The power of a creative spark
Kate Cypress’ journey from young storyteller to published author is now inspiring South Australian students this upcoming Book Week to embrace their imagination.
South Australian author Kate Cypress’ passion for storytelling began at a young age, sparked by countless movies watched with her family and a myriad of books always within arm’s reach. By just six years old, she was already crafting her own tales, fingers tapping away on the family computer as her imagination ran free.
It’s a passion she hopes to ignite in young South Australians this August. As children across the state unleash their own imaginations for Book Week, Cypress will be hosting a series of school workshops designed, she says, “to show children that anything is possible”.
“It is what you set your mind to that counts, not what other people say you can or can’t do,” she says.
“You don’t have to wait to be old to write your first book. Anyone who can imagine and put pen to paper is already a writer. The only difference is whether the work is published or not published, but even then, what’s inside you – that creative spark – is what counts. This spark never really changes, even when you get old.”
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Cypress’ own imagination led her to create children’s books filled with fantasy and adventure. “The Griffins series is a fictional fantasy world filled with characters who live extraordinary lives using their own unique capabilities,” Cypress says. The books contain full-colour character illustrations, known as the Griffin Almanac, which are updated for every book, as well as a world map to help young readers explore the world.
Her second title series Phillipa, is a historical fiction about a girl born to wealthy parents on an Irish estate, who is kidnapped and taken to an English orphanage. The story shows how a situation can seem inescapable but one can still find the smallest joys in life to stay motivated and find a way out.
For Cypress, the joy of creating these fantasy characters and worlds is matched by the satisfaction of crafting works that inspire and empower young readers to value storytelling and creativity.
“I like to create work that exposes children to high standards of literacy, art and story development,” she explains. “Children deserve the best you can offer them.
“I hope they see and find that anything is possible, and how capable an individual can be in writing and rewriting their own stories, no matter how young and seemingly small, inexperienced and unknowing they appear to the rest of the world – which is what the main characters in Griffins and Philippa inevitably learn.”
A successful author, Cypress admits she is often taken aback by the popularity of her writing.
“Sometimes I forget that my books are published and read across Australia,” she says. “When I connect with new readers and meet fans who love the worlds I have created, I feel very proud.”
Enter the world of Griffins!
Watch the newest animated clip of Tsuki’s adventures in Book One!
For Cypress, the knowledge that her books are stocked in independent Adelaide bookshops such as Mostly Books, Shakespeare’s Bookshop, and Page & Turner is another source of pride.
“Independent bookstores are so important in the way they give budding authors their first chance to be noticed,” she says.
Kate Cypress will also present a workshop at the Once Upon A Festival in October and exhibit in Sydney at Book Fair Australia on Nov 7-8.
Find out more about Kate Cypress and her Book Week workshops here.
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