About Author

Maxine Sylvester

Maxine Sylvester
BIOGRAPHY

I was born in London but now live in Bali with my partner, Mark. I am an author and illustrator and self-published my first children’s book, Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academy last December.
So how did a pizza loving Pilates instructor and self-confessed Disney- geek end up in writing a book in South East Asia? Maybe its best I rewind back to the 70’s and explain…
Back when The Bay City Rollers were topping the charts, I received my first tin of Caran D’Arche pencils. I loved art and it was my best subject at school. On Saturday afternoons I took private lessons with a lovely teacher called Pearl Lee. At school we practised still life and figure drawing but with Mrs Lee I discovered oils, pastels and Disney! She had a pile of Disney comics and I would paint the characters on to wooden plaques or do giant paintings. I developed a real love for ‘fun’ art but when the time came to leave school I couldn’t find a college that offered what I wanted. I therefore decided to abandon any thoughts of an artistic career and pursue my other passion – travel!
I worked as a holiday representative in Rhodes, Cyprus, Turkey and the Canary Islands, and then onboard cruise ships. During this time I was often called on to make birthday or leaving cards and I even decorated my cabin with cartoon characters. It soon became clear that although I loved travelling, work was a chore and not something I enjoyed.
I met Mark onboard and we decided to abandon life on the ocean waves and accept positions at a casino in Palestine. We lived outside Jerusalem in Israel and although it was a fascinating venture I spent all of my spare time drawing. I discovered The College of Cartoon Art, an online school run by four professional cartoonists; they offered the exact course I had always wanted to do. I studied after work and my tutor, acclaimed caricaturist, Steve Chadburn, was a fantastic teacher, harsh with criticism but very encouraging. Unfortunately due to unrest in the Middle East, Mark and I lost our jobs so we packed up and moved to Moscow
In Russia I started up as a freelance cartoonist and enrolled for a course in children’s book illustration. I illustrated a magazine cover and did some work on a few websites but just as I was getting going, I tore a disc in my back. Illustrating and long periods editing on a computer aggravated my condition, so after years of treatment, I sadly ended my art career and put my pencils away for good. (Or so I thought!)
After a stint living in Armenia, Mark and I invested in a scuba diving business in Bali. At this point my body seemed to go from bad to worse and my muscles were so stiff I could hardly get out of bed in the mornings. Then something changed my life - Pilates, a form of exercise that strengthens the muscles that support the spine. I practised at home to DVD’s and my quality of life improved so much I became an instructor.
Convinced this was my life’s purpose, I started teaching semi-private groups. I enjoyed watching people progress but after two years I began to feel that I still wasn’t reaching my true potential. One day I nervously took out my Caran D’ Arche pencils; I hadn’t drawn in ten years and although I was a bit rusty my ability was still there and I fell in love with art all over again, this time without pain as my body was stronger through Pilates.
I wanted a purpose for my drawing so decided to write a short story. I stole an idea from A.A Milne and picked out my favourite stuffed toy which happened to be a reindeer. I chose the name Ronaldo and thought it would be fun to send him to school, but not just any school - flying school!
Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academy was originally intended as a picture book but I enjoyed the writing process so much that it grew in to a chapter book. I sourced an editor and prayed she wouldn’t laugh in my face and to my delight she wrote back and said she thoroughly enjoyed my story.
Ronaldo is a joy to work on and every day I bounce out of bed with enthusiasm. It has taken fifty years to reach a point in my life where I can say I love my job but I can happily say that I do and that it was worth the wait!

Maxine Sylvester's Books

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Book
Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academy
(1) $3.99 kindle Free with KUeBook, Paperback, Audio,
Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academyby Maxine SylvesterPublish: Dec 15, 2015Children's
Ronaldo: Vixen's Flying Workshop (Ronaldo the Flying Reindeer Book Book 4)
(2) $3.99 kindle Free with KUeBook,
Ronaldo: Vixen's Flying Workshop (Ronaldo the Flying Reindeer Book Book 4)by Maxine SylvesterPublish: Nov 15, 2019Children's
Ronaldo: Scandal at The Reindeer Flying Academy: An Illustrated Early Readers Chapter Book for Kids 7-9 (Ronaldo's Flying Adventures)
$3.99 kindle Free with KUeBook,
Ronaldo: Donny's Superpower: An Illustrated Early Readers Chapter Book for Kids 7-9 (Ronaldo's Flying Adventures)
$3.99 kindle Free with KUeBook, Paperback,
Ronaldo: Donny's Superpower: An Illustrated Early Readers Chapter Book for Kids 7-9 (Ronaldo's Flying Adventures)by Maxine SylvesterPublish: Aug 30, 2023Series: Ronaldo's Flying AdventuresChildren's

Maxine Sylvester's Series in Order

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  • Ronaldo's Flying Adventures

    1 Ronaldo: Scandal at The Reindeer Flying Academy: An Illustrated Early Readers Chapter Book for Kids 7-9 (Ronaldo's Flying Adventures) - Published on Dec, 20212 Ronaldo: Donny's Superpower: An Illustrated Early Readers Chapter Book for Kids 7-9 (Ronaldo's Flying Adventures) - Published on Aug, 2023

Maxine Sylvester Interview On 30, Jul 2020

"Author and illustrator Maxine Sylvester grew up with a passion for Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bear. She has created an endearing character in Ronaldo. Maxine's illustrations and clever writing make for a fun holiday story. Her books are well written, funny, and highly entertaining."
Born in London, where have you spent most of your childhood?

I lived just outside of London and in the same house for 18 years.

