From Flying Eye Books
We recently sat down with author and illustrator of the hilarious That’s Not Stella, Donna Fredin and asked her some questions about creating her debut picture book. Take a look and you might even catch a glimpse of the cat that inspired our iconic Stella!
Hi Donna! We are excited to have published your debut picture book, That’s Not Stella. Where did the idea for this story come from? Is there an actual cat who was the inspiration behind Stella?
Hi! The idea for the book came from a real cat named Stella! We were staying in my brother-in-law’s house looking after their cat, but she kept disappearing, leaving us to wonder where she had gone. One day, my son asked me if the cat was actually Stella, and we began making up stories about who she was and where she had been.
The real Stella
You’ve mentioned that you spent lots of time in libraries as a child (how wonderful!), as your mother worked as a librarian. In what way do you think this has influenced your work?
I can look back now and realise how lucky my sister and I were to spend so much time around books. I often joke that libraries were our playgrounds. We had access to a wide range of books, and I remember copying the pictures and sometimes giving the characters alternative storylines. The love of immersing myself in a story and escaping into a different world has stuck with me. I gained so much joy from books that I love the idea of being able to share that joy with children.
As an author/illustrator, we’d love to hear about your process. What comes first (or what comes most easily): the words or the visuals? How do you build your narrative?
I find that it can be a mix. I can start with an idea and begin writing down a loose story but then quickly start visualising how it could look, the main characters, the setting and the colours. I then go back to the story and add in details that are now influenced by the visuals. I guess it becomes a bit jumbled, as when I get an idea, I get excited and start building it out as quickly as possible.
You have two young children whom you credit as your main inspiration and the reason you began writing stories. Can you tell us more about this? For example, do your children’s personalities or expressions come out in the characters you create? Are they your first readers? We’d love to know how your children help shape your stories.
My children have greatly influenced me, and hearing them read my stories is an amazing feeling. It is a big honour when That’s Not Stella is chosen at bedtime! I have always loved picture books and the idea of writing one, but having children really brought out the storyteller in me. Both my children are an inspiration for my characters. Milo is actually based on my son, Elliot, and my daughter, Tove, has inspired other characters I am currently working on. They both have big personalities and wonderful imaginations, which are fun to try to capture. They are my biggest fans and biggest critics, and I run every idea by them to see what they think. Children can be brutally honest, and I love that. I wanted them to be part of That’s Not Stella so I asked them to do a small illustration that I hid in the book. They are very proud to tell people they are published illustrators too!
Lastly, we have to ask: Dogs or Cats?
Ha ha! Well, I should say cats because of Stella, but I’m actually a dog person.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about the book?
Making That’s Not Stella with Flying Eye Books has been such an interesting and fun journey. I have loved bringing this little story to life, and I hope everyone who reads it enjoys it.
Thank you, Donna!
