Bella’s Blog – The Big Interview Posted on August 18th, 2017
Hello and welcome to our very latest blog from ‘The Chatterbox’ in Silver Birch Dell! What a very busy month it’s been! We’ve just launched two new books from Behind the Fairy Door which are already proving very popular and there is a real buzz of excitement. Of course, Shoppy Poppy has still found time for several shopping trips to accessorise her summer wardrobe!
We also spoke to our wonderful illustrator Stephanie Moxham for our August edition of ‘The Big Interview’. Stephanie works with our author Alison to bring the Dell alive with colour and fun.
What do you do in the team?
I am the illustrator for the ’Behind The Fairy Door’ books and it’s my job to work closely with Alison’s script in which she describes everything going on in the Fairy Dell.
Who is your favourite character?
My favourite character is River Dawn. Apart from having a fabulous name, she lives in a gipsy caravan and I adore gipsy caravans. I love her big snuggly cardigan she wears too! She is so sweet and very kind and helpful to everyone.
How did you begin to illustrate what Silver Birch Dell looked like?
I read each page and then my imagination takes off! I start by making sketches for ideas then and the fun begins. I can’t wait to start. I do rough pictures first, then I draw everything ready for painting and airbrushing.
I think that I have a very childlike imagination because even when I’m sitting in my conservatory having a coffee watching blackbirds on the lawn, I imagine them wearing red and white spotted head scarfs and pretty dresses and are probably sorting out a trip to market with their shopping trollies!
Alison’s amazing description of Silver Birch Dell really made me feel that I had moved in myself and that I knew all the characters personally so this made my job extremely easy.
Where do you get your ideas from and what is your favourite place in the Dell?
I get ideas from everything I see. I’m always making mental notes for funny ideas, people I meet and places I visit. If I’m out for a walk in the woods for example, every old mossy tree trunk could be a home for fairy folk… you never know!
My favourite place in Silver Birch Dell is ‘Tea Pot Cosy’ because I do love a nice cup of tea and a biscuit of course.
Thank you Stephanie,
