AND THE BIRDIES was set, she wouldn't have it that it just exists in my head.
Q: Why have you chosen to live on a boat and where do you do your work?
A: Water and travel are the two main features of my childhood, so a boat made perfect sense. I couldn't have afforded to study for my degree without having my boat to live and work on.
I was on the river in Cambridge and when I finished my degree I sold my river boat and bought the sea boat that features in Ebb and Flo, and Ship's Cat Doris.
My studio is in the wheelhouse and I always have spectacular views, particularly when moored in Greece, in Italy, in France, in Spain and England. Sometimes painting and drawing when at anchor and the boat is tipping about can be quite challenging, but it is never dull.
Q: What is your favourite time of day and why?
A: Morning, when I wake up and my mind is still almost dreaming. I like to sit and think before the day takes over. I now live in a barn in Normandy, so have four donkeys and a horse to feed, which is great, they are always good company and love their breakfast.
Q: What is your favourite activity?
A: I would have said messing about in a dinghy, but now that is second to messing about with my lovely donkeys.
Q: What would you run a mile from?
A: The dentist.
Q: What are you writing now?
A: It's Great to be Small! About the smallest elephant and a tiny weenie mouse. It will be published by Collins in their Big Cat series.
COME ON DAISY (15th Anniversary Edition)
ORCHARD CHILDREN'S BOOKS
JANUARY 2013
It's hard to believe that it has been 15 years since we first met Daisy in the picture book, Come On Daisy, when her curiosity and an overwhelming desire to explore her world took her away from her mother's side. Author and illustrator Jane Simmons talked to ReadingZone about creating Daisy as a picture book.
Q: Which came first, Daisy the duckling or a story about a character getting lost?
A: They sort of came together. I looked after this little boy who was so hard to keep track of all the time and I was surrounded by ducklings when I lived on the river, who were just the same. Their mothers would be crying for them all day long, but with so many other things to discover it was hard for them to take any notice.
Q: Did you make a lot of changes before you were happy with Daisy's 'look' or did she arrive fully fledged?
A: I sketched a lot of ducklings and she was born out of that process.
Q: What is it about Daisy that made you feel there were more stories in her, and which is your favourite Daisy story?
A: When I showed the first Come On Daisy roughs, the editor wanted her to be just one of many ducklings. I had just left college, so managing to draw Daisy so she looked the same each time was really difficult, the thought of drawing lots of other ducklings chilled me to the bone. So I lied and said she needed to be alone because the next story she gets a brother, to my horror they asked me to send it in ASAP.
I wrote Daisy and the Egg on the way home. I love living in her world, so stories just seem to arrive luckily. I don't have a favourite, to me they are just another excuse to be in her world again.
Q: Daisy confronts a number of dangerous situations - do young children enjoy jeopardy?
A: I think everyone loves living through another character's danger. It doesn't matter what age you are, suspense, release and humour can be great fun.
Q: What do you enjoy about revisiting a specific character, compared with beginning entirely new books?
A: It's like staying with an old friend in their world, a bit like a holiday.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about the technique you use in illustrating your Daisy books?
A: I work with very wet acrylics and watercolour, so each picture is layered with thin washes until it builds into the finished work. It is a long process.
Q: How much do you feel that your stories speak to your 'inner child'?
A: Completely, only I'm afraid it's not so 'inner' having never properly grown up.
Q: Is there something special for you about this age that has kept it alive for you?
A: It really is an age where you either like or dislike something, before things become too precious. I love the idea that my Daisy books are enjoyed but not necessarily looked after.
Q: You trained in illustration as a mature student why did you come to this career later rather than earlier?
A: I have always painted, drawn and written, but had so many things to do when I was younger. I never really thought I'd live past thirty, so when I did I decided to really explore my writing and painting as much as I could.
Q: What are the highs and lows of being an author / illustrator?
A: The highs are easy, living in my made up world with characters I love, but the lows are trying to make a living from it.
Q: What is the funniest thing someone has ever said to you about one of your books?
A: One woman was adamant they had been on holiday in the village where POG AND THE BIRDIES was set, she wouldn't have it that it just exists in my head.
Q: Why have you chosen to live on a boat and where do you do your work?
A: Water and travel are the two main features of my childhood, so a boat made perfect sense. I couldn't have afforded to study for my degree without having my boat to live and work on.
I was on the river in Cambridge and when I finished my degree I sold my river boat and bought the sea boat that features in Ebb and Flo, and Ship's Cat Doris.
My studio is in the wheelhouse and I always have spectacular views, particularly when moored in Greece, in Italy, in France, in Spain and England. Sometimes painting and drawing when at anchor and the boat is tipping about can be quite challenging, but it is never dull.
Q: What is your favourite time of day and why?
A: Morning, when I wake up and my mind is still almost dreaming. I like to sit and think before the day takes over. I now live in a barn in Normandy, so have four donkeys and a horse to feed, which is great, they are always good company and love their breakfast.
Q: What is your favourite activity?
A: I would have said messing about in a dinghy, but now that is second to messing about with my lovely donkeys.
Q: What would you run a mile from?
A: The dentist.
Q: What are you writing now?
A: It's Great to be Small! About the smallest elephant and a tiny weenie mouse. It will be published by Collins in their Big Cat series.
