Mick Elliott

Author, Entertainer, Illustrator, Inspirational Speaker, Storyteller

Mick Elliott is an author, illustrator, TV producer, screenwriter, literacy ambassador and professional mischief-maker. As well as multiple best-selling books, Mick has written and produced acclaimed children’s TV programmes for Nickelodeon, the Sesame Workshop, Channel TEN and the ABC.

Where were you born?

Planet earth, as far as I’m aware. But I have my doubts.

What other jobs have you had?

So many! Lift attendant at a shopping centre (awkward), junk mail deliverer (exhausting), cinema usher (amazing.) The hardest job I’ve ever had was as a junior Marketing executive for a major entertainment company. But I learnt a lot and eventually escaped to the wonderful world of children’s television and book publishing where I’ve been happily making mischief ever since.

What themes are recurring in your work?

I enjoy putting ordinary characters into extraordinary situations. Or putting extraordinary characters into ordinary situations. But above all, I love creating stories that make kids laugh. That’s always my goal when I start any new book.

What have been the highlights of your career?

Collaborating with the Sesame Workshop on the first Australian Muppet character, Ollie, for Nick Jr was incredible as a young TV producer.

Talking about storytelling in front of thousands of kids on stage at schools and writers’ festivals across Australia is an absolute joy.

And breaking the Guinness World Record for sliming the most people of all time while working at Nickelodeon was unforgettable.

Where have your works been published?

Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Korea, Turkey, Hungary. Squidge Dibley was even translated into Hebrew and was also released in a special braille edition. That was so cool.

What are you passionate about?

I love using humour to explore complex themes. When I was a producer at Nickelodeon we applied a rule to everything we created: Heart, Fart, Smart. I still use this as a framework for all my stories. Kids deserve to be treated with intelligence and respect. They know when they are being patronized or talked down to.

Haven’t I seen you before?

Sometimes people say that I look a little bit like Daniel Craig. I’m not sure what bit.

Anything else you’d like to share with us?

Every morning when I look in the mirror I wonder why the ten-year-old kid staring back at me looks so wrinkly. It’s very unnerving.

I feel so grateful to have lucked into a career where I get to write, doodle and make up stories. Hopefully I can keep doing it for a long time yet.

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