A massive welcome to Lynne Rickards who joins us for today’s Bookworm Blethers. We are huge funs of Lynne’s picture books. Sit back, have a read and enjoy!

Tell us about your journey to becoming an author?

I was born in Canada and loved drawing and writing stories from a young age. My first picture book was a 12-page laminated creation called Princesses and Pirates which I hand-lettered and illustrated with watercolours when I was about twelve. For most of my childhood I was convinced I would be an artist when I grew up.

In school I loved languages, and studied French and Latin. When I finished high school, I decided to combine my two interests, and started a joint BA at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto (illustration) and the University of Guelph (French Literature and Translation). Things rarely work out as you plan, and in time I realised illustration was not for me. I transferred to the University of Toronto and finished my degree in French Literature, then moved to Montreal, Quebec, where I worked as a bilingual proofreader and translator for three years. I immersed myself in the literature of Michel Tremblay and the newly emerging theatre of Robert Lepage. It was a complex time of francophone identity politics and increasing calls for Quebec independence.

In the end, I decided to return to university in Toronto to do a Masters in Museum Studies, and that is what brought me to Scotland in the summer of 1991. I can hardly believe it’s been nearly 30 years! Coming to Glasgow changed my life, as I met the man of my dreams and settled in the UK permanently in 1992. We had two children, and they are the reason I became a children’s writer. Thanks to the encouragement of my agent and good friend Lindsey Fraser, I was able to break into the challenging picture book market in 2005, and I haven’t looked back!

Where do get the inspiration for your stories?

My early work was naturally inspired by my two growing children. Pip Likes Snow was written purely because my 5-year-old son Cameron loved penguins. Jack’s Bed revolves around the struggles we had keeping a toddler in bed, and I Win! is about the endless bickering and rivalry between two siblings. My breakthrough hit was Pink! which features a penguin (of course) who wakes up pink. This was a concept my 8-year-old daughter Anna came up with, but she hadn’t hammered out the details. “What a great title for a book!” I enthused, and set about writing it.

Picture books must start with a problem to be solved, so the pink penguin had to be a boy whose friends would tease him about being such a ‘girly’ colour. The story evolved organically, as Patrick tried fitting in with flamingos, only to discover that he really belonged at the South Pole, whatever his colour. His friends had missed him so much that his pinkness was forgotten, and he decided it was ok to be different after all. Pink! was first published by Chicken House, and I didn’t have any strong feelings about how the penguins should look. Normally an author has little input into the choice of illustrator, but I was delighted with Margaret Chamberlain’s beautiful illustrations.

How does a picture book all come together?

A picture book is very much a collaborative effort, where an author, editor, illustrator and designer each bring unique skills to the project. In many cases the author and illustrator never meet. An author can give ‘stage directions’ in the text to convey what they imagine on the page. (I sometimes do a rough illustration to show what I mean.) Illustrators can also add visual details that the author might not have though of. The designer is the one who decides where the text goes, how each page is laid out and what the cover (front and back) and endpapers should look like. An illustrator is chosen by the design and editorial teams with a specific style in mind. Often it is crucial to match a story with the right illustrator, and a project can fall at the last hurdle if no one can agree on who that illustrator should be.

What books did you love as child? Who has influenced you?

When I was young, my favourite picture book was called Gabrielle and Selena by Peter Desbarats. The story of two best friends who decide to exchange places for a day is silly and charming, and the illustrations by Nancy Grossman are beautiful black-and-white line-and-wash drawings. I still have my battered copy of the book, published in 1968, and have devoted a blog post to it here:

https://lynnerickardsauthor.wordpress.com/2011/09/03/my-favourite-book/

Another book I have kept from the age of nine is called Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer. This is a very clever and suspenseful story about a girl who goes to boarding school in the 1950s and wakes up the next morning in the same bed forty years earlier, in 1918 during the First World War. Instead of Charlotte, all the girls are calling her Clare and expecting her to know who they are. She and Clare alternate in each other’s lives, going to the same school forty years apart and communicating with each other in a notebook stuffed into the hollow bedpost. It’s the most brilliantly conceived and executed story, and I was delighted to discover I could follow the author Penelope Farmer on Twitter!

Much of my writing has been in rhyme, no doubt inspired by all the Dr Seuss books and A.A. Milne poems I loved as a child. When my own children were small I discovered Shel Silverstein, whose poems and ink drawings are cheeky and subversive. We also loved Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline books and Aileen Paterson’s Maisie the cat adventures. Satoshi Kitamura was another favourite illustrator with his intensely coloured inks and wonky perspective. Lauren Child was also a firm favourite in our family, particularly That Pesky Rat.

