New Zealand Writers
PAUL, Ruth
‘Ruth is a delightful illustrator, I love her colours. Just love them.’ John McIntyre, Speaking Volumes, 2007
PAUL, Ruth (1964 - ) is a writer and illustrator.
Ruth Paul was born and raised in Wellington. She completed a Bachelor of Arts at the Victoria University of Wellington, and a Diploma of Visual Communication Design at Wellington Polytechnic (now Massey University Wellington). Throughout the years she has worked in a variety of jobs including waitressing, acting, administration and sign-writing.
In 1991 she became a freelance illustrator. In 2002 she began to write her own books, with her first publication as an author/illustrator being The Animal Undie Ball (Scholastic, 2004).
As an illustrator, Paul’s works include Tom’s Story (Mallinson Rendel Publishers, 1997) by Mandy Hagar, Penguin’s Day Out (Mallinson Rendel Publishers, 1999) by Vivienne Joseph, and Baby Bumble and the Sock Pirates (Mallinson Rendel Publishers, 2000) by Vivienne Joseph. More recently, as an author and illustrator she has produced The Little White Lie (Scholastic, 2005); The King’s Bubbles (Scholastic, 2005) and Superpotamus (Scholastic, 2008).
Her books have been translated into different media forms. The Animal Undie Ball (Scholastic, 2004) was produced by Capital E as a stage performance with the Java Dance Company in their 2007 Children’s Arts Festival. The Little White Lie (Scholastic, 2005) was read on Radio New Zealand’s Storytime programme. Children from Makara School completed a project about the publication of The Little White Lie, a link to this on the Living Heritage site is below.
The King’s Bubbles was reviewed on Nine to Noon by John McIntyre on 22 June 2007. McIntyre says, ‘The language is wonderful, it’s fresh, it drives the story, the rhyme scheme gives it great oopmh’.
The King’s Bubbles (Scholastic, 2007) was nominated in the 2008 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in the Picture Book section and won the Children's Choice Award.
Ruth Paul lives in Wellington.
KAPAI Children’s questions for writers
General
Where do you live?
Makara, Wellington.
What books do you read?
I like modern fiction, and I gobble up children’s picture books by the pile. Sometimes I’m bad and only look at the pictures.
Who is your favourite writer and why?
Crikey. There’s loads of them – no one favourite. Some of the picture books I love are: Eloise (and Olivia – they’re kind-of the same); Peepo; Dougal’s Deep-Sea Diary; Little Rabbit and the Sea; Oliver in the Garden; Little Pete; Dr Dog; My Dad. Loads and loads more too.
How do you think up your ideas?
I think ideas are like radio waves – they’re all out there all the time it’s just every now and then you tune in and one makes sense to you. It will be a saying, a joke, a last line, something that feels soulful … any or all of these snippets can become an idea to build a story from.
What is the best thing about being a writer?
Not being an illustrator while I’m writing. Best thing about being an illustrator is not being a writer while I’m illustrating. I have two jobs that are quite complimentary, but I get to spend half my year doing one, half doing the other so I don’t get too completely bored. I quite like being my own boss, too.
Primary School Students
What sort of pets do you have?
Two farm dogs, one farm cat, one fat fluffy city cat that gets knots in it’s fur, sometimes pet lambs.
What is your favourite colour?
Red. Don’t use it to illustrate with much, it just seems like the most powerful, alive or IMPORTANT colour in the world.
What is your favourite food- why?
Fresh bread and butter. Satisfaction value.
What is your favourite movie?
I like lots of movies.
What is your favourite game?
Charades. Never get the chance to play as a grown up tho.
How do you make books?
You have an idea, turn it into story with words, turn that into a story with pictures, get the pictures photographed, put them into a computer, lay out the pages and type the words in, send it to the printer – and then you have a book!
Where do you go for your holidays?
Wherever the mood (and the budget/school holidays/relatives/weather) takes us.
What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?
Wrote “I hate my teacher” 100 times on the blackboard during a detention I got for putting a drawing pin on his chair. This was stupid – he was a really nice bloke and I was a complete wally, but you only work this stuff out when you’re older and smarter.
Secondary School Students
How did you get started?
I went to Design School and did a Diploma in Visual Communications Design (three years) specialising in illustration. I also have a degree in English and History. I illustrated commercially, did books for other writers, then started writing my own stories.
Who inspired you when you were getting started? I met a woman who I sort-of apprenticed to as a designer/illustrator/household help when I left tech. She became a great friend. My parents were always reservedly encouraging but I think my Dad would have always liked me to get a real job. Funnily enough, having someone like that around always makes you try to work a little bit harder.
What advice would you give an aspiring young writer?
Really want to do it, because the money will most likely be bad for a long time and you’ll need other skills/jobs to get you by. Have faith in yourself, don’t give up when you put out work you’re not proud of, ask questions, forgive yourself the mistakes and KEEP ON GOING! This won’t make any sense til you're older.
Is it difficult to make a living writing in New Zealand?
Think the above question answers that. I now earn less than I did waitressing, but I the having-faith bit mentioned above means I’m still holding out for this to improve.
What were you like as a teenager?
Tell us a story! Mmm. Not sure I should. I kind of did the back of the school bus thing, but only because my older sister was tougher than me and I piggy backed on her status. For a while this girl was reading horrible grusome stuff that she was writing on the bus out loud every morning - it was quite gross and I was quite moralistic so I told her to shut up. I probably should have encouraged her writing skills! Anyhow, she was furious and the next day she got me with flourescent pink spray paint, all over my black school uniform (and even my tasteless black school hat). I didn’t react, never told my parents, have no idea what or how I fixed my uniform, but every day I got back on the bus and sat in the same place and ignored her. Eventually my shame and horror went away, even tho the girl didn’t. But somehow I think it worked – she left me alone. Why do I remmber this so well? Because I’m surprised I bluffed it out. I figure now that you should always speak up if you don’t like something (rather than looking away or putting up with it). I think people eventually have more respect for you if you’re straight up with them rather than trying to be like them.
- Living Heritage for student project about publication of The Little White Lie.
- Ruth Paul's website
