Interview with John Tarlton

John TarltonName: John Tarlton

Date of birth: 19 April, 1950

Place of birth: Long Beach, California, USA

Now living in: Los Angeles, California

What is your favourite food?

Anything Mexican.

Do you have a nickname and if so what is it?

Yes. It is Jack.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

I can’t think of any.

How do you relax?

I like to bodysurf, paint pictures and read.

Who inspired you when you were little?

Walt Disney.

What were you like at school?

I was a good academic student. I never played organised sports. I had some very good friends. I organised a poetry club.

What was your favourite/most hated subject at school?

Favourite: Art and English

Most hated: Math and Sport

What was the book you most loved as a child?

Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

Which person from the past would you most like to meet?

Leonardo da Vinci

Who is your favourite author/children’s author?

Favourite poet - Kevin Ireland

Favourite children’s author - Gaelyn Gordon

Why did you want to be a writer?

Because I had a lot of stories I wanted to share.

It also allowed me to illustrate them.

Do you have a special place where you write your books?

Yes. I have a studio in my house where I write and paint. I also like to write in quiet places which I often find in public libraries.

What’s the best thing and worst thing about being a writer?

Best: to talk to people who like my stories/illustrations.

Worst: when I can’t find the time to write and illustrate.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you like to be?

As I am already an illustrator, I would like to be a professional lifeguard on an ocean beach.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Keep a notebook and jot down everything interesting that happens to you, so when you have a chance to write, you already have something to write about.

Read some books by John Tarlton

John Tarlton's website

This interview is from 2002.

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