Briefly tell us about your book.
Tiny Tradies celebrates the busy and messy lives of preschoolers by comparing them to the beloved Aussie icon of a tradie!
Where did the idea for this book come from?
The idea behind this book was inspired by my childhood (I grew up surrounded by Tradie shenanigans as my parents ran their family construction business from home) and my own industrious, curious, adorable (and oftentimes destructive) toddlers!
If I looked at your internet history, what would it reveal about you?
My internet history suggests that I’m really interested in learning how to cook exciting dishes. In reality, there are a lot of abandoned recipes just hanging out there. I don’t know how to follow a recipe however hard I try. I also tend to burn things. It’s genetic.
What are you hoping the reader will take away from reading your book?
I hope that kids, parents and carers have a giggle and feel ‘seen’. I hope they’re inspired to embrace chaos, mess and invite more high-vis into their lives.
How does it feel to hold your book in your hands?
It feels pretty bloody great, but not as good as watching my three-year-old hold it in her hands. She had the best reaction when she received it (which you can watch on my Instagram), especially when she found her name in the dedication!
How did you think of the title of the book?
The title arrived first! I was watching my daughter interact with other toddlers in her playgroup one day and it suddenly occurred to me how pre-schoolers are essentially tiny tradies; so noisy, industrious, accidentally destructive, sometimes whingy and occasionally sleepy ;-p
What is something that has influenced you as a writer?
Being read to by my Mum as a kid, listening to my dad tell outrageous stories from his own unconventional childhood. Watching lots of Play School in my youth definitely influenced me as a story teller. As did my previous career in the Theatre & Spoken Word Poetry world.
Do you write about people you know? Or yourself?
I often joke that I write about everyone I know and nobody I know.
What’s some great advice you’ve received that has helped you as a writer?
‘Write it down and then write it up.’ I heard Judd Apatow say something along those lines on Mike Birbiglia’s ‘Working It Out’ podcast. He was attempting to convey that writers should give themselves permission to write something down badly because you can always come back after some space and polish it up.
Who are some of your favourite authors? Or favourite books?
My kids and I love reading (and admiring the illustrations in) anything by Davina Bell, Emma Quay, Bronwyn Bancroft & Felicita Sala. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback is an absolute gift too.
Are you able to switch off at the end of a day of writing? If so, how?
Never underestimate the power of a good stretch before bed.
Buy a copy of Tiny Tradies here.
Tami Sussman is an Australian-based author with a background in theatre, comedy, spoken word poetry and copywriting. She spent her twenties facilitating creative writing workshops for primary and high school students and her early thirties contributing humorous opinion pieces for online and print magazines.
Tami is also a celebrant, the most sarcastic participant in your group chat and a loyal servant to the little creatures in her home.
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