Dosh Archer 2009 on the Urgency Emergency Series

When I read Dosh Archer's Urgency Emergency children's books I new I wanted to interview her, but what I hadn't bargained for was that she got to me first and here's the end result. Enjoy.

VW: What motivated you to in essence to rewrite children's poems and fairy tales into the Urgency Emergency children's books?

DA: I thought it would be funny if someone or something tried to bring an element of order to the chaotic world of fairy tales and rhymes. I like combining elements, e.g. 'Urgency Emergency' is a cross between Casualty and The Muppets....

VW: Did these stories start of as a university project?

DA: No, I graduated from Art School, and then Teacher Training a long time ago!

VW: Your writing style is brilliant - who or what were your influences here?

DA: I love Allen Ahlberg, he is my biggest influence as a writer. I also love John Hegley.

VW: Your pictures are wonderfully bright and simple was this deliberate?

DA: Yes. I love colour, I am unusually long sighted, so I like to keep things simple as I have trouble concentrating on details for long periods.

VW: Will you use other ideas for more books under the Urgency Emergency style?

DA: Yes, if the books sell and the publishers want some more! There's no end to the amount of emergencies that can occur. It's a dangerous world out there.

VW: Who and what are your influences in your illustrations?

DA: The muppets, Sue Heap (childrens writer and illustrator), Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben (who do The Adventures of George and Lily), Achewood (cartoon strip) and Simone Lia (Fluffy), Ben Stiller for the expressions. Lots and lots of others too.....

VW: Will you go onto older children's illustrated/graphic novels?

DA: Yes, I have chatted with a publisher about the possiblity of a graphic novel, and I would like to write for older children. How many words per book do you think I have to write so that I can say I am a novelist?...I fancy it would be quite the thing to call myself a novelist.

VW: The humour in your books is brilliant did you try out your stories with children before publishing them?

DA: No, I just write for myself. My little girl gets it though and we have a right laugh sometimes. My friend David phones up with ideas and we have a right laugh too.

VW: How long does it take for each book to write and illustrate?

DA: Thinking up ideas - an indefinite amount of time which seems to go on forever - Writing one story once the idea has formed - about 3 days over the space of 2 weeks. About 6 weeks to illustrate, depending on the type of book, some are less labour intensive. Anything with details I have to take a lot of time over, using a big magnifying thingy. The Fire Engine in Urgency Emergency took ages. I like doing the characters best, and their clothes, although it was mainly uniforms in Urgency Emergency.

VW: Will you carry on with the Urgency Emergency style or try another?

DA: Yes again if the publishers want more. Got some other ideas too....

VW: Who are your favourite authors and illustrator?

DA: Allen Ahlberg, Shaun Tan, Sue Heap, John Hegley, Julia Donalson, Frances Thomas, Ross Collins, Neal layton....

VW: Would you take a look at mythology and use them as a basis for more stories?

DA: Well I did study Classical Studies and Greek and Latin at school, so you never know, are children today familiar with these stories do you think? My old latin teacher, Mrs Graham would love it if I did, I never paid attention in class, she would feel her efforts had not been in vain after all.

VW: Last but not least - why did you choose a dog, a cockeral and a pair of penguins for your hospital staff?

DA: Well, the penguins got to be the pengamedics, so the name worked, I like drawing dogs, and I wanted Nurse Percy to flap slightly on occasion and then rally, a chicken seemed to fit the bill.