Dance Just Like So by Annemarie Anang and Natelle Quek
We have a lovely Q&A between author Annemarie Anang, and illustrator, Natelle Quek. As you read you will find some brilliant insights into their work.
Author Annemarie Anang and illustrator Natelle Quek first collaborated on a picture book, I Am Nefertiti, in 2022. This year, I Am Nefertiti was featured in the Summer Reading Challenge, for which Quek was the official illustrator, and the book was a core title for Empathy Lab’s annual Read for Empathy Book Collection, for which Quek illustrated the Empathy Award Family and Caregiver Activity Pack.
This autumn, the creative pair celebrate the publication of their second book together, Dance Just Like So!, a heartwarming intergenerational story about family, community and cultural heritage told through the joy of dance. In this exclusive in-conversation, Annemarie and Natelle reflect on the past two years, working together, and their hopes for the future of children’s publishing.
You both had quite a whirlwind couple of years since I Am Nefertiti was published in June 2022. Looking back, can you pull out some highlights?
Natelle Quek: I think my favourite moments (apart from illustrating the book itself) were all the window paintings at all the wonderful book shops to celebrate the publication of I Am Nefertiti, and also experiencing the Leeds Book Awards and getting to meet other amazing authors, illustrators, and the children!
Annemarie Anang: Yes, Natelle, the Leeds Book Awards was incredible and so much fun! Being shortlisted for the Little Rebels Award along with some brilliant authors was also remarkable. Another highlight was bringing I Am Nefertiti to the Black British Book festival at the Southbank Centre – a very surreal moment for me! What I love the most though is singing along with the children to Nefertiti’s Song and Nefertiti Keeps The Beat with my ukulele. It’s wonderful to hear that the book, as well as the songs I’ve written inspired by the book, really resonate with the children.
How has your publishing journey compared so far to your hopes and expectations when you first started out?
AM: The amount of work involved in marketing versus the time I actually spend writing is not what I imagined at all so it’s really important to keep a healthy balance between the two, in order to maintain writing regularly.
NQ: I think the biggest difference so far is that I’ much more involved than I thought I would be! Meaning that I’ being more active in doing workshops and events, and when I first started illustrating books, the idea of even speaking in front of crowds was terrifying and seemingly impossible to me! But slowly I am gaining more confidence with each event, and everyone I work with is incredibly supportive.
Has your approach to writing and illustrating changed in the last two years? Do ideas come easier? Or perhaps you feel the pressure more now that you have a captive audience?! Have you changed your processes or techniques at all?
NQ: My illustration technique has definitely changed; the colouring process has become more involved. I find myself taking more time to consider colour palettes and lighting much more than before. I hope to see my art continue to grow and change throughout my time as an illustrator, because I don’ want to be stagnant in my skills! I definitely feel the pressure – and did so even from day one of illustrating my first book – because you are putting work out in public! But I try to do my best to research carefully, and I hope that it comes through in my work.
AM: Actually for me, I am still honing my craft and trying to create a style of writing that becomes synonymous to me as an author, before I explore completely different ways of writing. I am not a full-time writer but a full-time artist so I am not working on picture books all the time; I tell stories through a variety of medium like acting, song and other forms of writing.
What have you learnt … about yourself?
AM: I am a rebel writer and write not just for children to enjoy my stories, but for social change.
NQ: I’ learned to notice signs of burnout better than before. I streamline my creative process in a way that allows me, when my agent comes to me with a potential book project, to look at my current workload and consider a timeline that might work. This is again something that I learned with time, and as I work on more book projects, I become accustomed to my process and the speed at which I complete them.
… about the world of publishing?
NQ: Every publisher is different and they almost have their own micro-culture! You learn to work with each one and collaborate.
AM: Yes, I second that!
… about presenting your books – whether at industry events, networking or public and school events?
AM: I enjoy this part of being an author and am proud to present our work. My work comes from my heart so being able to share it is a joy and blessing. It’s been really nice to do some events with Natelle too, who I think is a natural!
NQ: I learned that I can, with practice and persistence, start to overcome my intense fear of speaking in public. The biggest pivot I’ had this year was starting to do in-person events; I’ gone from doing zero events for a few years, to over 20 events in the span of one summer this year. While the thought of upcoming events still terrifies me, the process of going through it gets better each time.
How did it feel to work together again for this new book?
NQ: AMAZING! Annemarie is so lovely and a very talented writer, I look forward to seeing her career as an author grow!
AM: I really enjoy working with Natelle! I could not have asked for a better illustrator, collaborator and friend in writing my first picture books. Five Quills did a marvellous job in finding her.
Was it easier to imagine the final book this time around, having worked together before? Were you just as excited to see each other’s work this time around?
AM: I was sure that Natelle would surprise me with her creativity and could relax knowing that she is fantastic illustrator with great use of colour, perspective and the ability to draw a diverse range of characters. We did have to collaborate more than before as Kwesi and his Gran are of Ghanaian heritage and Natelle wanted to respectfully and authentically portray their culture. This is something I really appreciate about working with Natelle, that she does her homework and does not guess or solely rely on the internet. I also come from a dance and performance background so it was important to collaborate on some of those key elements in the story.
NQ: In some ways it was easier, and other ways a good challenge. I already knew I wanted to create something different to I Am Nefertiti in terms of the look and feel of the book, while still have them sit well side by side, and I agree that it was even more collaborative this time around with Annemarie in terms of the research process and the creative process!
What are you most looking forward to about publishing Dance Just Like So?
AM: I am excited to bring the joy of dancing together to children at all events! I’m also passionate about having more senior characters playing a key role in picture books, so I am looking forward to seeing Gran on the front cover along with Kwesi in a bookstore.
NQ: I’ excited for readers to meet Gran and Kwesi, and I’ also excited to paint bookshop windows again!
You both work hard to promote diversity and inclusivity in your books, so that all children can see themselves represented in the stories they read. What are your hopes for children’ publishing over the next 2-5 years in that respect?
NQ: I would love to continue to see more books with representation reach more readers, and to see diversity reflected within the industry itself, not only at the author/illustrator level, as this will be advantageous for authentic representation throughout.
AM: Changes to the industry are being made so I would like them to continue, not just as a trend but a real, authentic shift. The banning of diverse books has to stop. Book stores, libraries, museums and schools refusing to stock diverse books, including those with characters who are LGBTQI+ or by authors who identify as that, must stop. This is harming children more than the people banning them can immediately see. I’d also like to see more diversity and inclusivity in the publishing industry in Sweden, where I am based, including the books in libraries and schools which are not located in major cities. It would be really nice to see Dance Just Like So! and I am Nefertiti published in Sweden too!
Dance Just Like So! By Annemarie Anang, published by Natelle Quek, is published by Five Quills on 26th September
Annmarie Anang is appearing at both the Bath and Cheltenham Literature Festivals this autumn.
www.fivequills.co.uk
Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Federation.
