Helen Milroy presents: Aśka explains the difference between an illustrator and a visual storyteller
The amazing Helen Milroy returns to the podcast chair for her first interview of 2022. Helen chats to the co-creator of Stars in Their Eyes, Aśka.
You’ll love hearing about Aśka’s journey from high flying physicist to high flying visual storyteller – what a leap of faith! She chats about her unique collaboration with Jessica Walton and discusses the changes made to Stars in Their Eyes while getting the graphic novel ready for an American audience.
Show links
Neil Gaiman
https://www.neilgaiman.com/
Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
https://www.scbwi.org/
Dave McKean
Tadeusz Baranowski is a polish comic maker and some of his comics are on Amazon: Antresolka Profesorka Nerwosolka.
About the host
Dr Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She was born and educated in Perth and has a passionate interest in health and wellbeing, especially for children. She is currently a professor at the University of Western Australia, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Commissioner with the National Mental Health Commission. Her books have been shortlisted for the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards (2019, 2020), the Readings Children’s Book Prize (2020) and the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year (2020). And her book, Backyard Birds, won the Whitley Award for the Young Children’s Reader Category (2021).
Backyard Beasties, Backyard Bugs, Backyard Birds and Wombat, Mudlark and Other Stories are available in all good bookstores and online.
About the guest
Aśka is co-creator of the book Stars in their Eyes with Jessica Walton. Aśka is an energetic visual storyteller, illustrator and science communicator who is a passionate advocate for visual literacy. She has illustrated ten published books and is a regular contributor to The School Magazine and other children’s publications. An active member of the local literature sector, she is part of many creative organisations, and for four years was the Illustrator Co-ordinator for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators – Australia West. She is also a recipient of several government arts grants, prizes and the May Gibbs Fellowship.
Original music ‘Steel Cap Serenade’ by Aidan D’Adhemar, © 2021
Sound engineering Aidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire
Produced by Claire Miller and the Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications Department
This podcast was produced in Walyalap in Wadjuk Boodja, on the lands of the Noongar people.
