Q&A with Jordan Collins, Author of Dorothy

Congratulations on your new picture book, Dorothy. Please tell us what it’s about.

Thank you! The book is all about growing up as a biracial person in a country that I was not born in. I talk about the struggle of finding ‘home’ for people like me with a fantastical spin.

What are you hoping readers will take away from your book?

I’m hoping readers can learn that the definition of home isn’t as narrow as we often think it is and
that we can all find a place where we belong.

Can you tell us a bit about your writing process?

My writing process is a little chaotic. Often, I will have an idea and turn it over in my head for a long time until I find a phrase that I like. Usually that phrase will be a metaphor, and the rest of my writing will lean into that metaphor.

What were your favourite books as a child?

I used to read absolutely anything and everything when I was a child, any book I could get my hands on! Though my favourites were anything to do with dragons, especially the Eragon series by Christopher Paolini.

What advice would you give aspiring kids authors?

My best piece of advice is to get out there! Even if it feels uncomfortable at first or it makes you nervous. We all learn and grow by stepping outside of our comfort zone.

Buy a copy of Dorothy here.

Jordan Collins was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Australia when they were eight years old. Their heritage is African-American Greek-Australian, meaning that their skin is dark, their hair is curly and they have spent a large part of their life feeling torn between cultures and expectations. Growing up, no matter where they found themselves or how they were doing, they could always find home and belonging in the pages of a book. Now they write to give other people like Jordan a little taste of the home they have made for themselves.