Which is your favorite childhood memory?

Holidays at Butlins Holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, with my family. Sometimes my cousins would come too, and all the kids rode the funfair all day long. I have no idea what the grown-ups did; I was too busy enjoying myself!

Who first introduced you to the world of books?

My earliest memory is Walt Disney’s Giant Book of Fairy Tales. The brightly coloured illustrations mesmerised me; I think that’s where my love of art began. My mum bought it for me as she was the one who loved to buy books and toys (Dad would usually pay for them). Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day by A.A. Milne was also a favourite.

Being an illustrator, how do you learn about new techniques and tools?

Photoshop tutorials! I always thought I would be a traditional illustrator and use pencils and water colour paints, but I am addicted to Photoshop—the possibilities are endless!

What inspired you to write your first children’s book, Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academy?

Ronaldo is my favourite plush! I stole the idea from A.A. Milne whose inspiration was the toys in Christopher Robin’s bedroom. Michael Bond did the same. He used to take his bear plush (Paddington) on holiday with him.

How did you begin writing the “Ronaldo the Flying Reindeer” series?

I had a concept of a reindeer cadet going to flying school and wanted to deliver an inspiring message of self-belief to children. I was a shy child and frightened of most of my school teachers. Looking back, I wish I had had tools to help me—a book, maybe, that offered words of reassurance. You never know what is going on in a child’s life, and books can offer words of encouragement.

What challenges did you face while self-publishing your first book?

The biggest hurdle was loading the manuscript up to Kindle. I kept getting a blue line down each page of the book. My partner, Mark, is more computer savvy than I am, and sorted it out, but I remember a lot of emails going back and forth to Amazon.

How did a pizza loving Pilates instructor and self-confessed Disney-geek end up in writing a book?

I wanted a reason to illustrate so created a character, a young reindeer called Ronaldo, and intended to write a short story about him going to flying school. But once I started, I couldn’t stop! It turned in to a chapter book. I never knew I had such an imagination (courtesy of a lifetime of watching Disney movies). I now love writing as much as illustrating and enjoy flitting between the two. My strengths are illustration and imagination, so I use a professional editor to check my work. An excellent one is worth their weight in carrots!

How did you come up with the idea of your book, Ronaldo: The Phantom Carrot Snatcher?

I wanted a strong female character to enter Ronaldo’s world. Ronaldo and Rudi are both male and I wanted a character that little girls could resonate with. I made her a wolf cub (Ernie), which is one of Ronaldo’s biggest fears. But he is brave and embarks on a superhero mission to help Ernie find her family. Only bullies ambush Ronaldo in the woods, and Ernie comes to his rescue. It is an unlikely friendship, but both characters learn from one another… and have hilarious adventures along the way!

How do you overcome a creative block?

I try not to panic and take some time out. Ideas come when they are ready and when they do, they don’t stop. Acupuncture helps me too; it releases blockages in the body. I heard an interview with musician Noel Gallagher, he said he has ‘purple patches’ and I understand what he means. I have periods where ideas flow non-stop and I have boundless energy, other times I can’t think of anything. I don’t think the body can maintain a fast and furious pace, so it forces us to take time to rest.

In what ways do you try to better understand the craft of writing?

I have learned something different from every editor I have used. I also find it beneficial to read the work of other children’s authors. For my last book, Ronaldo: The Vixen Pederson Workshop, I used a programme called ProWritingAid and learned a lot from it. It highlights grammatical errors, overused words, sentence structure, etc. Now when I send my manuscript to an editor, they can get to the ‘meat’ instead of wading through punctuation errors. It would have saved me a fortune over the years as I wouldn’t have needed so many edits!

Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

Be patient with yourself and ask for help if you need it. There are so many author platforms with kind-hearted people offering free advice. They have been so helpful to me over the years and I am very grateful for their suggestions.

On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?

Eight hours. I go through phases of illustrating or writing. I can’t work on both at the same time; it’s one or the other with me.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

No, I am not quite as famous as J.K. Rowling!

Have you tried making a pizza all by yourself during lock-down (COVID-19)?

Ha! No, I have an allergy to the kitchen! (Pizza is still my favourite food, but nowadays it is gluten-free with vegan cheese.) Lock-down has been super-busy. Mark and I produced three paperback books for sale on Amazon. We discovered 60% of parents prefer buying paperbacks for children, and as Ronaldo’s Flying Adventures series was only available in digital format, we used the time to do something productive. I am delighted with how the books have come out; the covers are vibrant, and it was a fun project for us to work on together.

When did you join AllAuthor and what are your opinions about the website so far?

I joined four years ago. I entered the Cover of the Month competition for the first time this year and won! I gained six months of free book mock-ups which are great for advertising on social media like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. AllAuthor is user-friendly and has been a fabulous tool for marketing my four books.

Ask Maxine Sylvester a Question

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      • Maxine Sylvester Maxine Sylvester 2 years ago
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      • Hi Brian,

        Thank you for letting me know about the link. It appears Shana has closed that site and opened a new one without her interviews. I have updated the text on this site, and I will start a new page on my site to include all interviews in case others do the same.

        Thanks again and have a fantastic 2022
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      • Maxine Sylvester Maxine Sylvester 3 years ago
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      • Thank you Robert, unfortunately my TBR list is far too long and I would not like to promise anything at this time.
        Have a wonderful day
        Maxine
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        • Robert Paul Robert Paul 3 years ago
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        • Thank for your response. Whatever you can do, whenever you can do it, would be great! Maxine, you have beautiful day as well.
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