1. A BEAUTIFUL WORLD was first published in Hebrew almost 20 years ago in 2003. What stands out in your memory from the original publication?
The first edition was beautiful, and everyone was impressed. But I, who saw the original artwork, was a little disappointed. The colours in Kor’s original illustrations were so vivid. Thanks to the English translation, we scanned it again and published a new edition, and now I am more than satisfied.
2. Can you say anything about working with Paul Kor, who passed away in May 2001? Did he see the final book?
Unfortunately, I never met Paul Kor. He passed away four months before I became an editor in Kinneret-Zmora, and before he finished the book. But he knew the art of children’s books, and his dummies were very precise. The story was there in the pictures, and I only had to dive in and write it down.
3. Looking back at the book, are you still happy with what you wrote? Is there anything you would change?
Seeing children react to the story gives me confidence that what I did was right. But I always have second thoughts, because the world is always changing, and children’s literature always needs to adjust. For example, in the Hebrew version, the story ends with a question: “What is missing?” And the reader can look at the mirror and find himself there. He is the last link of creation. This ending was right for 20 years ago. In the translation to English, there is a small but crucial change at the end. The story ends with the words, “We need you!” and with the idea that the world needs us to care for it. I like this change. It’s right for our times.
4. What is your writing process? Do you have a system, or does writing come naturally to you?
Writing is a strange process. I have a lot of beginnings of notes in my cell phone, and they can wait for years in the dark, until one day I have an idea for one of them – God knows from where – and I look for it impatiently and send it to my laptop for a real working process. It’s funny, because sometimes I don’t even remember that I wrote something, and when I run into it, I can even be impressed.😊
5. When did you hear the book would be going into space, and how did you react?
At the beginning I didn’t really understand the meaning of it. It was so fictional; I couldn’t find excitement. But when I saw the video, I realized it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I was grateful to be chosen for such a special event.
5. Would you want to go into space yourself?!
Not really. There are so many places on Earth I want to see before going to space.
6. Which Jewish stories do you remember reading as a child? Why do you think they made an impression on you?
My most beloved book as a child was Songs and Poems of Bialik, and the poem/story I loved the most was about little Moses who is lost in the woods, and Eliyahu the prophet who saves him. Little Moses meets all the animals from the Hebrew alphabet, even the made up ones, and I don’t know if I was more frightened or more excited by the peculiar beasts. And of course I liked the stories of The Wise Men of Chelm. They were my comic relief…
7. What advice can you offer to aspiring writers, or illustrators?
Don’t rush to tell your idea to the whole world. If you say it before you write it, you’ll probably lose interest. Let it stay with you for a while.
8. Where do you stand on the ‘own voices’ debate? Do you feel only Jewish writers should write about tales with Jewish content?
No. I believe all art should be open and free for everyone.
9. What would you like to write next?
I have an idea for a romantic book, not for children, but I won’t tell because then I’ll lose interest.😊
10. If you could have a dinner party with any writers and any illustrators, alive or dead, who would you pick?
I wish I could meet Astrid Lidgren in a small far away cold village in Sweden. I wish I had her ability to create the real spirit of children, with all the innocence, humour, naughtiness, and endless imagination.