Stephen Michael King
Welcome to Creative Kids Tales, Stephen Michael King.
Stephen Michael King was born in 1963 in Sydney. His younger years were spent exploring the adventures within books and drawing. Life was relatively uneventful during his early school years until he suffered the loss of his hearing from eight. With his world now silent, Stephen looked to his family and teachers for support.
He didn’t talk much during this time instead communicating through writing and illustrations. With much of his childlike self all but gone living through almost five years without sound, Stephen received a hearing aid at age 13.
Fast forward a few years and Stephen continued the journey to his now much-celebrated career by taking on the role of children’s library assistant, where he entertained pre-schoolers with picture book readings.
In 1990 Stephen moved to the Sydney offices of Walt Disney Studios in Surry Hills as an illustrator.
A few of our illustrator friends have cut their teeth in the illustrating department of Disney Studios including Serena Geddes, David Hardy and of course Stephen.
With four years industry experience under his belt, Stephen moved to his still current home, Scholastic Australia as a book designer and illustrator.
Stephen has illustrated more than 50 books, been published in over 20 countries, has been nominated for and won numerous awards. Some of his titles as both writer and illustrator include Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat, Emily Loves to Bounce, Mutt Dog, You and Leaf, The Man Who Loved Boxes, Snail and Turtle are friends, Snail and Turtle Rainy Days and My Dad is a Giraffe.
He has illustrated books for a number of authors including Tim Winton, Jackie French, Glenda Millard, Janeen Brian, Margaret Wild, Anna Fienberg and Lesley Gibbes.
Stephen credits his love of drawing and creating characters that can do just about anything to his teacher mother. He is thankful to his father, who loved tinkering with inventions for his creative flare.
His home is on an island on Australia’s east coast where he lives with his supportive wife and their two children. Surrounded by his greatest inspiration, his family, nature and a menagerie of animals, Stephen wouldn’t have his life any other way.
For many of us, we are stuck in careers not of our choosing, Stephen, is one of the lucky ones. He has always been a drawer. He has always loved writing. He dreamt of nothing else than doing what he has, does and always will do – creating beautiful stories.
Stephen’s work is inspirational. With every word and every brush stroke he is guided by his mother’s wise words ‘Don’t worry about spelling or punctuation, it’s the ideas that matter!'
To learn more about Stephen Michael King, visit: www.stephenmichaelking.com
Read CKT's September 2016 interview with Stephen Michael King.
Here are some of Stephen Michael King's books: