The Quick Six Interview with Binny Talib on The Letter Writer

Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Binny Talib!

We’re delighted to welcome the uber-talented award-winning author-illustrator, Binny Talib, to the blog, to share her latest gorgeous picture book; The Letter Writer. With her usual delectably charming and whimsical style, Binny has penned and illustrated this enchanting tale of making friends, facing fearsome ‘creatures of the night’, and a crafty ode to the art of letter writing, which I’m sure is set to bring a comeback to the good old fashioned handwritten snail mail amongst friends. Emotive language combined with textured, cosy and familiar mixed media techniques brings a warm comfort straight from Juniper’s and Jasper’s homes into our own.

Thank you for sharing this beautiful story with us, Binny! Congratulations! 🙂

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About the Author-Illustrator

Binny Talib is an award-winning author/illustrator known for her whimsical, contemporary style. She has illustrated over 35 books both in Australia and internationally, ranging from picture books and baby board books to nonfiction and chapter books.

Binny works from her studio on Sydney Harbour, fuelled by dandelion tea and assisted by her loyal Border Collie, Paddington. There has never been a dessert she hasn’t liked, seriously.

Please find Binny Talib at her website: www.binny.com.au and on Instagram.

The Letter Writer is available for purchase via Windy Hollow Books.

Thanks to Gemma Creegan for sourcing this interview.

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WHO wrote, illustrated and published this book?

The Letter Writer is written and illustrated by me, Binny Talib, and published by the wonderful team at Windy Hollow Books.

WHAT is it about?

Jasper has just moved to a new school and feels invisible.

Next door, Juniper is frightened of mysterious creatures that she imagines creeping in the shadows each night.

One evening, she writes a letter to “The Creatures of the Night” and somehow, it lands on Jasper’s bed.

Jasper knows exactly what he must do.

A story of courage, connection and imagination with just a little bit of outer space “The Letter Writer” is about how friendship can be sparked in the most unexpected ways.

What is your favourite part of this book?

I absolutely love the moment when the letter first lands on Jasper’s bed, addressed to “a creature of the night.” Then later, when Juniper receives a reply, she believes a real night creature is writing back! There’s something so innocent and magical about that imagined exchange. The letters themselves are playful and (hopefully!) quite funny. I hope they inspire kids to pick up a pen and experience the quiet magic of sending and receiving handwritten letters.

What media did you use to illustrate it?

This book is very much a mixed media piece. I combined digital elements with collage, pen and ink intentionally keeping it warm, hand-crafted and textured. I’m passionate about moving away from anything that looks generically digital or “AI”I want the work to feel human, layered, and tactile, like a real letter in your hands.

WHEN is its release / launch date?

The Letter Writer was released on May 1st, 2025

Its first celebration was a free Storytime at Gleebooks, Glebe, on Saturday May 17th. I did a reading of the book, there was cake, and a craft activity for little people.

WHY is this book meaningful to you?

As a mother, I’ve watched my children navigate the highs and lows of moving between countries and schools: adjusting, making friends, starting again. It’s not always easy. Sometimes, it only takes one kind gesture or one curious letter to change everything.

The story is also rooted in my own childhood. I grew up in country NSW where the night was full of eerie, rustling sounds, branches tapping on the roof, wind hissing through cracks. Our old houses had strange air vents high on the walls. Some had elaborate Victorian designs, and I often imagined what might live behind them, secret creatures, tunnels, or entire hidden worlds. My city-dwelling children had similar vents in their bedrooms, and one night the idea of a letter falling through one of them sparked the whole story.

Why would its message resonate with readers?

Because nearly every child has, at some point, felt scared of the dark or nervous about making friends. This story gently explores those emotions in a way that feels playful and empowering. And I think the idea of sending a letter and receiving one back of reaching out into the unknown and being seen will speak to children and adults alike.

How long did it take to illustrate?

It took about a year to illustrate, though not full time. Like many illustrators, I usually work on a few books at once, so it was a slow and considered process, one that gave me time to play with techniques and textures.

How do the illustrations convey the feeling, mood and themes of the book?

The book has a textural, moody palette designed to reflect the characters’ emotional journeys, soft blues, deep shadows, and pops of warmth. I gave Jasper blue hair so he could feel universal, not tied to any single ethnicity. I also used real paper collage and photographs of tiny handmade envelopes throughout, echoing the tactile joy of sending and receiving real letters. Hopefully it feels like a story you can reach in and touch.

OTHER information or experiences you’d like to share?

This book was a delight to create, especially because my wonderful publisher encouraged me to experiment. They supported the use of collage and textures, letting me push my techniques further than ever before.

Please share some of your favourite promotional ideas for this book.

One of the most exciting things I’ve done is launch a school letter writing project alongside the book. I visit a classroom, read The Letter Writer, and then help children craft their own illustrated letters. Each class is paired with another school so they can exchange letters and become pen pals, bringing back the joy of writing and receiving post!

I also had the joy of decorating the front window of Gleebooks in Glebe to celebrate the book’s release, it was such a fun way to share the mood and magic of the story with the local community.

Such an incredible and heartfelt story with equally beautiful illustrations! Thank you, Binny! 🙂

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