INSPIRATIONS FROM THE BOOKSHELF Alina Manolache
Every illustrator and writer has grown up with inspirations from a variety of sources.
This week illustrator Rekha Salin wanted to find out what gives illustrator Alina Manolache the most inspiration.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Alina, an illustrator and author from Bucharest, Romania and I love fantasy and detective stories. I self-published my first picture book, Little Red is Making Friends, last year, which is a loose retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I’m now working on another picture book with a lot more fantasy elements and I’m really excited about it.
Alina’s first picture book.
Which genre do you write/illustrate for?
I love writing and illustrating picture books, but I’m also interested in chapter books since some of the story ideas I have could use a longer word count. I would also really like to illustrate middle grade stories that have magic elements in them.
What inspires you to pick up or buy a book from the library/bookstore or buy online?
What grabs my attention initially is the cover. If I love the illustration then the book will go on my “to read” list. Bonus points if it’s a fantasy cover and triple bonus points for dragons, but most of all I’m attracted to detective type books with a fantasy setting.
I am also interested in craft books both for illustration and writing and I keep an eye out for those types of books.
Writing and illustration craft books.
Are you inspired by books from multiple genres or those written and illustrated by the same author/illustrator?
I am definitely inspired by books from other genres, I read a lot of
novels as well, mostly fantasy and mystery and I try to bring elements that I
love from those books to my picture books but in small doses.
I also tend to read everything from one particular author or illustrator
once I find a book I really enjoy. For example, I loved all of Agatha Christie's
books, particularly those with Hercule Poirot as the main character and I was
delighted to find out, and then voraciously read, the Aggie Morton
series by Marthe Jocelyn.
On the illustration side of things, I enjoy doing master studies of the
artists I admire, this helps me understand the choices the artist made when
creating the particular painting I’m studying. I do this for all kinds of
artists, classic and modern, not only in the illustration sphere but fine art, games,
and any other area that I find appealing.
A few picture books from Alina’s bookshelves.
Do you bring your inspirations into your work? If yes, how much of the inspiration do you bring into your works?
I think it would be difficult not to bring my inspirations into my work. I really enjoy the wonderful feeling I get when I am inspired, it gives me both a creative and motivational boost.
How do you keep your work fresh, original and unique and avoid it looking like your inspiration?
I think that over time I have discovered what elements I like my work to have and what I enjoy creating. Those elements are the foundation which I build upon. Everything I create starts with that and then I add other smaller elements that have inspired me consciously and sometimes unconsciously. The key for me is to have a strong idea of what I want to achieve and to follow what I personally find appealing in my illustrations.
Does your book shelf have all the books that you love or which inspired you?
It does not, I’m always finding new books that I would love to add to my collection. I have also started a virtual bookshelf that keeps growing and I find that one is easier to manage though not as satisfying to look at.
Which are the main few books that have inspired your work and are not yet on your bookshelf?
I love Brandon Sanderson’s work, the Stormlight Archive series in particular, but I chose to buy the ebooks for his books since they are so long and my bookshelf space is limited. His work is so magical that I wouldn’t dream of not reading them as soon as they are published.
A sample of Alina’s favorite novels.
Are there any books that have inspired you so much that you really wish you'd worked on a text like that or that you'd thought of the unique way of storytelling?
There are quite a lot of books that have inspired me. Chicken Lilly by Lori Mortensen, illustrated by Nina Victor Crittenden, opened my eyes to the fun ways that an author can incorporate the physical traits of the character, and blend them seamlessly into the text, making the character feel alive. For example: “What if she fell flat on her beak?”
I would also have loved to work on My Brother the Duck by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman, because it follows a structure focused on mystery and asking questions. I would be over the moon if I got to work on a project like that. I find detective stories for kids to be super fun.
*Header image: Ell Rose and Tita Berredo
All other images provided by Alina Manolache
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Alina Manolache's love for fairy tales, watercolour painting, and animals is readily apparent in her first book Little Red is Making Friends, which she wrote, illustrated, and self-published. In her debut work, the visually stunning illustrations combined with her storytelling evoke undeniable feelings of joy and compassion.
Rekha Salin has three books published as an illustrator. Two picture books – one in 2020 and the other in 2022 – and also a recipe book, (for adults), in 2022 published by ABV Publishing.
She worked with Gnome Road Publishing on a picture book which was published in October 2024.
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Tita Berredo is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of Words & Pictures.
Contact her at: britishisles-ic@scbwi.org
Ell Rose is the Illustration Features Editor of Words & Pictures.
Find their work at www.fourfooteleven.com.
Contact them at illustrators@britishscbwi.org
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