My children are now 21 and 24, so I am not quite so up-to-date with the latest authors and illustrators as I used to be. The pandemic has cut me off from school visits and book festivals, where I used to rub shoulders with primary teachers, children’s librarians and fellow authors. I am Patron of Reading for Comely Park Primary School in Falkirk, and have loved taking part in school book launches, writing workshops and poetry projects. Comely Park also crowns a new School Makar (poet laureate) every year, something I used to announce at the final assembly. I hope it won’t be long before all those activities can resume, as it’s so important for children to develop a love of reading and writing for pleasure. Reading sets you up for life, building inner resources in times of trouble (and boredom), sparking imagination and developing empathy for others. In these long days of lockdown, there is no better adventure than a good book!

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and fascinating response, Lynne! Find out more about Lynne and her beautiful books by following the links below.

https://www.lynnerickardsauthor.com/

https://www.lynnerickardsauthor.com/about-me

https://fraserross.co.uk/portfolio-posts/lynne-rickards/

https://lynnerickardsauthor.wordpress.com/

https://lynnerickardsauthor.wordpress.com/patron-of-reading/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LynneRickards

I am delighted to welcome author of the Brian Brackbrick series, Garry Dix, to Bookworm Blethers. Enjoy!

• I love the look of your Brian Brackbrick books. Tell us a little bit about them.

Thank you! This is a series of 6 chapter books, starring Brian Brackbrick and his best friend George Bum. Brian Brackbrick is 10 years old, never leaves the house without wearing a hat and is the 138^th cleverest person in the whole world! Brian’s best friend is George Bum, the kindest, most helpful and loyal friend anyone could ever want. Together, Brian and George investigate any mysteries or strange goings-on in their town. Each book is a standalone story, but together they form an overarching storyline revealing the true identity of the mysterious “Mr Sparker”! Books 1 to 4 have been published so far, with books 5 and 6 due for release later this year.

• What was your journey to becoming a children’s author?  Have you always enjoyed writing?

I always enjoyed reading as a child, and I quickly learned the value and power of escaping into another world through the pages of a book. As I grew up, I tried writing now and then, but nothing seemed to spark. Eventually I rediscovered children’s books, and discovered new ones, through reading to my own family. I wanted to try to create my own stories, but I needed a spark of inspiration, and that came with a name – Brian Brackbrick! This was a name blurted out in the middle of a conservation about names with one of my grandsons, and that was the spark I needed. From there, Brian Brackbrick sprang into life and hasn’t left me alone since! Brian’s world and the supporting cast of characters and villains quickly followed, with the bones of the whole 6-book story being sketched out relatively rapidly. I spent time looking into the industry and made the decision to independently publish.

• What is the best part about being a writer?  What are the most challenging aspects?

The absolute best part is being part of a child’s reading life, even if it’s only in a small way. I have been told that my books have helped reluctant readers get into reading, and encouraged young early readers to start. The rewarding feeling you get from that, it’s indescribable really, which is not great for a writer! Also, these books were developed using my grandsons as a test audience, so that’s now part of the enduring memories for myself, and for them, and that’s really special. Lastly, it’s fun!

The challenging aspects are time, financing, and marketing. Being independently published, you need to replicate everything you would get from being traditionally published, and a lot of the time that means doing it yourself. For example, my books are illustrated. I have a great working relationship with Taylor, my illustrator, but I needed to research and select the right person for the stories, and I pay her myself for the work. There is also formatting, editing, checking and proof-reading – local critique groups can be a very valuable resource in this regard, but the ultimate responsibility lies with me. I also have a full-time day job, so I am extremely limited in the time I can devote to writing, and also to the non-writing aspects such as author visits, fairs and events, and other promotional and marketing activities.

• What books or authors did you love as a child?

My first literary inspiration was Roald Dahl, I absolutely loved his books and most still hold up today. The first book I remember reading by myself was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I soon became interested in comics, which formed a big part of my reading journey – I find it so annoying when people say that comics “don’t count” as proper reading. I learnt a great deal from these comics, where I encountered the work of another inspiration, Simon Furman. To me, Furman is the master of telling a snappy, concise story, and writing cliff-hangers that really stayed with me for years. As I look over my Brian Brackbrick books, I realise just how much of influence these comics were on my writing. The other writers I always cite as influences are Terry Pratchett and Stephen King, who I became interested in as I got older.

• Are there any children’s contemporary books / authors that you would recommend?

