Gene Barretta

Where did you grow up? Yardley, PA

What is your earliest memory of writing/drawing?
Drawing a purple elephant in crayon on the wall next to my crib.

What inspired you to write/illustrate your first book?
My love for telling stories. I have done it through filmmaking, songwriting and now illustrating and writing.

Do you use your childhood as inspiration?
All the time - but its more about trying to keep that same sense of innocence and discovery than the actual experiences.

What books from your childhood have most influenced your work? What about adult titles?
Mainly Dr. Suess titles. My main inspirations were movies and TV shows.

What are your hobbies and interests besides reading and books?
Movies, reading, visiting historical sites, guitar, museums,

Who are a couple of your favorite author/illustrators? What is it about their work that inspires and interests you?
I love illustrators from the early 1900s like N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Arthur Rackham & Rose O'Neill, plus contemporary ones like David Christiana, Nicoletta Ceccoli and Peter de Seve to name only a few.

What one or two words of advice would you give for young authors/illustrators?
Learn the value of collaboration. And when developing your subjects try to find ones that will satisfy your personal passions and people unlike yourself.