HELLO EDWARD R LIPINSKI, WELCOME TO ABOUT INSIDER! WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PICK A CAT AS THE MAIN CHARACTER?
I have had three cats as pets. They were all individuals with their own traits, quirks and mannerisms and all lovable in their own special way. I have always felt that all cats have individual, independent personalities. It was that kind of charm and individualism that I tried to project in the cat character of my story.
DO YOU WANT YOUR BOOK TO SET THE NEXT GENERATION FREE TO CREATE?
I would like to see a creative impulse in all future generations. It would be nice if my book inspired young people to make up their own stories and pictures, but it would presumptuous of me to think that my book would be the only spark in that creative impulse.
HOW DID THE STORIES YOU READ DURING YOUR CHILDHOOD INFLUENCE YOUR WRITING?
Whenever I read stories in picture books I came to believe that the characters, mice, cats, bunnies, birds etc., could have adventures in their own unique world and that I was only limited in my imagination when it came to creating adventures for my own anthropomorphic critters. When I was able to do that, I experienced the true joy of creation.
WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF MATCHING THE COPY TO THE ARTWORK?
I wrote and illustrated this story when I was first venturing out into the world of art, publishing, and advertising as an aspiring illustrator/designer. That inspired me to create the story of a farm cat wanting to become an artist and struggling as I was struggling. So, the pictures and story came together at about the same time. The real difficulty was in figuring out Pucasso would eventually succeed to become an artist. In other words, how the story would come to have a happy ending.
DID YOU SHARE YOUR IDEAS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY DURING THE WRITING PROCESS?
No, I did not. I don’t like to talk about works in progress because I feel that locks me into making the story evolve and work to the end as I described it. In other words, talking about the story may restrict my creative process. In addition, I think that it robs the reader of the enjoyment in reading and discovering how the story unfolds and what comes next.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU’D LIKE A YOUNG READER TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE BOOK?
In one word: enjoyment. I want to the reader to be entertained by the story and feel good after reading it.
HOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND A BUDDING STORYTELLER GETTING STARTED?
Start by drawing as many different characters as possible. You could begin by copying figures in a picture book just to practice your skills and then move on and experiment with making your own characters. As you gradually create figures you may start to think of them with personalities and mannerisms. Soon the story ideas will follow.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU DID ONCE YOU FINISHED YOUR BOOK?
When I finished writing and illustrating the book, I showed it to a few close friends. I wanted to see if their reaction matched my enthusiasm for the story.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TURN YOUR BOOK INTO AN ENTIRE SERIES?
I did write a sequel to Pucasso, The Cat Who Wanted To Be An Artist, it was called Pucasso, The Great Detective. I wrote and illustrated the story and I sold it to Young Readers Press, but they went out of business before the story was published. The story and art work are now lost.
Since then I have not thought about another adventure for Pucasso. I have considered other characters but, as yet, I don’t have a concept for a story.
HOW DID IT FEEL WHEN YOU HELD A COPY IN YOUR HAND FOR THE FIRST TIME?
It was a wonderful feeling. It was as if the story concept and the illustrations that I had worked on had become a reality that others could see and enjoy. I had a feeling of true accomplishment.