Bellaboo chats with comic author, Kaz Cooke on her fab new book, "Girl Stuff".

Where did the idea for “Girl stuff” originate?
I’d love to say I’m quite the brilliant item and I thought it up all by myself, but my publisher, Julie Gibbs thought I should write a book for teenage girls that covered all the changes and challenges, and was for them, not for their parents (although they might learn a few things from it, too!)

How did you decide on each section and what it would include?
From the 4000-odd responses to the survey, and from some thoughts I had, I ended up with a list of chapters. Some ended up not making the cut, such as travel and manners – just not enough room in the book. Some chapters were obvious and had to be done, such as body changes, drink, drugs, sex. Some were things girls wanted to know about, such as love, shopping, confidence. And some are things that are not often in girls’ books but I think heaps of girls want to know, such as how to handle school stress, mental health issues and money.

What would you say this book's main purpose is?
Even if a girl feels alone because she can’t or won’t talk things over with a mum or other adult friend, this book will tell her the truth and has everything she needs to know, including where to go for further info and help. The book is designed to be a “best friend” that can hide under the bed and come out when you need help. It’s not meant to be read front to back in one go like a story. You can dip into the bits that interest you or whenever you need to know something..

Do you feel that a book like this would have helped you through your teenage years?
Arghhh! YES! That’s kind of one of the reasons that I wrote it. I learned a lot while I was writing it! I made a lot of mistakes when I was a teenager – and that’s okay, that’s how you learn. But if I knew what I know now because of researching the book, I could have learned some of those things and avoided the mistakes, some bad times and most definitely some embarassment and worry.

Are there topics in “Girl Stuff” that are not normally openly discussed?
The book includes info on the feelings that can come along with starting your sex life, how to say no to stuff like drugs, drinking and sex when you’re not ready, how to try to avoid sexual assault and other dangers, what your options are if you become pregnant, and what’s a normal “mood” and what could be a more serious mental health problem, and how to get help. In many families and schools, girls are not given this information and such issues are not talked about. Also, there’s some really important and amazing info about hair products, make-up and pimple treatments that you won’t find in the magazines because the advertisers wouldn’t like it.

Where do you get the ideas for the illustrations which can be found throughout “Girl Stuff” and other books in your collection?
I do the writing first, then re-read through to see if any ideas can be turned into a cartoon, or a thought is better expressed as a drawing or a “speech bubble” - a cartoon character “saying something” rather than in a written sentence as part of the book. Some illustrations are just cute little things to break up a “boring” page that’s otherwise all writing. I love to draw people “thinking” and chatting.

What was the most interesting aspect of the survey you conducted?
That most of the 10 to 12 year olds wanted to know about fashion, pimples, and body changes but weren’t ready to hear about sex, drugs or drinking – and that’s fine. Younger girls can skip those chapters until they feel interested. It’s always better to be “prepared”, even if you’re just getting prepared to say “no”. Reading and knowing about something doesn’t mean you have to actually do it! Also, I was amazed at how many parents thought they knew everything about their girls, and how many girls weren’t telling their parents the whole story about what they were up to.

From all the responses you got from the survey, was their one quote that stood out in your mind?
There were some sad, some amazing and some really smart. But the funniest one that has stayed with me is one answer to the question “Is there anything you’d like to know about sex?” and the answer was: “Yes, do you think my Nanna has ever done it?” Amazing as it may seem, and sorry to break it to you, but yep, she certainly did - that’s one of the reason’s you’re here!

What do you hope your book accomplishes the most?
I hope that girls who read it feel that the book helps them, and is on their side. I want girls to understand that being “different” is okay, that confidence is achievable, that they can get honest answers about important feelings and questions.

How does Girl Stuff compare to your other books?
It’s probably the one that has the most work in it, in terms of my work, and the work of others such as the editor and designer of the book. It is also very much a book done out of “love” and wanting to do it right for all the girls out there, who like me when I was a teenager, might feel confused or not pretty enough, or wondering what to do about a specific problem. I wanted to make sure all the facts were checked and everything was right. In that way it’s much more like my book on pregnancy than a fun little joke book. It’s written in a friendly, light-hearted way, but it is full of serious and useful info.

What did you enjoy most about writing it?
To be honest, when all the very hard (two years of) work was done, all the research and checking and writing and drawing was finished and then boxes and boxes of beautiful books were delivered (there are thousands of copies!) I just got one out and hugged it and did a little dance. (Luckily nobody saw.) Okay, I’d hug it and do a little dance anyway!