author Archives - NorikoArt

Interview: Destynee Onwochei & Noriko Matsubara

nori — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 19:54:07 +0000

I worked with BBC Children’s for their new Storytime App earlier this year. I illustrated one of their stories called “Olanna’s Super Senses” written by Destynee Onwochei. Prior to the Storytime App launch in July 2021, Destynee and I decided to interview each other and talk about behind the scene of this collaboration.

Watch the video and find out about our back stories and how we ended up working with BBC!

In this interview, we cover:

0:58- Destynee’s background and her journey to become a published author

5:36- Events and people that had a great impact on Destynee’s life

9:27- Destynee’s current/future projects

12:25- Destynee’s tips for aspiring authors

14:13- Noriko’s journey to become an author/illustrator

18:37- What made Noriko want to write children’s books

20:35- Noriko talks about her “Bocchi and Pocchi” picture book character ‘Grandma mouse’

22:30- Noriko’s journey on getting her children’s books published

26:35- How did the BBC reach out to Noriko

29:08- Noriko’s current project

29:56- Noriko talks about her vision for the future

To find out more about Destynee, visit her website: destynee.com

“Olanna’s Super Senses” is free and available via the CBeebies Storytime App (only in the UK)

Download the CBeebies Storytime App to watch the story written by Destynee Onwochei and illustrated by myself (You can find “Olanna’s Super Senses” under the “Bedtime Stories” category).

Click the button below to see all my past cartoons.

PICTURE BOOKS

My picture books (signed & personalised) are available here.

You can also buy my picture books on Amazon.co.uk.

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Reunion with my Year 1 teacher

nori — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 11:55:56 +0000

Last August, I was giving a talk at Hachinohe Book Center in Japan, promoting my newly published book.

When it was time for Q&A, an elderly lady stood up from the audience seat.

That was Mrs Tsuda, my teacher at first grade of elementary school.

I recognised her face right away even though we hadn’t seen each other for over 30 years.

I was the slowest child in the class. It took me so long to do anything. I came to school late because I was dawdling. I couldn’t finish eating school lunch in time so I continued eating while everyone was tidying up the classroom. I was so slow doing work that I continued working after everyone finished and left the class.

But Mrs Tsuda was patient. Rather than looking at what I wasn’t good at, she focused on what I was good at. Although I was slow in writing, she found I was actually good at writing. So she allowed me to work outside the class time so I could finish what I was working on. That year I wrote an essay about a book and won an award, thanks to her patient and continuous support.

Mrs Tsuda said to me when I was seven:

“Noriko, there is shine in your eyes. Many people lose their shines as they grow up. Keep your shine and never lose it.”

Her words resonated with me and still stay with me after 35 years.

I often ask myself in the mirror, “Do I have shine in my eyes?”

Sometimes I answer “Yes.” This is usually the time when I’m doing what I’m passionate about.

When I answer “No,” I’m not enjoying what I’m doing.

I found this question a great indicator to know the state of my heart and helps me keep the right focus.

The impact of events in childhood are great. If I didn’t meet Mrs Tsuda when I was seven, I might never have become a children’s author and illustrator.

I’m very lucky to have met people who helped me to get where I am now. Life is so mysterious. It brings me right people at the right time, although I’m not aware of it at that time.

You can watch my talk at Hachinohe Book Center in Japan below (it’s in Japanese – sorry, no English subtitles!)

Noriko’s picture books are available here or on Amazon.

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Interview with Children’s Author Pippa Goodhart

nori — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 11:27:13 +0000

I’m curious about how longstanding children’s authors work. How do they get so many ideas? What do they do if they get stuck? Because I have gone through stagnant periods when I couldn’t find any ideas and felt stuck, I’m interested in how experienced authors resolve these issues and keep going.

I interviewed Pippa Goodhart, the author of over a hundred children’s books, including prize-winning picture book You Choose, and the Winnie the Witch storybooks which she writes under the pen name of Laura Owen.

In this interview, we cover:

0:12- Introducing Pippa

1:32- How Pippa, who was slow at learning to read and write as a child, became a published children’s author

4:54- Pippa explains how jobs in a bookshop and as a publisher’s reader led to what she does now

7:40- Pippa talks about writing stories for various age groups and the different challenges she enjoys

9:21- How Pippa finds ideas for her stories

11:26- Pippa explains how she deliberately writes herself into a corner when she is writing and how she resolves it

14:24- Two useful words Pippa gives to children when they can’t find their ideas for themselves

16:22- What Pippa does and what she enjoys in her school visits

17:54- Questions children tend to ask that teachers are longing to know but are too polite to ask

21:05- What enables Pippa to look at things from children’s point of view

22:41- Pippa talks about characters in her stories

26:36- The reason why Pippa uses the pen name Laura Owen for her Winnie the Witch books

29:25- How Pippa works with illustrators

29:49- Pippa talks about her picture book You Choose illustrated by Nick Sharratt

37:20- Publishers and agents

39:21- Who is Pippa’s favourite character?

39:55- Pippa’s favourite book format to work on

41:34- What Pippa thinks are the most important qualities for authors

43:55- Pippa’s advices for aspiring authors

44:40- Pippa’s online courses

45:40- Pippa’s current project

Visit Pippa’s website here

Pippa gives talks and workshops in schools and libraries.

To book her visit, you can contact Pippa directly here

To find out about her online courses, visit the links below:

Institute of Continuing Education (ICE)

Jericho Writers

Noriko’s picture books are available here or on Amazon.

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Interview with Children’s Author/Illustrator Gillian McClure

nori — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 22:53:28 +0000

I love what I do – working as an artist, children’s book author and illustrator. But I have challenges. How can I find more time to work while raising a young family? How can I earn more income from what I do? How can I get more inspiration?

I decided to interview experienced authors and artists to learn from their experiences, and share them with people who might benefit.

I got in touch with Gillian McClure, an author and illustrator whose career spans four decades. Since she started her career in a rather unusual way in 1974, she has had many books published as well as running her own publishing company, Plaister Press, for six years.

In this interview, we cover:

0:11- Introduction

2:31- How Gillian became a published author and illustrator

5:21- Gillian’s artwork and mediums

7:00- Process of creating a picture book

7:40- How Gillian managed to work while raising a young family

9:47- How Gillian gets ideas for her book

10:57- Events and people that had a great impact on Gillian’s life

12:30- Pros and cons of working with big/small publishers

13:50- Gillian’s involvement in typographic design

16:04- What kind of workshops Gillian gives in schools/libraries

18:32- What Gillian enjoys the most amongst all the things she does