Brothers Etherington
About Author
Robin and Lorenzo Etherington began their creative partnership at the tender ages of 8 and 5 respectively. Hunched side by side over the kitchen table they would draw furiously, their inspiration ignited by the adventures of Asterix and those indomitable Gauls. However it soon became clear to both siblings that Lorenzo was by far the more talented with pencil or crayon and so they settled on a new course of action: Robin would write the stories and his brother would draw them.
While Lorenzo maintained an unflinching dedication to his studies, culminating in a fine art degree from Falmouth Art College, Robin pursued a number of alternative careers from musician to mountain guide. But fate was not to be trifled with and the brothers eventually found themselves drawn back to that kitchen table, emboldened by a new desire to create stories coloured by their own sense of fun and adventure; contemporary weird and wonderful tales that would be as timeless as they were original.
They have since produced a vast menagerie of self-published titles alongside comic material for Transformers, Star Wars, Wallace and Gromit, Terminator Salvation, Dreamworks' Monsters Vs Aliens, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar. Their debut graphic novel, Monkey Nuts and the Diamond Egg of Wonders, was released in September by David Fickling Books. They are currently finishing their second graphic novel, entitled Baggage, also for David Fickling Books alongside Freaky Giblets, a brand new illustrated Childrens novel series for Random House. Both are due for release in 2011.
Author link
www.theetheringtonbrothers.blogspot.com
Interview
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ETHERINGTON BROTHERS
Or.... when Robin met Lorenzo, they both sat down, Robin had a coffee, Lorenzo ate some sticky buns and they chatted away like a couple of loonies!
ROBIN: Hello, Mr Etherington!
LORENZO: Hello, Mr Etherington to you to!
R: As you spend twenty five hours a day drawing monkeys, robots and robot monkeys based on stories I've plucked from my head like ticks from a gorilla's back, I thought it might be a good idea if we got to know each other.
L: You mean the last 30 years being BROTHERS counts for nothing???
R: Er, not nothing exactly ... but there are some questions I've simply never got around to asking. I've been too busy adventuring, exploring the world and banishing evil masterminds.
L: Haha! Is that what you call playing on the playstation, watching cartoons and reading comics?
R: Ahem. Question 1: when was the last time you found something really funny and what was it?
L: About five seconds ago when you pretended to be an adventurer.
R: Okay, well before that.
L: Watching you dance at my wedding.
R: Be serious!
L: Hang on - serious or funny? You can't have both.
R: I'll reword this ... what was the last great joke you heard?
L: 'Where did Napoleon keep his armies?'
R: Is this a history question or a joke?
L: 'Up his SLEEVIES!' Haha.
R: I'm pretty sure he kept his armies in France...
L: Next question!
R: Question 2: following on from question 1, what's your favourite funny moment from our book, Monkey Nuts?
L: Oooooooh - tough one. I like the bit where Sid and Rivet fall out of the Muckybutt Temple's bottom!
And I like it when Rivet gets his upgrades - his robot slinky idea is just silly!
R: Hey, that was MY idea - I wrote it!
L: Well, then you're silly.
R: Fair point. Question 3: what do you like best about drawing comics?
L: Serious answer - it's the most amazing thing in the entire world! I get to conjure up wild, original worlds and fill them with crazy characters and incredible action.
R: Er, and the not-so-serious answer?
L: It's better than WORKING for a living!
R: That is very true. Wait a second ... what's this ... oh, my, it's the QUICKFIRE round!
Here come a whole bunch of questions in rapid succession. If you fail to answer them you'll be dropping into a vat of lava and boiled till all that's left are your teeth and a slight smell of cabbage!
L: Is that what you were building earlier? I wondered why I was sitting on top of a trap door.
R: Question 4: Which do you prefer, Chocolate or Cheese?
L: Chocolate of course! You can't buy bags of cheese in the cinema!
R: Question 5: What comic or cartoon character would you be if you had the choice?
L: Jessica Rabbit.
R: Don't you mean ROGER Rabbit?
L: Oh, er, right. Yes, him then.
R: Question 6: Glass half empty or half full?
L: Why can't I have a completely full glass?
R: No, I mean, are you a positive person or a negative person? Do you always see the bright side or life or just the bad stuff?
L: Definitely the bright side ... and it doesn't get much brighter than comics!
R: Question 7: How long does it take you to draw and colour a single page?
L: About two days - and how long does it take YOU to write one?
R: About three minutes.
L: Tell you what, next time, YOU draw and I'LL write.
R: Um, no, thank you. Question 8: What's your favourite comic book?
L: Calvin and Hobbes. I just love that darned Tiger and his pet boy.
R: Question 9 ... nearly there! Do you have lots of new stories to share with the Reading Zone readers and kids all over the world?
L: Yes we do! Lots and lots! In fact, there will be three more amazing books arriving next year!
R: And finally, Question 10: Will there be more Monkey Nuts adventures?
L: YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Keep your eyes peeled!
R: Phew! We made it. That wasn't so hard. I could be a professional interviewer.
L: Instead of a children's book and comic author?
R: Do I have to choose one or the other?
L: Well, yes - that's what you've been making me do with all these questions.
R: Okay ... I choose action-packed, laughter-filled mayhem and excitement forever.
L: Reading Zone Interviewer it is then!
