Author Q & A: Jane Whittingham

What is the book you most clearly remember from when you were a child?
I’m going to cheat a little, because I simply can’t choose one standout book from a childhood surrounded by books. I grew up on a steady diet of classic modern British children’s literature thanks to my English-born parents, and The Wind in the Willows, Beatrix Potter’s stories and the tales of Paddington Bear and Winnie the Pooh still hold such dear places in my heart. 

Did you ever write a fan letter to an author? If so, who to, and did they write back?
No. But I did get a chance to meet one of my favourite childhood authors, the great Kit Pearson. There’s a saying that you shouldn’t meet your idols, lest reality not live up to expectation, but Ms. Pearson was as kind and gracious as could be, and I was thrilled to get my childhood copy of The Sky is Falling signed.  

How did you learn to write? What is one writing book or website you’d recommend to anyone else wanting to learn?
If you want to write, read! I’m a self-taught writer, and I hone my craft by reading lots and lots and LOTS of picture books! Reading extensively in my chosen genre lets me work out which writing styles, elements, themes and formats appeal to me and which don’t, and helps me learn more about myself as an author, and as a reader. The more you read, the better a writer you can become. It’s also a great excuse to read lots of fun books!

What is your favourite hobby or activity that has nothing to do with writing or reading?
Watching movies! My partner and I have weekly movie nights, and we’re currently working our way through the silent movie era, which means a lot of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton films. We make stovetop popcorn, dim the lights, and settle in for an evening of escape through film.

Who is your favourite author now?
I’m going to be indecisive again because I can’t pick just one favourite author, but there’s a bit of a running joke among my story time audiences that I must be friends with English author/illustrator Jane Cabrera because of how often I include her books in my programs (I’m not, I just really like her books!).  Mo Willems, Mac Barnett, Atinuke, Mem Fox, Anna Dewdney, Eric Litwin, and John Klassen are some other favourites.  I could write an entire list of kidlit authors I love! 

Do you have a new book coming out soon?
I have two picture books coming out in 2022 (the publishing machine moves slowly), so stay tuned for more details! 

What are you writing these days?
Picture books, picture books, always picture books. I literally have about a dozen different manuscripts in various stages of development tucked away on my laptop.

Do you write regularly, or just when you feel like it?
I write whenever I can find the time. I have both a day job and a small child, so finding the time and energy to write can be a bit of a challenge, but I try to be kind to myself and not get too discouraged when I haven’t written for a while. Slow and steady wins the race, at least when it comes to my writing career!

How do you like editing and revising?
I hate it! I treat editing like a necessary evil. I’m such a nit-picky writer, I can chip away at a story for eons, and I find it really difficult to know when a manuscript is truly finished. Even worse, I tend to edit as I write, which is a terrible habit for an author – as everyone will tell you, it’s much more efficient to get a story down on paper first, and then start tinkering away with it. If you stop to edit after every sentence, you’ll likely burn yourself out before you’ve even finished a single draft! Thankfully I’ve had the opportunity to work with some really great editors who have helped me grow as a writer and as a confident editor, and my distaste for editing has lessened over time.

Can you share one strange, weird or wonderful thing about you?
I can touch my nose with my tongue!

What’s the one questions (and the answer) that you wish I had asked?
Jane, how do you deal with rejection?
Ice cream. Sweet, delicious, comforting ice cream. And a good sense of humour.

Thanks, Jane.

Find out more about Jane and her books: