Colin Thompson became an author almost by accident. The only thing he was good at in school was art.
In his late 40s, he went to a publisher to try and get some work illustrating children's books. To his surprise he was asked to write a story, which was eventually rejected.
Not to be deterred, he sat down and wrote Ethel the Chicken in one-and-a-half days. Ten days later he had a publisher, Hodder and Stoughton, who produced it as a small hardback.
More than 20 years later, Thompson has produced 34 books (10 of which he illustrated himself) and he has another six under contract at different stages. The list includes poetry, short stories, one serious adult novel called Laughing for Beginners and some picture books illustrated by others.
Awards Thompson has received include the Primary English Picture Book of the Year, which he has won not once, but twice; once for Ruby and again for Falling Angels, which also won him the Ibby Award.
His books all have interesting titles that give a clue to what the story is about. These include Attila the Bluebottle and The Haunted Suitcase.
Thompson's favourite books include his own picture book How to Live Forever, and Joyce Cary's The Horse's Mouth. He is also a fan of Alan Bennett, Ivor Cutler and John Updike.
