Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Dani Vee!
What a joy to welcome the marvellous, the supreme, the very popular, Dani Vee of Larrikin House and Words and Nerds Podcast fame to our blog to share the story behind the very hilarious, EPIC new picture book, My Epic Dad! Takes Us Camping! Can you tell we love this book (find our review and trailer here), and Dani, of course!
Enjoy the adventure, readers! 🙂
About the Author
DANI VEE is an author, podcaster and works in publicity and acquisitions at Larrikin House.
Her picture books include ‘My EXTRAordinary Mum’, and her new book ‘My EPIC Dad! Takes Us Camping,’ the first book in the EPIC Dad series.
Dani Vee hosts the popular literary podcast Words and Nerds. With up to 50,000 listeners every month and more than 500 episodes, the podcast has become a significant part of the Australian literary community. She has interviewed Matthew Reilly, Trent Dalton, Jackie French, Tara Moss, Andy Griffiths and many more.
As well as working in Publicity at Larrikin House, she assesses manuscripts and works in acquisitions with the publisher.
You’ll also find her facilitating panels or running workshops at literary festivals such as BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival, The Sutherland Shire Writers’ Festival, Somerset Storyfest, Kids and YA Festival and Mansfield Readers and Writers Festival to name a few.
Dani has been on judging panels for picture book awards, the Ned Kelly Awards and Ngaio Marsh Awards.
Dani loves nothing more than reading Oscar Wilde with a cup of camomile tea and dark chocolate.
Visit Dani at: daniveebooks.com OR WordsandNerds.com
Daniveebooks_wordsandnerds – Instagram
Dani Vee Books – Words and Nerds – FB
Dani Vee Books – Words and Nerds Pod – Twitter
WHO wrote, illustrated and published this book?
My EPIC Dad! Takes Us Camping is written by Dani Vee, illustrated by Marina Verola and published by Larrikin House.
WHAT is it about?
My EPIC Dad! Takes Us Camping is about an engaged, adventurous and optimistic dad, but the world is not always on is side! In this camping trip, he comes across a wild boar, angry ants, a snake used as a marshmallow stick and campfire gone wrong!
What is your favourite part of this book?
I love that no matter what goes wrong this dad is still the most optimistic and resilient person in the room and he loves to take his kids on adventures. I do love the snake used as a marshmallow stick thanks to Marina Verola!
WHEN did you begin writing this book?
I started writing this book mid 2021. It’s a series so I wrote two within a few weeks and the third a little later in the year, the fourth is still in draft form.
When is its release / launch date?
Released 1 February!
WHERE did the inspiration for this book come from?
In a Zoom meeting with publisher James Layton, he said he always wanted a story about an awesome, unlucky dad where things just go wrong. I asked lots of questions and asked if I could give it a crack!
The first draft he found mildly amusing, so I went back and rewrote it. When he read it to one of his mates, they spilt tea on their laps from laughing! Never submit a first draft!
WHY is this book meaningful to you?
I love how I was able to bring James’ vision to life! I also spent a lot of time in Emergency wards as a kid because my dad was always dislocating shoulders from playing sport!Â
Why would its message resonate with readers?
I think we all love that underdog who never lets anything get in the way of fun! I love his optimism, and kids and families could do with more of that, I reckon! I know I can!
HOW do you feel about the illustrations / cover design? How do they convey the feeling or mood you envisioned?
Marina did a wonderful job, capturing the humour and including some of her own! The kids were based off my own kids! They love it!
How have you promoted this book and how can we find it?
I’ll be promoting this book on podcasts and articles and book launches at schools. Buy online from Larrikin House, Booktopia or any awesome bookshop!
OTHER information or experiences you’d like to share?
I also work in publishing and acquisitions at Larrikin House and I if you’re an aspiring author, don’t give up – the industry is hard and rejection is part of the process – when you submit a manuscript, make sure it’s edited well, it’s on brand for your publisher and you’ve laboured over every word!
Thanks so much for sharing your absolutely hilarious story, Dani! We’re definitely hanging out for the rest of the series! 🙂
#thequicksixinterview #myepicdadtakesuscamping #familyadventures #funnybooksforkids #picturebooks
