New Zealand Writers
MATTHEWS, Tina
... a thought-provoking story of independence, defiance and forgiveness.
MATTHEWS, Tina (1961 – ) is a writer and illustrator.
Matthews has worked as a puppetmaker, musician, teacher and a designer. Born in Wellington, she is currently a puppetry teacher at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts) in Sydney and a self-employed artist and designer.
Out of the Egg (Walker Books, 2007) is Matthews’ first book, and has been published in both Australia and the USA. A reviewer states, ‘New Zealand-born Tina Matthews has created a thought-provoking story of independence, defiance and forgiveness. She employs a dramatic and stark colour palette, favouring black and white, with moments of green and red, and the Japanese-style woodcut technique is used to great effect throughout the book.’ (Sydney’s Child, March 2008)
Out of the Egg was nominated in the Picture Book section of the 2008 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults and won the award for Best First Book.
Tina Matthews lives in Sydney.
SH
KAPAI Children’s Questions for Writers
General
Where do you live?
Bondi, in Sydney, Australia and in New Zealand in the summer.
What books do you read?
Whatever ends up next to my bed. Fiction and non-fiction, children’s and adults’ books.
Who is your favourite writer and why?
Wanda Gag, Virginia Lee Burton, Dr. Seuss and Herge are some of my favourite children’s writers (and Robert McCloskey), perhaps because they make the words and the pictures. And I love Jane Austen’s books.
How do you think up your ideas?
Very slowly ... and then round and round in circles.
What is the best thing about being a writer?
You can work anywhere or everywhere or not at all.
Primary School Students
What sort of pets do you have?
A zebra finch who flew into our house one day. It wouldn’t survive outside so we bought a cage for it and it wakes us every morning. When I was small we had so many cats and dogs and kittens and puppies you could hardly see the floor.
What is your favourite colour?
I like different colours on different days. Some days pink and green, other days blue and brown.
What is your favourite food- why?
Pesto because it’s so green and peaches because they’re so summery.
What is your favourite movie?
Westside Story
What is your favourite game?
‘Creepers and bangers’, and ‘What’s the time Mr Wolf?’
How do you make books?
All by hand. I printed all the pictures for ‘Out of the Egg’ from woodblocks that I had carved.
Where do you go for your holidays?
Tolaga Bay on the east coast of the North Island.
What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?
I argued with teachers when they were being mean to my friends.
