INSPIRATIONS FROM THE BOOKSHELF Sital Gorasia Chapman

 

Every illustrator and writer has grown up with inspirations from a variety of sources.

This week illustrator Rekha Salin wanted to find out what gives author

Sital Gorasia Chapman the most inspiration.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My debut picture book was published last year and was shortlisted for the Week Junior Book Awards in the wellbeing category. My latest book is a rhyming Christmas story called Little Spruce and is illustrated by Vicky Lommatzsch.

I live in London with my husband and three daughters. I worked in a bank for many years then as a yoga teacher. I’ve been making up stories in my head forever but it wasn’t until 2019 when my youngest was a baby that I actually wrote one down. I was commended for the FAB awards that year and found my agent. 

 

Which genre do you write for?

I write picture books, (mostly rhyming), poetry and nonfiction for children up to around age 10. I love writing all kinds of different things and just follow my brain wherever it leads me – often round in circles! I’m hoping to write chapter books soon.

Books I’ve worked on.

What inspires you to pick up or buy a book from the library/bookstore or buy online?

I like reading all kinds of books. I pick up books that I've read reviews for or which have been recommended to me or which are by a writer that I’ve read and enjoyed before. I pick up books that I think my kids would enjoy. I pick up books with interesting covers or titles. I love reading non-fiction so I'll pick up a book on subjects that interest me. I like all things nature, space, science. 

And sometimes I’ll just pick something at random! You never know what treasures you'll discover!

Are you inspired by books from multiple genres or books that are written/illustrated by the same author/illustrator?

Yes – because I love to write across genres and I admire anyone who does it well. Writing for different age groups involves very different skills.

 

Books from my shelves.

Do you bring your inspirations into your work?

Yes – everything I read, watch, and experience inspires my writing in some way.

How do you keep your work fresh, original and unique and avoid looking like your inspiration?

I read a lot of books. I read for myself, I read to my children, I read every day. But my writing isn’t just inspired by reading. I spend time with my kids and watch them play, listen to their conversations. I'm inspired by the questions they ask me and their views on the world. 

I find the best way to get an idea for a kid's book is to listen to a child.

Also when I'm working on a story I tend not to read books of that type until I'm finished. So when I wrote Little Spruce I didn’t read any Christmas picture books.

 

Does your bookshelf have all the books that you love or inspired you?

I wish... but they haven’t invented the never-ending bookshelf yet! That's why I'm such a big fan of libraries. As a child I didn't own any books at all, everything I read was from a library.

 

Which are the main few books that have inspired your work and yet not on your bookshelf?

The book that got me started writing as a grownup is Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees. It was on our bookshelf for many years but was completely worn out from repeated reading and I haven’t replaced it yet! 

I first read it at a children’s centre when my eldest was a baby and I immediately went out and bought a copy because I loved it so much. It was the first rhyming picture book I had read and it was such a joy to read aloud. When a book is loved by a child they want it read to them over and over. And if that book is also enjoyable for the parent who has to read it... that’s magic! 

That’s what I try my best to do when I write – create a story for a parent and child to enjoy together.

More books from my shelves.

Are there any books that have inspired you in a way that you really wish you worked on a text like that or you wish you thought of the unique way of storytelling?

Lots! I'm a big fan of Lu Fraser, I love the The Littlest Yak series, and anything by Rachel Bright. Everything they write seems so effortless and reads so beautifully.

And also funny picture books that have kids in stitches like Holey Moley by Bethan Clarke and Anders Frang and Oi Frog! by Kes Gray and Jim Field are just genius!

*Header image: Ell Rose and Tita Berredo

                                                                                                                                                                                  

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Sital Gorasia Chapman writes fiction, non-fiction and poetry for children, including a little something for CBeebies!

Her debut picture book, The Bedtime Boat, was shortlisted for Children’s Wellbeing Book of the Year at The Week Junior Book Awards 2024.

She is represented by Becky Bagnell at the Lindsay Literary Agency.

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Rekha Salin has three books published as an illustrator. Two picture books – one in 2020 and the other in 2022 – and also a recipe book, (for adults), in 2022 published by ABV Publishing. 

She worked with Gnome Road Publishing on a picture book which was published in October 2024.

See more of Rekha's work here. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter

                   

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Tita Berredo is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of Words & Pictures. 

Follow her on Instagram and Twitter or www.titaberredo.com.

Contact her at: illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org

Ell Rose is the Illustration Features Editor of Words & Pictures.

Find their work at www.fourfooteleven.com.

Follow them on Instagram and Twitter. 

Contact them at illustrators@britishscbwi.org