Shannon Horsfall

Name: Shannon Horsfall
Genre: Picture Books
Publications: 'Was Not Me' (HarperCollins) due for release on July 1, 2016.
Social Media: www.shannonhorsfall.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/Shannon-Horsfall-Author-Illustrator-
Twitter @shannon57147550
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-horsfall
Genre: Picture Books
Publications: 'Was Not Me' (HarperCollins) due for release on July 1, 2016.
Social Media: www.shannonhorsfall.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/Shannon-Horsfall-Author-Illustrator-
Twitter @shannon57147550
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-horsfall

Bio:
Shannon Horsfall is a debut author/illustrator with a background in graphic design and children’s fashion. Her head is always filled with characters creating mess, mischief and mayhem. Oh, wait a minute, that’s her actual house.
Shannon lives on a beautiful island north of Brisbane, with her two sons and a rescue hound who thinks she’s a supermodel. She describes herself as a grown up whose inner child is not always kept safely in. (She has been known gate crash the odd game of Red Rover and elastics.)
Shannon Horsfall is a debut author/illustrator with a background in graphic design and children’s fashion. Her head is always filled with characters creating mess, mischief and mayhem. Oh, wait a minute, that’s her actual house.
Shannon lives on a beautiful island north of Brisbane, with her two sons and a rescue hound who thinks she’s a supermodel. She describes herself as a grown up whose inner child is not always kept safely in. (She has been known gate crash the odd game of Red Rover and elastics.)
Ten Questions With Shannon
Do you illustrate?
Indeed I do. Although, when I see other’s inspiring work I feel a bit like a fraud.
Which illustrator(s) inspire you?
Julia Morsted has a beautiful style in which she makes her illustrations look effortless. Oliver Jeffers, Jon Klassen and Peter Brown. One cannot list illustrators of inspiration without Freya Blackwood and Emily Gravett.
Which writer(s) inspire you?
I am inspired by all sorts of writers and find that hard to narrow down. I love the work of Nick Hornby and Salman Rushdie, Kate Atkinson, and on the children’s front Oliver Jeffers (I bow to his genius), Roald Dahl, Libby Gleeson, Aaron Blabey, Peter Brown, Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett.
What draws you to writing for children specifically?
Having children and being constantly delighted by how they view the world without judgement or bias.
How long have you been writing?
Officially working on manuscripts since October 2014. However, creative thinking and writing has been a part of my every world for as long as I can remember. (Although, at my age, I can barely remember yesterday, let alone decades ago.)
Which professional writing bodies are you a member of?
Write Links, Book Links and Queensland Writer’s Centre (QWC). I have every intention of joining SCBWI and ASA…hmm, the to do list gets longer and longer.
Indeed I do. Although, when I see other’s inspiring work I feel a bit like a fraud.
Which illustrator(s) inspire you?
Julia Morsted has a beautiful style in which she makes her illustrations look effortless. Oliver Jeffers, Jon Klassen and Peter Brown. One cannot list illustrators of inspiration without Freya Blackwood and Emily Gravett.
Which writer(s) inspire you?
I am inspired by all sorts of writers and find that hard to narrow down. I love the work of Nick Hornby and Salman Rushdie, Kate Atkinson, and on the children’s front Oliver Jeffers (I bow to his genius), Roald Dahl, Libby Gleeson, Aaron Blabey, Peter Brown, Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett.
What draws you to writing for children specifically?
Having children and being constantly delighted by how they view the world without judgement or bias.
How long have you been writing?
Officially working on manuscripts since October 2014. However, creative thinking and writing has been a part of my every world for as long as I can remember. (Although, at my age, I can barely remember yesterday, let alone decades ago.)
Which professional writing bodies are you a member of?
Write Links, Book Links and Queensland Writer’s Centre (QWC). I have every intention of joining SCBWI and ASA…hmm, the to do list gets longer and longer.

Who is your dream publisher?
My publisher HarperCollins, they are delightful to work with.
What writing resources (online, books or other) do you recommend?
Write Links has been invaluable to me. Also QWC, and their many workshops and mentoring programmes. Also, conferences like CYA are great places for knowledge and networking.
Best time of day to write?
Anytime inspiration takes you. Believe it or not, most of my stories have been created in the car park at my children’s school as I wait for them to be dismissed. I find I am in solitude in my little car bubble and therefore can focus wholly on what I am trying to create.
Is there a particular theme or underlying subject that runs through your writing?
There seems to be a fair amount of bucking the system and pure innocent mischief. I like my characters to have spunk.
My publisher HarperCollins, they are delightful to work with.
What writing resources (online, books or other) do you recommend?
Write Links has been invaluable to me. Also QWC, and their many workshops and mentoring programmes. Also, conferences like CYA are great places for knowledge and networking.
Best time of day to write?
Anytime inspiration takes you. Believe it or not, most of my stories have been created in the car park at my children’s school as I wait for them to be dismissed. I find I am in solitude in my little car bubble and therefore can focus wholly on what I am trying to create.
Is there a particular theme or underlying subject that runs through your writing?
There seems to be a fair amount of bucking the system and pure innocent mischief. I like my characters to have spunk.