#InterviewByTheme with Katrina McKelvey

Katrina McKelvey is here today talking all things ‘bottoms’, and other whacky things in our Comedy themed interview! It’s a TOoT! I mean, HOoT! 🙈🙉🙊

What is the funniest book you’ve ever read?

I fell in love with reading when the book, ‘Just Tricking’ by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton smacked me in the face many years ago. The chapter, ‘Cockroach’ still has me in stitches. I just can’t get the visuals of Andy’s bare bottom facing Mr Bainbridge while the top half of him hangs out the bathroom window.

I also enjoyed reading the chapter titled, ‘Playing Dead’ aloud to my students many years ago.

What is it about writing for children that makes you happy?

I love playing with words and the sounds some words make. Alliteration and rhyme is so much fun to use. I’m also fascinated with book design and how illustrations and words are best placed on a page.

I find I’m much funnier in my stories than I am in real life. I can explore my humorous side as writing is a wonderful outlet.

I loved seeing my story, ‘Dandelions’ come to life more than I ever imagined thanks to Kirrili Lonergan’s amazing illustrations. It was pure magic!

I also love receiving photos of children reading my book. Such joy!

One more! I love interacting with the children who come to the Newcastle Writers Festival. You can see a spring in their step after they leave an inspiring author or illustrator session. It makes me all fuzzy on the inside.

Which author’s or illustrator’s sense of humour do you enjoy? Why?

I claim to have fallen in love with the dynamic duo of Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton almost twenty years ago – long before they were discovered by the millions and trillions of children across the world. I love how their professional relationship has evolved in that time. Terry drives a lot of the humour now apparently. I love bum humour. Actually, I love the word ‘bum’.

What has been your funniest moment as an author?

Hmmm … hard question. I often write a cracker of a joke in my stories. When I read it to my husband, I often burst into laughter before I can get it out. He just looks at me strangely and then starts laughing too – but not at my joke, at me! Often I’m laughing so hard I can’t even get out the rest of the joke. Laughter is contagious. Share it around!

Finish the sentence… “What cracks me up is…”

What cracks me up is a good picture book about underpants and bums. I wish adults would just relax about these things and join in the fun. Farts are funny!
(I believe every librarian knows this and secretly reads these types of stories while students aren’t looking. Ask them! They wont admit it but you’ll make them blush.)

You can read about my ‘Bottom Humour’ picture book collection here.

Which of your own book characters would you want to meet in person? Why?

I want to meet the main character in my new JF ‘disaster’ series.
His name is AJ. I have a lot of questions for him. He has some explaining to do.

Funniest word in the Dictionary:

BUM! That’s why toddlers and children can’t stop saying it. Go on, let it roll off your tongue. It tickles! Actually, ‘tickles’ is a lovely word too.

What writing advice would you NEVER give to aspiring writers?

Some librarians hate bottom humour so you better not write any!

Lol! Thanks, Katrina, for the ‘crack’ing good fun! 😉 😂 💨

Katrina McKelvey is a children’s author, former primary school teacher and mother of two. Her first picture book, ‘Dandelions’, illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan and published by EK Books was released in 2015.

Katrina is the President of the Children’s Book Council of Australia NSW Inc. Newcastle Sub-branch, is on the board of the Newcastle Writers Festival, is a Books In Homes Volunteer Role Model, and facilitates the Hunter Writers Centre Children’s Writing Group.

As a reluctant reader, Katrina is passionate about helping children build a love of reading and writing as early as possible and then maintain it.

Katrina can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on her blog.

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