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  • Dub Leffler In Conversation with BlackWords

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    In the sixth of this series of interviews, Anita speaks to David (Dub) Leffler.

    Dub Leffler is an animator, muralist, art teacher and author of the children's picture book Once There Was a Boy. He grew up in the country town of Quirindi in New South Wales.

    You can connect with Dub on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.

  • Who’s your mob? Where did you grow up?

    My people are the Bigambul people of south-west Queensland on my mother’s side and what we thought was Mandandanji blood on my father’s side is apparently Gomeroi blood.

    I also have some Syrian ancestry as well as Irish - I think there is some French in there too. I grew up just outside the cool little township of Quirindi, New South Wales. Its population was a little under 4,000 back then in the 70s.

  • What was your favourite book growing up?

    My favourite book growing up was a volume from a set of Children’s Encyclopedias. I still have it - it’s called Story Of The Sea. It contains stories about the fabled Atlantis and sea serpents.

  • What book has had an impact on your life and why?

    The Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman - it was given to me by a friend. It helped me stay on the good path.

  • What’s the last book you read?

    The Price Of Life by Nigel Brennan. I met him in at the Ubud Readers & Writers Festival in Bali in 2012. He actually lived in my hometown of Quirindi for some time and still has family there.

  • Is there a book you just couldn’t finish?

    The Night Buffalo, by the fantastic Guillermo Arriaga.

  • What book have you read more than once?

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    Claws, Eyes, Flippers written and illustrated by David (a.k.a. Dub) Leffler

    I have read many children’s books many times.

  • What book do you think every Australian should read?

    Pemulwuy The Rainbow Warrior by Eric Willmot.

  • Of all art forms, why literature?

    Because you can ferry your readers on a journey much like a guide in a museum - you point out the important things and make sure they don’t get lost. You invite them into a world they may know little about and you can help them understand it.

  • How did you start writing?

    I started writing as a means of describing the pictures I was drawing.

  • Did you do anything to help you learn to write or did it just come naturally?

    Au naturel mostly and I listened to a lot of other writers and their methods and process.

  • What do you love about writing?

    You get to create worlds from scratch.

  • What’s your aim as a writer?

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    The Croydon Park Cooking Club written and illustrated by David (a.k.a. Dub) Leffler

    My aim is to help people realise that we (Aboriginal people) can be as cool as James Bond, as inspiring as Joan of Arc, as intelligent as Einstein, as beautiful as Nefertiti, and as mysterious as The Man in the Iron Mask.

  • Who do you write for?

    I write for children and those who know the power of imagination.

  • What do you think makes a 'good writer' and who are some of your favourite authors?

    A good writer has the ability to see and observe without being judgmental. A good writer can write what they do not know about the unknown. I like the works of Lobsang Rampa and Lao Tzu.

  • Do you have a writing role model or inspiration?

    Guillermo Arriaga. Jon Doust.

  • What’s your writing process?

    I’ll listen to music, then draw and/or write.

  • Is it difficult to move between genres?

    Not really, no.

  • What’s the best tip you were ever given in relation to writing?

    Write what you know (with the exception of science fiction - and if that’s the case, base it on some truths).

  • Do you have any advice you could offer on writing and publishing?

    Write the story the way you tell it in person, that way, it will be your voice, and not someone else’s.

  • What are you working on right now?

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    Once There Was a Boy written and illustrated by David (a.k.a. Dub) Leffler

    A few projects - I’ve just finished working on five titles for Laguna Bay Publishing but right now I’m illustrating a story by Sally Morgan, writing a screenplay for Screen Australia, as well as the epic follow up of 2011’s acclaimed Once There Was a Boy.

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