Interview with Antje Taylor
October 18th, 2019
Antje Taylor was born and raised in Germany. She moved to Australia over 10 years ago and now lives in Brisbane with her husband Craig and her two young children, Lars and Pip. Antje works as a management consultant and enjoys travelling, outrigger canoeing, the beach, and reading books. The idea for Friends Don't Like Roaring came to her when watching her son at the playground, not knowing how to talk and interact with other children.
We asked her 10 questions about herself and her writing.
1. When did you decided you wanted to become an author, what prompted this?
I have never consciously sat down and said to myself “I want to be an author”. Somehow, I always thought – only others can do this! However, after telling the story of Lap the little dinosaur to my son, I thought to myself, maybe this is a nice story to share with others, as I was sure that most parents repeat themselves saying “use your words”.
2. What was your favourite childhood book?
I have always enjoyed reading books. I can still remember going to the library every week after my piano lesson, getting lots of new books to read.
3. If you could tell your younger self any advice, what would it be?
Just go with the flow. It will all work out somehow!
4. How did you come up with the idea of your book?
I was watching my then 3 year old son at the playground. He is rather shy with new kids and every time he wanted to play with them, he basically “roared” at them – just like Lap, the little dinosaur.
5. How has your background and location shaped your work?
Becoming a mum has changed me, hopefully for the better :) It is now not only about you anymore. Instead those little people are your world and you would do and give anything for them. You also want to show them that anything is possible if you really want it – just like publishing a book!
6. Are there any people who you think have helped or inspired you to improve as a writer?
My kids and husband. They are the ones who I write for. As long as they like it, that is enough for me!
7. What is your writing process?
As a part-time working mum, you just have to use any free time you can get which is mostly at night.
8. If you didn’t write, what would you do instead?
Unfortunately I cannot say that writing is my full time job. As such, I am still working as a management consultant.
9. What’s been your favourite feedback?
Parents who told me that the story of Lap has resonated with their little ones and that those kids even said themselves “use your words”.
10. Finally, give us a fun fact about yourself that nobody knows!
I am an open book, so there is not much anyone doesn’t know about me!
I have never consciously sat down and said to myself “I want to be an author”. Somehow, I always thought – only others can do this! However, after telling the story of Lap the little dinosaur to my son, I thought to myself, maybe this is a nice story to share with others, as I was sure that most parents repeat themselves saying “use your words”.
2. What was your favourite childhood book?
I have always enjoyed reading books. I can still remember going to the library every week after my piano lesson, getting lots of new books to read.
3. If you could tell your younger self any advice, what would it be?
Just go with the flow. It will all work out somehow!
4. How did you come up with the idea of your book?
I was watching my then 3 year old son at the playground. He is rather shy with new kids and every time he wanted to play with them, he basically “roared” at them – just like Lap, the little dinosaur.
5. How has your background and location shaped your work?
Becoming a mum has changed me, hopefully for the better :) It is now not only about you anymore. Instead those little people are your world and you would do and give anything for them. You also want to show them that anything is possible if you really want it – just like publishing a book!
6. Are there any people who you think have helped or inspired you to improve as a writer?
My kids and husband. They are the ones who I write for. As long as they like it, that is enough for me!
7. What is your writing process?
As a part-time working mum, you just have to use any free time you can get which is mostly at night.
8. If you didn’t write, what would you do instead?
Unfortunately I cannot say that writing is my full time job. As such, I am still working as a management consultant.
9. What’s been your favourite feedback?
Parents who told me that the story of Lap has resonated with their little ones and that those kids even said themselves “use your words”.
10. Finally, give us a fun fact about yourself that nobody knows!
I am an open book, so there is not much anyone doesn’t know about me!
Friends Don't Like Roaring
Little Lap the dinosaur is finding it hard to make friends - and he just doesn't know why!
find out more
find out more
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