Welcome to a special DOUBLE #TheQuickSixInterview with Sharon Giltrow and Katrin Dreiling!

PLUS! The Cover Reveal – see it here FIRST!

We are delighted to share a very special, never-before-seen feature here on the blog! Whilst we have not one, but TWO fabulous interviews lined up with author Sharon Giltrow and illustrator Katrin Dreiling, they are also revealing the stunning cover of their upcoming picture book! Here it comes… Bedtime, Daddy!


About the Book 

Putting Daddy to bed can be hard work. Especially when he starts crying! This story will show you how to wrestle your daddy into his pyjamas and read just one more bedtime story. “I’m thirrrrrrrrssssssty,” says Daddy. “I need to poop … I’m hungry … But I’ll miss you,” he says, while he looks at you with cutie eyes. You’ll have to battle the bedtime excuses and use go-away monster spray until Daddy finally goes to sleep. Full of heart and humour, Bedtime, Daddy! is for anyone who wants to put a grown-up to bed. 

COVER REVEAL!


About the Author

Sharon Giltrow grew up in South Australia, the youngest of eight children, surrounded by pet sheep and fields of barley. She now lives in Perth, WA with her husband, two children and a tiny dog. When not writing, Sharon works with children with Developmental Language Disorder. Her debut PB Bedtime Daddy is due to be released May 2020 through EK Books.

Find Sharon on Twitter and Instagram.

 


WHO

Who wrote, illustrated and published this book?

Author: Sharon Giltrow

Illustrator: Katrin Dreiling

Publisher: EK Books

From exciting debut author Sharon Giltrow and award-winning illustrator Katrin Dreiling comes BEDTIME DADDY, the only book you’ll ever need to put your grown up to bed.

 

WHAT

What is it called and what is it about?

Bedtime Daddy

This hilarious book is about a child who tries to put their daddy to bed. It is a role reversal book that shows the reader how to…

  • wrestle their daddy into his pyjamas
  • read just one more bedtime story
  • battle endless bedtime excuses….
  • frighten away monsters with monster spray

and finally get their daddy to bed.

 

WHEN

When is its release / launch date?

May 12th 2020

 

WHERE

Where did the inspiration for this book come from?

Many, many years of my husband and I (he is the inspiration for the daddy bear) trying to put our own children to bed and all the excuses that they used. As well as all the wonderful bedtime stories we shared together. I also wanted to write a story using the second person point of view and the how to format.

 

WHY

Why is this book meaningful to you and why would its message resonate with readers?

The characters and their story are based on my own family and experiences. My children were my inspiration for the child bear character and their dad for the daddy bear. Likewise, many of the people reading the story would be able to relate to the story. Everyone be they a parent, a grandparent, an aunty, an uncle or a babysitter has at some stage had to put a child to bed (or been put to bed when they were a child).

 

HOW

How have you promoted this book and how can we find it?

Well this is my official cover reveal and my first author interview so thank you.

I am a member of a debut picture book group called 2020 Debut Crew, which has been invaluable for sharing ideas and supporting each other’s debut journey.

Bedtime Daddy is available for pre- order through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Book Depository.

The book will be available through EK Books and all booksellers from May 12th 2020

https://ekbooks.org/


About the Illustrator

Katrin is a German-born language teacher but moved to Australia with her husband and three children and became an illustrator. Now she lives in a wooden house on stilts next to a creek filled with snakes and poisonous toads and hopes to spot a koala one day.

Katrin creates quirky illustrations that feature different media. Her first picture book “The World’s Worst Pirate” by Michelle Worthington has been awarded Notable Book 2018 by the Children’s Book Council of Australia and she also delivered illustrations for a highly successful video animation production on YouTube. “Bedtime Daddy” written by Sharon Giltrow and published by EK Books will be released 2020 among two other picture books Katrin has been working on.

Katrin was awarded the Harper Collins Illustrators Showcase Award 2019 at the biannual SCBWI conference in Sydney. She is represented by Essie White at Storm Literary Agency.

Katrin also teaches art to children twice a week and conducts illustration workshops for both adults and children. In her free time she loves to spend time with her family, writing quirky stories and walking her Golden Retriever ‘Loki’.

Find Katrin here: website | Instagram | facebook | twitter


WHO

Who influenced your illustration career?  

Definitely the illustrators of the books I’ve read and admired as a child. They are mostly German artists but I also grew up with a lot of Scandinavian work, for example Tove Jansson. Later in life when I set out to be an illustrator myself I was influenced by Russel Ayto’s and Beatrice Alemagna’s work. Their styles are quite different to each other but I always admired how they see the world and translate it visually. They both give me the feeling of “everything is possible” which I find very inspirational. I also regularly meet with a group of other Brisbane illustrators and their friendship has shaped me as an illustrator immensely.

 

WHAT

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt so far?

Things don’t happen quickly in kidlit world and so it is important to keep busy, not to look left or right and to do your own thing. Don’t wait for things to happen and enjoy what you are doing.

 

WHEN

When did you know you wanted to be a children’s book illustrator?

I knew that from a very early age on but it did not seem possible to follow that instinct then. Even more precious it is for me now that I have changed careers and work on fulfilling this dream.

 

WHERE

Where is your favourite place to illustrate?

My studio with my dog guarding the door or on the day bed outside on the deck when it is a hot Queensland summer day.

 

WHY

Why do you love to create for children’s books?

For one thing it is one of the most effective and beautiful ways to influence a child’s growing up positively. It is also the best way I can think of to express myself.

 

HOW

How do you go about your illustration process?

First I usually read a manuscript over and over for a couple of weeks and make notes. Then I use a designated sketchbook to collect visual material by sketching, collaging or even just trying out different paints. When I have a rough idea of what media I would like to use for the whole book I start the sketching, storyboarding and colouring together with the editor.

 

#bedtimedaddy #picturebook #sharongiltrow #katrindreiling #thequicksixinterview #coverreveal

5 thoughts to “Double Interview PLUS Cover Reveal with Sharon Giltrow and Katrin Dreiling

  • Norah

    What a fantastic idea for a book. Sometimes putting Daddy to bed is the only way to get the children to bed. I’m sure Katrin’s illustrations will be a perfect complement to Sharon’s text.

    Reply
    • Just Write For Kids

      Agreed! It’s such a cute concept. I’m sure the story is loads of fun!

      Reply
      • Norah

        I agree!

        Reply
  • Kirstie My

    What a cute story. The cover is so colorful and Dad looks exhausted with his glasses still on. LOL.
    I’m looking forward to reading it.

    Reply
    • Just Write For Kids

      You’re right! It looks adorable! 🙂

      Reply

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