Adam Wallace is the author of the new children's picture book Turkey in Disguise. His many other books include How to Catch a Turkey. He lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Q: What inspired you to write Turkey in Disguise, and how did you create your character Turkey?
A: I really love this question, because it gives a nice insight into a part of the publishing industry some people may not know about.
There are different ways to get a book picked up and published. One is where you submit an idea to a publisher, and they say yes (YAY!). Another is where a publisher goes to a writer they have previously worked with, or a writer they know of, and ask if they would like to write a story based on the publisher's concept.
And that is exactly what happened in this case. Silver Dolphin came up with this awesome concept, after seeing an activity children do in school disguising a turkey, and asked if I would like to write it. I jumped at the chance!
Once we had the idea of Turkey not wanting to go to a ball, her character kind of wrote itself! Not based on personal experience, of course...
Q: What do you think Mike Moran’s illustrations add to the story?
A: SO much! Not only does he bring his own humor to the pictures, but he works in so well with the story, illustrating what is written and more. The way Turkey's friends react, the many expressions, and then there are the costumes. Kids LOVE the stinky big toe, especially because it's also a bit hairy!
Then there is my favourite, the park bench, where Mike flips what he did before and after, drawing Turkey IN a disguise. The bench is literally just a picture of a bench. Genius!
Q: How would you describe the dynamic between Turkey and her friends?
A: It's a really lovely one that just developed. I love how her friends want to help her, how they are eager to see her disguises, but at the same time are honest with her, letting her know when they don't like something. And that honesty continues at the end, where they tell her she's beautiful as she is.
As for Turkey, she trusts her friends enough to ask their opinion, and then takes it on each time as well.
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the book?
A: One, I hope they take away the fact that books can be fun and funny and even a little bit silly. Two, that they are also okay to be themselves, to find their true self and show that to the world rather than trying to be someone they're not to impress other people. And three, that dressing up as a stinky big toe is a bad idea. Don't do it, kids. DON'T DO IT!
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Heaps and heaps and heaps and...nah, not that much really. With writers, there is the writing phase, the editing phase, and the promotion phase.
So, with writing I am working on a new screenplay called The Last Gravedigger. Editing-wise, I am in the middle of a new series, the I Think I Saw series, and we are editing one of those. And promotion-wise, after heading home from America talking turkey, I am busy visiting schools in Australia talking about my new graphic novel musical book called Hatman.
Oh, and I'm editing a book on kindness as well, and also writing a new book that may be a YA called Eddie Yesterday. Actually, that IS a lot!
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I'm allergic to dairy so can't eat ice-cream or cheese or butter or most chocolate. Which is really sad.
Ohhhh, you mean about the book. Well, I have a new definition of success. Success, for me, is based on how much fun I am having, and this book was so fun to write, so is a success for me already. Success of a book, however, I judge on how much fun the readers are having, so my great hope is that it is a huge success in that regard!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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