Mistakes in the Background

Feast your eyes on a treasury of words and illustrations from one of the most exciting young talents around, recently voted by The Times as one of the top ten literary talents of 2008.

Enter the weird and wonderful world of Laura Dockrill …

I draw like a left-handed baby, I can hardly spell my own name and watching me use a glue-stick is a bit like watching a large bear trying to ram his own head into a pocket-sized cat-flap …no, really.

But once the book is finished, when I can see the pages coming together, getting thicker and thicker, detailed and covered with stories and my imagination recorded on pages …everything at last makes sense (to me at least).

I did this because I have got things to say. I've got pictures I want you to see and characters I want you to meet – the crying ice-skating boy, the Rolf Harris obsessive, the rude girl in McDonalds with the chocolate milkshake and the try-hard Mighty Boosh watching mum.

I don't keep a diary. I think they’re crap.

But this is much more than a diary. This is my map.

Reviews
’Laura Dockrill is a singular talent in the rave new world world of poetry. Comparison to others would do her no justice. Bright, funny, intelligent and passionate, this is a book you should already be taking away from the shop…’ Phill Jupitus‘Mistakes in the Background is an absolute treat …it’s about pure, old-school imagination and art. The poetry shines with playful juvenilia, discussing everything from childhood memories and sibling feuds to croissants, robots and opinionated inanimate objects. It often runs like stream-of-consciousness prose, and is both articulate and wildly creative. The passion that has created this work is evident in every sentence and illustration.’ Wears the Trousers Magazine
About the author

Laura Dockrill is a poet and illustrator from South London. A graduate of The Brit School of Performing Arts, twenty-three year old Laura was recently named one of the top ten literary stars of 2008 according to The Times. Her sassy and unique way with words has captivated audiences at gigs and festivals everywhere. Laura has created artwork for Kate Nash and everything from chocolate wrappers to condom tins.