Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Sally Barns!
It’s such a pleasure to welcome debut picture book rock star author, Sally Barns, to the blog, to entertain us with her new release, Rock Dogs! Inspired by her own canine howlers, Sally’s tongue-wagging, rollicking tale is hitting centre-stage amongst readers, showing us that we can truly shine and achieve our dreams with some dynamic teamwork and creative thinking. Matched with the clever, rockin’ illustrations by the legendary Anil Tortop, it’s page after page of an energetic visual music fest for children and adults alike! (You’ll love the references to the classics of metal!) Everyone, band together and get your Rock Dogs on!
Congratulations, Sally! 🙂
About the Author
Sally Barns is a mum of two who loves chocolate, dogs, and writing stories for kids that are full of giggles and fun. She lives in northern Tasmania with her husband and two children.
When Sally isn’t busy being a taxi for her kids, she can be found with a pen in one hand and a sizeable chocolate stash in the other.
Rock Dogs is her first picture book with a second due for release in 2025.
Please find Sally Barns on Instagram | Facebook
About the Illustrator
Anil Tortop is a children’s book illustrator, animator and character/concept designer.
She was born and raised in Turkey. Then moved to Australia in early 2011 and has been trying to get used to the local eight-legged house intruders and slithering visitors to their garden ever since.
Anil lives in QLD. In their small home studio, she and her husband are playing “Children’s Booksmithing” at Tadaa — at least when they are not playing hide and seek with their little daughter.
Please find Anil Tortop at her website: Anil Tortop | Illustrator and on Instagram | Facebook | Behance
Rock Dogs can be purchased through Affirm Press.
WHO wrote, illustrated and published this book?
ROCK DOGS was written by myself, Sally Barns, illustrated by the talented Anil Tortop and published by the rock star team at Affirm Press.
WHAT is it about?
ROCK DOGS is about a small town rock’n’roll band, the Howlers. They are given the chance to be the opening act for megastars HISS but a mistake means they arrive at the concert without their instruments! They must come up with a solution so that the show can go on and their dreams can come true.
What is your favourite part of this book?
Can I say the endpapers? They are so much fun! My favourite part of the story is when the Howlers come up with a solution to their problem… this had me giggling the moment it came to me, and it still does!
Image: Anil Tortop.
WHEN is its release / launch date?
ROCK DOGS was released July 30, 2024.
A book launch will be held at the Launceston Library, Saturday August 24, 2024.
More information can be found here.
WHERE did the inspiration for this book come from?
Our dogs actually! We have cocker spaniels and their long hair and floppy ears make them look like they belong in a rock band from the 80s. They were serenading me one afternoon when I tried to go for a walk without them (how dare I), and their howling sparked an idea which grew into ROCK DOGS.
WHY is this book meaningful to you?
ROCK DOGS is my first picture book so it will always hold a special place in my heart. It is quite serendipitous that my debut picture book about chasing dreams is actually a dream of my own coming true.
Why would its message resonate with readers?
Underneath the fun, this is a story about chasing your dreams, resilience and teamwork.
HOW long did it take to write?
Once the idea had sparked, ROCK DOGS came together in bits and pieces. I would scribble stanzas down as they came to me – usually when doing something boring like housework! I had the first draft completed in 2021, it then went through my SCBWI critique group and I did a crash course in rhyme and metre. I had it edited and revised it multiple times before I felt it was ready. I pitched it to Affirm Press at the KidLitVic conference in 2022, and luckily, they asked me to make a few changes and send it in!
How do you feel about the illustrations? Do they convey the feeling or mood you envisioned?
I love the illustrations! Anil is incredibly talented. They are better than I had envisioned, I thought they would be darker and more grunge like, but the way that Anil has used colour has lifted it in a way that I could never have imagined.
So rockin’! You’re a star, Sally! 🙂
Image: Anil Tortop.
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