Weaving Stories with Humour, Heart and a Hint of Spider Silk – An Interview with Anna McGregor

With a background in graphic design and a passion for pushing the boundaries of storytelling, Anna McGregor is known for her playful, thought-provoking picture books—and her latest creation, Spiro, is no exception.

Inspired by a backyard observation and grounded in the power of persistence, Spiro tells the story of a determined little spider and his quest for a decent meal. Through humour, vibrant design, and clever storytelling, Anna weaves a tale that celebrates resilience, creativity and the quirks of the natural world.

In this exclusive blog, Anna shares insights into her creative process, how she balances visual rhythm with narrative humour, and why she believes resources like Story Tools are so important for empowering young storytellers.

Spiro is bursting with humour and heart, but it is also a brilliant showcase of persistence. What inspired you to turn a simple backyard observation into a story of resilience, creativity, and comical trial and error?

I’ve been a working creative my whole adult life, first as a graphic designer and now as an author and illustrator. If there’s one thing I know, it’s how to persevere through failure. My work is often experimental, I aim to push the boundaries of what a picture book can be, but with all experiments, there comes a lot of trial, error, learning and luck. The book’s epilogue reads: “Persistence weaves the web that catches the lucky break,” and that’s certainly been my experience in life.

Spiro’s formula for success is hilariously specific – from “11% hunger” to “2% spider silk”! How did you develop his quirky voice and what role does humour play in your storytelling process?

I put myself in the shoes of a spider (all eight of them) without human judgment. From Spiro’s perspective, flies and stink bugs are yummy, scrumptious meals, so that dictated the voice. Humour is very important in my work. It’s a vital part of the tapestry of the human experience, and I’ve noticed that if you put humour before or after a heart-warming or heart-breaking moment, it heightens those emotions. I’m glad you like that particular line from the blurb. It was written the same day that the book was sent to print. My publisher wanted to riff on the Thomas Edison quote, “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration” So we wrote a silly spider version.

You are not only the author and illustrator of Spiro, but also have a background in graphic design. How did this experience influence your creative decisions, particularly in terms of visual pacing and page design in this book?

I chose to bounce between full scenes and close-ups of Spiro. Spiro being neon pink helps him to stand out when he’s small in a large scene. I’m also very purposeful and minimal with my illustration compositions; every element on the page is there for a reason. My favourite design element is the holographic web on the cover.

Spiro’s neon-pink colour, expressive design, and the use of onomatopoeia throughout the book make it such a fun read aloud. How do you approach the balance between visual appeal and narrative rhythm when crafting a picture book for young readers?

I approach all aspects of a book with a designer’s brain. When I’m writing, I’m thinking of the words in terms of pattern, repetition, impact and contrast, just as I do with the illustration.

In your Story Tools Series 3 episodes ‘From Sketch to Finished Illustration’ and ‘Book Design’, you guide viewers through the often-unseen aspects of picture book creation. What do you hope young viewers – and aspiring creators – take away from seeing how ideas are transformed into final books?

I hope viewers will see how much time, love and care go into the process of creating a book and be inspired to give it a go themselves.

Story Tools helps young writers in Years 3–6 master the mechanics of storytelling by learning directly from Australia’s leading children’s book creators. What did you enjoy most about being part of Story Tools Series 3, and what do you think sets this series apart as a resource for young storytellers?

It’s such a valuable resource for students and teachers, and a great way for all students to access their favourite Australian authors and illustrators. I wish it were around when I was in school.