Serena Geddes is a Sydney-based illustrator who brings ten years of picture book illustration and six years of traditional animation experience to her talks and workshops, catering to preschool, primary and secondary school students. She is the artist behind the highly successful Lulu Bell and Rosie and Rasmus series, and her latest book is Where the Dragons Live, a Rosie and Rasmus story in which a young dragon discovers how to be his true self.
Today, Serena Geddes is on the blog to tackle our Ten Terrifying Questions! Read on …
Serena Geddes
1. To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled?
I grew up in Melbourne before my family of six (plus two dogs and a cat) squished into our car and relocated to Sydney where I spent most of my years. Melbourne called me back several years ago winning my heart with the culture and arts. I bounce between Melbourne and Sydney where my family lives and have enjoyed living in Europe for a couple of years.
2. What did you want to be when you were twelve, eighteen and thirty? And why?
French. I thought my French teacher at school was beautiful, and of course, I wanted to be just like her. We chose our names from a list she read out, and mine was ‘Blandine’, which sounded like ‘Blondine’. As a biracial child to an Australian mother and Sri Lankan father, I always wanted to be blonde, and this was the closest thing I ever came to being blonde in my life.
A Photographer and someone’s Girlfriend… (ahem). I was studying Visual Arts at University and fell in love with photography. There was something deeply satisfying about the connection that forms between you and the subject. Through the lens everything else fades away, it would ignite my heart in that moment.
Ah yes … big aspirations for the second one …
A Blank Canvas and Explorer. My thirties were an exciting time because I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was a blank canvas about to embark on a two-year experience that changed my life. With no expectations, other than an open heart, an open mind and three visas, I stepped off the plane at Heathrow and there I stayed as I explored the colourful cultures and food of Europe.
3. What strongly held belief did you have when you were younger that you do not have now?
That being a grown up you had to be serious all the time.
4. What are three works of art – book or painting or piece of music, etc – that you can now say had a great effect on you and influenced your own development as a writer?
I can’t pinpoint three specific things; everything adds inspiration and it comes through at random times with my creativity. I do create playlists for my book projects. With Rosie and Rasmus, the picture book was set in a little village influenced by my time in France. There is strong emotion in some of the illustrations, so with music and the sensitivity of the piece the flow translates onto paper more easily for me.
Sleeping Lotus by Joep Beving
Vladimir’s Blues by Max Richter
Main Title from Chocolat by Rachel Portman
5. What made you choose to write a children’s book?
I am a visual storyteller and an illustrator first. After several years of illustrating for others, my stories were starting to come through in scribbles and sketches. I had a US agent who wanted to share my voice and write my own stories. There is a softness with my stories that speak to the shy unsure child, the ones who are wall flowers with big imaginations, the ones who are themselves at home but unsure how to be themselves out in the world. These are the stories I wanted to share with them.
6. Please tell us about your latest book!
Where the Dragons Live is the sequel to Rosie and Rasmus and follows Rasmus to the island where the dragons live. Rasmus is a joyful, fun, loving, kind dragon who has never met another of his kind before. He learns that ‘what dragons do’ is not ‘what Rasmus does’. He tries to be like his fellow fierce, fire breathing, rock throwing dragons but soon questions if he is, in fact, a dragon himself. With the help of his friend Rosie she dances him through the things that make him an extra special dragon.
7. What do you hope kids will take away with them after reading your book?
Don’t change so people will like you, be yourself and the right people will love you.
8. Who do you most admire in the realm of writing and why?
I admire anyone who has the courage to write and share their stories. If their message and story enhance our lives, their job is done.
9. Many artists set themselves very ambitious goals. What are yours?
To write more stories and explore other areas such as kid’s comics. I have always loved surface design and want to branch into for children’s clothing and merchandise in the next twelve months.
10. What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
I received this from my mentor Cateeana Saunders, which helped me significantly. Draw every day, write every day. It doesn’t matter what it is just create it. It can be a few words about the personality of your favourite plant, your coffee mug or something you saw. The aim is just to ‘create’. I was the master of distraction especially when I wasn’t in the right mood. This taught me that creativity is always in you no matter what my internal or external environment was throwing my way.
For me, we all have a story in us, so listen to what sings to you because that is what the world wants to hear.
Thank you for playing!
—Where the Dragons Live by Serena Geddes (Simon & Schuster Australia) is out now.
Where the Dragons Live
A Rosie and Rasmus story
When Rasmus bid his best friend Rosie goodbye to journey to the Island of Dragons, he wasn’t sure what to expect—he’s never met another dragon before! Upon his arrival to the island, he finds the other dragons to be fierce, feisty, and a little mean. They point out how gentle Rasmus and his small wings don’t fit in with the rest of them. Will Rasmus ever be a real dragon?
Luckily, Rosie travels to the island, and helps her dear friend discover that being his own true self is what really matters in friendship and dragonhood...
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