Vanessa Cabban was born in the South of England in 1972, but spent most of her formative years living abroad, starting with Zaire, moving to Spain, living in the US for a short period, and then in Belgium. She was at a boarding school in the UK from the age of seven. After doing her BA at Brighton University and gaining a First in illustration, Vanessa went to the Royal College of Art in London to do an MA. For the last 12 years she has been working as a children's book illustrator, and has illustrated 24 books, most of them published by Walker Books. She is married to Hugo, and they have two miniature wire-haired Dachshunds. Vanessa blogs at do you mind if i knit.
Why do you blog? > To meet people interested in similar crafts, to share and explore ideas, gain inspiration and socialize. It is also a good discipline to sit down five days a week and write.
What has been your best blogging experience? > The response from readers.
What would be your main blogging advice to a novice blogger? > Persevere and remain positive.
Who are your intellectual heroes? > George Orwell.
What are you reading at the moment? > A book on the history of rag rug making.
Who are your cultural heroes? > Nick Park, Roald Dahl, Pippi Longstocking.
What is the best novel you've ever read? > Lucia Vitrix by E.F. Benson.
What is your favourite movie? > Blade Runner.
Who is your favourite composer? > Michael Nyman.
What philosophical thesis do you think it most important to combat? > We go to war to help.
Who are your political heroes? > Nelson Mandela.
What is your favourite piece of political wisdom? > Read the history books.
If you could choose anyone, from any walk of life, to be Prime Minister, who would you choose? > Andrew Marr.
What do you consider to be the main threat to the future peace and security of the world? > The male of the human species.
Do you think the world (human civilization) has already passed its best point, or is that yet to come? > Yet to come.
What would be your most important piece of advice about life? > Don't take it personally.
Do you think you could ever be married to, or in a long-term relationship with, someone with radically different political views from your own? > No, sorry about that.
What do you consider the most important personal quality? > Kindness.
What personal fault do you most dislike? > Jealousy.
In what circumstances would you be willing to lie? > To help someone who was helpless.
Do you have any prejudices you're willing to acknowledge? > I don't like bad breath.
What is your favourite proverb? > 'What goes around, comes around.'
What commonly enjoyed activities do you regard as a waste of time? > I don't like to judge people.
What, if anything, do you worry about? > Financial security.
If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything you'd do differently? > Smile at a much earlier age.
What would you call your autobiography? > I wish I was Miss Marple.
Who would play you in the movie about your life? > Holly Hunter.
Where would you most like to live (other than where you do)? > Orkney or New York.
What would your ideal holiday be? > A cottage in an isolated, beautiful landscape, just me, my husband and the dogs - or a week in New York.
What do you like doing in your spare time? > Crochet, walking, reading, films.
What is your most treasured possession? > A crochet hook belonging to my Granny.
If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to? > Nelle.
Who is your favourite comedian or humorist? > Michael McIntyre.
If you could have one (more or less realistic) wish come true, what would you wish for? > To clone my dog, Douglas.
If you could have any three guests, past or present, to dinner who would they be? > Michael McIntyre, Roald Dahl, Alan Titchmarsh.
[The normblog profile is a weekly Friday morning feature. A list of all the profiles to date, and the links to them, can be found here.]