- Please introduce yourself so that the readers will get to know you better.
My name is Gary Cobbin. I live in the Blue Mountains to the west of Sydney, Australia. I am a husband, gardener, poet, red wine drinker and an educator working full-time in a large High School in Sydney. I am also importantly, both a father and grandfather. I have a vivid imagination along with being a bit of a dreamer. Both these qualities which can frustrate my spouse at times. To date, I am the author of one book.
- What is the inspiration behind your book “Georgina the Cat”?
I have been writing poetry for the last twenty years which has been a great outlet for my imagination. Over most of that time I didn’t really share my writing with anyone. However, I eventually felt the need to share some of my ideas and writing. So, I began experimenting with writing poems for children which eventually lead me to try writing picture books. As well, over the years, we as a family have had numerous cats and dogs as pets, which also gave me the opportunity to observe a range of very interesting animal behaviour. This then led to the writing of the poem, Georgina the Cat.
- When did you realize you wanted to be an author?
I think I felt my first impulse or urge to write when I was very young and immature at university. I was very shy and lacked any real emotional experiences, so my urges drifted into the great unknown. With maturity, those same impulses returned beckoning me to pick my pen and express my thoughts, feelings, attitudes and emotions in poetry. Since that time, I have continued to write.
- Please tell us something about your book “Georgina the Cat”?
I love rhyming poetry. I love its music, its predictability, the tightness of the rhyming and of course, the rhythm. I know many children love rhyming verse as well as often you hear children singing little rhymes and songs. Georgina the Cat is written as a rhyming poem.
The story revolves around an inquisitive and adventurous cat who is often envious of others. She lives near a dog. She regularly watches what the dog but soon begins to feel envious of the dog’s fun life and so, she decides to become a dog. But as we all know, the grass is not always greener so eventually Georgina finds that living as dog isn’t quite what she had imagined. This leads to some very sad and unfortunate events which help her to realise that being a cat isn’t so bad after all.
- For which age group is your book “Georgina the Cat” suitable for?
The target audience for my book are children aged 3 to 6. However, I have read it to teenagers and adults who have enjoyed the story.
- What is your favourite Quote?
“The rat had no morals, no conscience, no scruples, no consideration, no decency, no milk of rodent kindness, no compunctions, no higher feeling, no friendliness, no anything.”
The above quote, a description of the rat Templeton, from the book Charlotte’s Web by E B White, is one that has remained with me years after having first read it. It clearly demonstrates the power of language to shape memory, the power to paint indelible and vivid images, to create lasting impressions of characters not easily forgotten and finally, to open up your mind to fantastic worlds.
- What do you like the most about your country?
What do I love about Australia? It is home. Home to me, my family and my extended family who play a very important part in my life. I also love the blue sky, the noisy and mischievous array of birds, the colours of sunset, its beautiful coastline and my beautiful mountain home. Ultimately, I love Australia because its home.
- What suggestion do you want to give to parents of little readers regarding a reading habit?
Regularly read to your children. Make reading time fun, make it a time to bond, a time to share and a time to giggle and laugh. Read a range of books and especially books with a plot that build excitement.
However, these ideas a worthwhile and fun but realistically, not all children will enjoy reading equally.
- What does literary success look like to you?
To me literary success would be if young readers, or older readers, regularly choose a book, my book to read time and time again. So often in fact, that they repeat many parts of the book from memory. To me as a writer, that would be the greatest accolade.
- Lastly, who is your inspiration in life and why?
This is a difficult question but two people come to mind.
The first is the late Barry Humphries, the Australian/British comedian and entertainer and the second Stephen Fry.
What I find inspirational is their wit, their humour, their quick thinking, their intellect, their understanding of the English language and their self-confidence. I always hoped that some of those qualities would rub off on me. There is always hope.
However, I can’t forget animals particularly cats and dogs. They are always inspirational. I love their friendliness, playfulness, their accepting natures and their quirky and humorous ways and mannerisms.
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