Ruth Paul

Ruth lives in an off-grid, straw-bale house on a farm just outside Wellington, New Zealand. As well as writing and illustrating children's picture books, Ruth is mother of two boys and is actively involved in her local community. Ruth started writing and illustrating her own picture books in 2004. Hedgehog's Magic Tricks is her first picture book for Candlewick Press. "I had initially written a much longer and more complex story about these characters. But when I drew them, it seemed they would appeal to a very young audience. So eventually, my long first draft turned into a number of smaller individual stories, each focusing on one character. They're an unlikely bunch, but they make me laugh". Ruth loves being both author and illustrator. "A little girl once thought I was an author and an alligator", Ruth says. "I smile with my mouth shut now".