Sergio Ruzzier

Sergio Ruzzier Revealed

About Sergio Ruzzier

What is your birthdate?:

11/28
Previous occupations:

Delivery boy on a bike, Persian rug store clerk, rare book and print librarian.
Favorite job:

Picture book author and illustrator, which is what I am.
High school and/or college:

A technical high school in Milan, Italy.
Name of your favorite composer or music artist?:

Paolo Conte. Gustav Mahler.
Favorite movie:

"Il posto" by Ermanno Olmi.
Favorite television show:

"Scacciapensieri", a 1970's anthology of animated cartoons on the Italian Swiss television.

Revealing Questions

Q. How would you describe your life in only 8 words?: A. Played, wasted time, suffered, wrote, drew, took walks.
Q. What is your motto or maxim?: A. Nasci, Pati, Mori.
Q. How would you describe perfect happiness?: A. Walking in the countryside in central Italy, visiting antique churches. Going back home, cook and eat.
Q. What’s your greatest fear?: A. Infirmity.
Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?: A. In a farmhouse in central Italy.
Q. With whom in history do you most identify?: A. Any foot soldier in the First World War.
Q. Which living person do you most admire?: A. My girlfriend.
Q. What are your most overused words or phrases?: A. "For example."
Q. What do you regret most?: A. Not to have traveled more when I could.
Q. If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?: A. Musical talent.
Q. What is your greatest achievement?: A. My daughter.
Q. What’s your greatest flaw?: A. Susceptibility.
Q. What’s your best quality?: A. I don't know.
Q. If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?: A. A Medieval fresco painter.
Q. What trait is most noticeable about you?: A. I don't know.
Q. Who is your favorite fictional hero?: A. Jimmy Corrigan.
Q. Who is your favorite fictional villain?: A. The Old Man of the Mountain in a Betty Boop cartoon.
Q. If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?: A. Ibn Battuta. I would ask him to take me with him. At least for part of his travels.
Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?: A. Unnecessary car honking.
Q. What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?: A. Walking.
Q. What’s your fantasy profession?: A. The one I'm doing, writing and drawing. That's lucky.
Q. What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?: A. Generosity, humor, talent.
Q. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?: A. Stuffed calamari.
Q. What are your 5 favorite songs?: A. "Lo scapolo" (Paolo Conte), "Con una rosa" (Vinicio Capossela), "A Little Rain" (Tom Waits), "Suzanne" (Leonard Cohen), "Albergo a ore" (Herbert Pagani).

On Books and Writing

Q. Who are your favorite authors?: A. Edward Gorey, Thomas Bernhard, Giorgio Bassani, Edward Lear, Arnold Lobel, Charles Schulz, Tiziano Scarpa, George Herriman, Tove Jansson, Massimiliano Tappari.
Q. What are your 5 favorite books of all time?: A. "Destiny" by Otto Nuckel. "The Doubtful Guest" by Edward Gorey. "The Other Side" by Alfred Kubin. "Senos" by Ramon Gomez de la Serna. "Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi.
Q. Is there a book you love to reread?: A. "Pinocchio", to my daughter.
Q. Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?: A. Beware of advice.
Q. What comment do you hear most often from your readers?: A. "Original."
Q. How did you come to write Broom, Zoom!?: A. "Broom, Zoom!" was written by Caron Lee Cohen. I had shown the editors at S&S some illustration samples that were different from my usual pen&ink and watercolor work: bolder lines and flat colors of a limited palette. They were just looking for the illustrator for this book, which is aimed at younger readers than my usual, and they graciously asked me to do it. I am really happy they did! It was wonderful to create the little witch and the little monster and their home and things; I am very fond of them.