Valerie: Australia’s Bravest Sausage Dog by LUCINDA GIFFORD is inspired by the true story of a dachshund who escaped a campground on Kangaroo Island and roamed the wilderness for over 500 days.

Read on for a Q&A with the author.

MEET LUCINDA GIFFORD

Can you tell us about the real-life events that inspired the book?

Valerie is a cute miniature sausage dog who, when only one year old, escaped from her pen at Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island. Despite days of searching, she seemed to have vanished. But then the sightings started and, at last … a photograph appeared of a large, open field, and Valerie’s unmistakeable ears flapping above the grass! After over 500 days ‘on the lam’ and after an incredible effort by Kangala Wildlife Rescue, Valerie was enticed back into captivity and reunited joyously with her owners.

What drew you to Valerie’s story in particular?

Let’s use the words on the ABC site: ‘How a pampered, stubby-legged pooch that had never slept outside survived a bitter winter, venomous snakes and swooping eagles is a story only Valerie can tell.’

Unfortunately, Valerie can’t write or draw (it’s hard to type with paws after all). So, I thought it would be fun to imagine what she did. I love Australia’s coastal islands, and the wildlife there. And I love to explore the emotional journey of a dog. Dogs are different to us in that they seem to live mostly ‘in the moment’. But, like humans, they are curious, they love an adventure and they value love and connection. I wanted to explore this through Valerie’s story.

What are some of the memorable adventures Valerie faces in the book?

There are so many mini adventures in the book! For me the memorable parts are the stages of Valerie’s emotional journey: embracing the new, discovering her independence, and exploring EVERYTHING. Finally, of course, Valerie realises she misses her family, and decides to make the perilous journey home.

What was your creative process for illustrating Valerie’s world?

I wrote the story and developed the illustrated Valerie concurrently, filling my sketchbook with doggy doodles – next to character notes and possible plot points.

For the setting, I put together a mood board with photographs and paintings of Kangaroo Island. I then created some paintings of my own of the scenery there. I used the painting process to help me get a feel for the flora, colour and light on Kangaroo Island.

Also, I wanted to make sure that the places Valerie goes to in the story reference actual sites on Kangaroo Island.

Finally, once the story was complete, I sketched out page layouts and submitted these to Allen and Unwin, my publisher. When we were happy with the flow, I used my references to create the final art in Photoshop.

Also, it seemed important that Valerie wasn’t ‘bothering’ any of the wildlife in the story, and was behaving like a responsible doggy tourist!

Is there a scene that you especially loved creating?

The spread of Valerie sunbathing on the beach, on someone else’s towel and without a care in the world, still makes me giggle.

Which parts of Valerie’s journey do you think children will connect with most and why?

I hope that children will connect with Valerie’s experience of the best of summer holidays: camping, the beach, lovely food and beautiful sites. But also, I hope they connect with the humour; the text is told ‘straight’ but, er, the pictures tell a slightly different story!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lucinda Gifford is the author and illustrator of many well-loved books for kids. In the 90s, Lucinda studied architecture in Scotland, where she learned to draw fancy buildings and moody scenery. Many years later, she put some of her best drawings in a folio and started looking for work illustrating children’s books.

Lucinda Gifford has since illustrated over 40 books, 10 of which she has also written. She works from her studio in Melbourne’s north and especially enjoys making books about chickens, wolves, dogs, cats and magical creatures. Lucinda loves her new job and plans to write and draw for the rest of her life, or until her hand drops off, or both.

Visit Lucinda Gifford’s website