Chatting with Melanie Florence and Nadia Alam (SARABETH’S GARAGE), Plus Giveaway~ US/CAN ONLY!

Sarabeth loves cars. She loves the way the engines sometimes roar like lions and other times purr like kittens. She loves seeing sports cars that are sleek and fast like cheetahs and boxy SUVs that trundle along like elephants. And most of all, she loves to help her dad at his garage.

Sarabeth’s grandmother doesn’t approve. She thinks little girls should play with dolls and wear dresses and always have clean hands. But when her car starts grumbling like a walrus instead of purring like a kitten, who will be there to help? A delightful story about an independent and spirited girl who has no time for the limitations that society wants to put on her, and a grandma who gets the opportunity to change her way of thinking.

She’s definitely stubborn like me. But I think she’s braver. She doesn’t care what people think. I love writing characters like that. I have a daughter, so I have always tried to write characters I thought she’d be proud of.

That’s an interesting question. I think for a picture book, I know it’s finished when I’ve told the story I had in my head. But with a novel it’s more complicated. It usually deviates from my outline so I think I rely more on editors to tell me when it’s done.

I always wanted to be a writer. And I always made up stories. Even before I wrote them down, I’d make them up in my head. But I always wanted to write. I was a voracious reader and I think the idea of being someone who wrote stories fascinated me from a really early age.

I always like the action scenes. When I first started writing novels, I didn’t outline. I’d know the basic story and I’d write the exciting scenes first. Then I’d fill in the blanks with the rest of the story. As it turned out, this was not an effective way for me to write a good story. But that’s how I started. If there was action or something scary or just an exciting scene .. I always wanted to write it first.

We have a book launch on February 18th at a local indie bookstore called Mabel’s Fables. We’re launching with an amazing author named Paul Coccia with his first picture book called The Bear Fairy about a boy who finds a very unusual fairy in the park. You should definitely check it out.

Music. I love music. I play guitar and sing. I listen to records in my studio. I love going to concerts with my friends. Anything music-related. K-pop especially.

Marvel! I would love to write a Marvel superhero book. Spider-Man. I love Spider-Man.

I love Christmas. I really enjoy buying gifts for people. But one thing I’ve been doing for years … I get my kids each a new ornament every year to put on the tree. When they move out they can have all the ornaments to use on their own trees.

YABC: What is your favourite thing to draw?
I love to draw people. I’m drawn to faces and small expressions—how much you can say with a look or a gesture. I especially like to draw kids; they have the best, most floppy and expressive postures.

YABC: Do you doodle?
Yes—honestly, I doodle more than I “draw.” It’s how I start ideas and keep my hand moving without overthinking.

YABC: What advice would you have for aspiring illustrators?
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. There’s a lot of trial and error in illustration, and you don’t always feel confident while you’re in it.

YABC: How long did it take you to create the artwork for this book?
About six months. It’s a mix of sketching, revising, and tightening things up until the scenes read clearly.

YABC: What inspired you the most for the artwork in this book?
I visited Geraldton, Ontario, a small town north of Thunder Bay.  When I read Melanie’s manuscript, I immediately thought of Geralton. I really liked the feeling of the community there. They had a small but mighty library with a great picture book section, and on the main road there was a garage that stuck with me.  I used photos of that garage as a reference point while I worked.

YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
The last page, when everyone ends up at the garage, including Grandma. It brings together the repaired relationship between Sarabeth and her grandma, and you can feel how happy the dad is to see them working together. I think I was able to capture something warm and joyful in that illustration, and I’m proud of that.

YABC: Who is your favourite character in the book?
The doggo! He’s based on my friend (and fellow illustrator) Annie Herzig’s dog named Honey, so he was especially fun to draw.

YABC: Which techniques are your favourites to use?
Pencil and paper. I love the look of lead and the texture you get from real graphite.

YABC: What do you do when you feel stuck or want to procrastinate?
I leave my desk. A walk with my dog and some music helps, and I spend a lot of time in High Park here in Toronto.

YABC: When did you start drawing?
As soon as I could hold a pencil! It’s something I’ve always done and enjoyed.

YABC: When did you know you wanted to be an illustrator?
I always admired the genre of picture books, but I knew I wanted to become an illustrator after I had children. Being around picture books all the time made me want to make them.

YABC: Do you have a favourite genre to illustrate?
Children’s books—definitely. I like the mix of storytelling, design, and character work.

YABC: What’s up next for you?
I have a couple more books coming out this year, and I’m working on my first Young Readers book. I’m also opening a children’s bookshop in Toronto this spring/summer called Nuts and Shells.

YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
Follow-through. Getting from an early sketch to a finished book takes a lot of steady work, and that part suits me.

YABC: Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
The Toronto Public Library. It’s an amazing organization, and I love how accessible and welcoming it is. The librarians are all so cool and helpful too. I’m a huge fan of the TPL.

YABC: Is there anything that you would like to add?
Just that I’m glad people are spending time with the book. If it makes someone want to pick up a pencil—to write their own story or even to doodle—that’s a wonderful win!