#InterviewByTheme with RJ Simon

Just Write For Kids is pleased to have RJ Simon answering some of our Comedy-themed questions! Looking forward to a good laugh!

What is the funniest book you’ve ever read?
It was probably a book that claimed it could teach me how to cook.

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

The hope that one day something I’ve written will make a child I’ve never met smile.
Which author’s or illustrator’s sense of humour do you enjoy? Why?

There’s way too many to list, and so many different types of humour that I appreciate.

So I’ll just give you one of each.

I enjoy witty lines by Jane Austen, and I’ve always been fond of Beatrix Potter’s illustrations.

Why? Because, the humour in their work exists as a bonus layer like icing on a cake.

What has been your funniest moment as an author / illustrator?

It’s all very serious; nothing funny ever happens.

It’s not like I’m not known for laughing hysterically in the middle of the night about things I’ve drawn or written or anything like that…

What is the most comical response you’ve received from a fan?

I don’t think I have any fans, yet.

There’s something comical about people shooting drinks out of their noses.

It’s not so good when they start spurting soft drink, juice, or coffee out their eyes, though.

I want people to laugh hard at my work… but not that hard.

Funniest word in the Dictionary:

That’s a hard one. I’m going to go with ‘funniest’ because you can’t argue with that. I don’t have a copy of the dictionary. But I did read it once; to be honest it just wasn’t that funny. It’s more like a thriller; clowns appear quite close to the start, and there’s zombies in the last chapter.

(Sorry, you might want to add a spoiler alert in there somewhere.)

What writing advice would you NEVER give to aspiring writers?

They say if you stretch just right you can fit a whole banana up your nose.

Now personally, I haven’t tried it but you should. That writer H.D. Knoitall says it will help you write a best seller every time. He must know what he’s talking about because his book ‘101 Ailments that can be Cured by Sticking a Banana up your Nose’ was ranked #1 on Amazon in the ‘Banana up your nose self-help books for writers’ section.

Thanks, RJ! You’re hilarious! 😂

RJ Simon is an artist, writer, designer and published illustrator. She is currently working on a series of fictional stories for middle graders. You can find out more about RJ Simon at her website, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook pages. 

#InterviewByTheme