Dave Atze's Belly Button Fluff

 

Dave Atze, Author of 'Belly Button Fluff' Campaign Appearances & Interview The Authors Online Team are delighted to have the opportunity to support Dave Atze as he begins his campaign to promote his debut children's book, Belly Button Fluff.  Between 20-24 September, visit https://www.justkidslit.com/blog/ to join in on the Belly Button Fluff fun, along with other online appearances (including my website, michelleworthington.com on Thursday, 23 August.      Interview: Meet Dave Atze Hi, I’m Dave Atze; a professional fun-haver and all-round goofball from a small town in South Australia. I have been illustrating kids books for 7 years and authoring them for no years.   I called my first book Belly Button Fluff so I could say awesome stuff like: “Just hold my Belly Button Fluff in your hands, see how colourful it is? It will make you feel warm and maybe giggle a bit, too.” And “put your kids to bed with Dave’s Belly Button Fluff! They’ll love it!”   What was the first story you ever wrote and has it been published? Belly Button Fluff and yes indeedy, it has. What was your first book published? I self-published a book called Don’t Shut the Door with Melbourne Author Matt Nichols. I illustrated it. Then a wonderful and beautiful young lady, Michelle Worthington saw “DSTD” and said to her publisher at the time “pwitty pwees can Dave Illustrate my next book The Three-Legged Kangaroo from Uluru? They said yes and we all lived happily ever after. What is your favourite part about being an author? Getting to draw the silly stuff that I write about. Wait... umm, yeah, I’m like 10% Author 90% Illustrator What is the hardest part about being an author? Words, grammar, all that technical stuff. I’m not good at that stuff. But I can tell a fun story. I am very lucky these magical creatures called editors exist. Thanks Diane and Allison!! What do you do for fun? I draw. I run. I take photos. And most of all spend time with my wife Ashleigh and Daughter Ella.  How do you test out your stories? Or who do you test them on? Friends and family, running buddies and my Author/Illustrator colleagues. What was your favourite children’s book when you were a kid? The Very Hungry Caterpillar. What is your favourite children’s book now? Little Baa Baa and Quirky Turkey in I love lemonade. Have you met anyone even more famous than you that was exciting? I don’t really live anywhere near anyone who would be famous. What writing genre do you like to do the most? I like da funny stuff. What do you consider your biggest achievement? I think I have 3 as they all feel quite equal and required a lot of dedication. I ran a 100km race through the bush. It took 15hrs. (30km with baaaad stomach cramps) I became a second-degree black belt, and the grading was on par with running 100kms. There were black eyes and broken ribs. Getting that letter from the publisher saying ‘we loved your manuscript, and we would love to publish your book’. Less grueling but still so many hours of dedication. What is your favourite way/time to read? Bedtime stories with my daughter are the best!! What book are you reading right now? Ella is learning numbers at the moment and is enjoying Spot can count. You can discover more of Dave's work and follow him on social by visiting: Daveatze.com Instagram.com/daveatze Twitter.com/daveatze Facebook.com/daveatzeillustration             Meet Michelle Michelle Worthington is an international award-winning author, screenwriter and business woman. Shortlisted twice for the Children's Book Council of Australia's picture book of the year, two-time winner of the International Book Award and finalist in the USA Best Book Awards, Michelle also received a Gellett Burgess Award and a Silver Moonbeam Award for her contribution to celebrating diversity in literature. Michelle was the recipient of the 2018 AusMumpreneur Gold Award for Business Excellence and the winner of the 2018 Redlands BaR award for Best Start Up Business.  Michelle is also a real life book fairy. Her magic powers include turning coffee into award-winning books. Anthology Angels and Authors Online, she waves her wand to coach aspiring authors and illustrators all over the world achieve their dreams of publication. Whether she’s a fairy, a mermaid, a pirate or an elf, Michelle celebrates empowering readers and storytellers to dream big. Find out more about Michelle and her work here.     Contact Michelle