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MEET FRANS VISCHER (5/2011)
by Bonnie O'Brian

What did you most like to do when you were a child?

Frans Vischer

I loved to draw and play soccer as a child, (I still do both as much as I can.) I grew up in Holland, and the rainy weather often wasn’t conducive to outdoor play, so a lot of indoor time was spent building lego structures and playing with plastic cowboys and Indians, making up stories as I went along.

What books influenced you most when you were growing up?

I loved adventure stories. It was a real joy as a young boy to be transported somewhere and live an adventure through a character I liked. There was a series of books written in the 50’s and 60’s about two brothers who owned a very ugly boat with a souped-up motor that out-raced every boat on the river.As I got older I loved the Hardy boys adventure stories. Through books I also learned to love history.

Did you write stories when you were growing up? at school? Or at home as a hobby? As a young child, or as a teenager, or both?

I drew comic-books as a young child, and wrote lots of stories in high school and thereafter. Inspired by   a visit to the Disney studio when I was thirteen, I started making my own 8mm animated films, learning as I went. I created my own characters, and came up with short story ideas. I won a few film awards with these.

When you went to college, were you already pursuing a writing career? (or a career in illustrating? or just art in general?)

I studied animation at CalArts, in Southern California. I was hired by the Disney studio upon graduating from school. The emphasis on story-telling in Disney films, not just the visualizations, had a great impact on my interest in writing.

Was your first book accepted immediately? or did you experience a number of rejections?

My first book, JIMMY DABBLE, was published by Dutton in 2001. It took a few years and many rejections to find a publisher. Perseverance paid off. I was also advised, being an artist, to turn Jimmy Dabble into a picture book, requiring dramatically shortening and simplifying the story. I envisioned a long-form story-telling style, and stuck with that concept, and I’m happy with the chapter book that JIMMY DABBLE became.

Where do you get your ideas?

My own life experiences, observations, my family. I love observing a real-life situation, then using it as a jumping point for a story. For instance, I’m at the airport watching a family quarreling. I wonder, what if the boy, aged 10, is so upset that he runs off. His parents continue argueing, unaware of his disappearance. Last boarding calls stop the argument. The family starts to board the plane, realize he’s missing - a mad dash through the terminal ensues. Perhaps the plane takes off without them. or only part of the family goes - they’re split up. Etc etc.

How did your life change when you got married? and had children? Did it make it easier or harder to find time to write?

My relationship and marriage to my wife helped me mature a great deal. (I’ve never had problems connecting with my inner-child.) We have three children, and though kids will complicate one’s life, they’ve also inspired me. I had written numerous stories before we had kids, but telling night-time stories to them made me think seriously about being published.

Do you work on more than one book at a time?

I overlap on several books. I’ve been plugging away at an adult novel for several years, and I have a few picture books in various states. When I hit a creative wall on one, I pick up another story. Sometimes I sense there are problems with a story, without being able to pin-point what isn’t working. It’s nice to be able to set a story aside and let my subconscious brain work it out in due time.

What do you most want the students to get out of your school visits?

Encouragement is my strongest message- to not let disappointments hold you back- I’ve had plenty of setbacks, but I refuse to give up. Kids need to know that hidden behind most successes are many hardships and challenges, which they will also face in their lives. Disappointments should be seen as temporary setbacks, not permanent obstacles. Walt Disney or Steve Jobs would never have succeeded had they given up after early failures.