I have been welcomed into the author community, and I’m very lucky that I now consider some to be friends. To give some examples that I can recommend, I could mention Philip Ardagh and Andy Stanton, and Christopher Edge who has written some very enjoyable books with a science theme, which I love. I must also mention Tom McLaughlin, who I met very early on in my author journey and gave me some great advice. His “Accidental…” series is great fun. Lastly, the best children’s book I have read in the last couple of years is Wildspark by my friend Vashti Hardy, it’s an outstanding book and I would highly recommend this.

• As a writer, how important is it that children and young people develop a love of reading for pleasure?

It’s not just important, it’s vital. Reading is the gateway to other worlds, but it’s also the prism through which kids learn about their world and their relationships to it, about other cultures and histories, about the rich tapestry of language. Kids shouldn’t see reading as a chore, it’s a joyous thing, and the way to encourage that is to encourage free reading as much as possible – just let them read!

Thank you so much for joining us, Garry! I loved reading your responses. You can find out more about the Brian Brackbrick series here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/G-R-Dix/e/B077XXX4GB/

Twitter: @BrianBrackbrick

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GRDix/

I am over the moon to kick off Unicorns and Kelpies’ ‘Bookworm Blethers… ‘ series with author, Helen Peters.

• Tell us a little bit about yourself and your books.

I grew up on a farm, which has been hugely influential when writing my books. Almost all of them feature a farm in some way or another, and even the ones that don’t are set in the countryside. My first book, The Secret Hen House Theatre, was inspired by the theatre my friends and I set up in a dilapidated shed on our farm when we were eleven. Its sequel, The Farm Beneath the Water, is about the children’s secret battle to save the farm from being flooded to create a reservoir, using their school play as a chance for some underhand activism. After that I wrote Evie’s Ghost, a timeslip story about a girl who goes to stay in an old country house and is transported back to 1814, where she has to save the daughter of the house from a forced marriage while working as a housemaid, much to her disgust. My most recent book for older children is Anna at War, about a girl who travels to England on the Kindertransport, and then finds herself caught up in a dangerous plot.

In between writing these books, I also write the Jasmine Green series of animal rescue stories for younger readers from about 6 upwards. Bizarrely, my editor and I had the idea for this series separately but at exactly the same time. I loved creating Jasmine and her family and friends, who are very much inspired by my children and their cousins and friends.

• What is the best part about being a writer?  What are the most challenging aspects?

It’s amazing to have a job where you get paid to stay at home and make up stories, and I never take that for granted. The flip side of that is also the most challenging aspect of being a writer for me. It’s fine when a story is flowing or the research is absorbing, but it takes a lot of self-discipline to keep pushing on when the writing is really difficult. It can be lonely and disheartening when I get stuck or realise a plot just isn’t working. But (so far, touch wood!) I’ve always managed to get back on track eventually, often with the help of my brilliant editors, and it’s a wonderful feeling to have finished a book and be proud of the end result. That’s another one of the best parts – actually having a finished product to show for your work. And the finished product always looks lovely, thanks to the editors, designers and illustrators who work on it once I’ve finished my part.

Another wonderful aspect of being a writer is receiving letters and emails from readers who have enjoyed the books. It’s fantastic to hear from children who have been inspired by my books to set up their own theatres or write their own stories. I also love meeting readers at school visits and festivals. I’ve really missed travelling around the country for events in the past year.

• What books or authors did you love as a child?

I adored Enid Blyton for years, and read dozens of her books. I loved school stories, adventures and mysteries, and also stories about families. I loved everything by Noel Streatfeild, the Jennings books by Anthony Buckeridge, the Just William stories by Richmal Crompton, and classics like The Railway Children, Little Women, What Katy Did and Anne of Green Gables. I was quite obsessed by Anne, and read every one of the many sequels.

• Are there any children’s contemporary books / authors that you would recommend?

There are so many wonderful children’s books now, and I loved discovering new books and authors with my own children. We loved the Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens and the Sinclair’s Mysteries by Katherine Woodfine. We loved Frank Cottrell Boyce’s books, especially Framed, which is just genius. Cath Howe and S.E. Durrant both write wonderful contemporary books about families and friendships. Cath’s most recent is Not My Fault and Sue’s is Talking to the Moon, which are both excellent. The Secret Starling by Judith Eagle is a fabulous mystery adventure story, and The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum is a brilliant dystopian story for children. Fleur Hitchcock writes unputdownable children’s thrillers – Murder at Twilight is my favourite so far, and I’m really looking forward to her new one, Waiting for Murder.

• Did you always love to write? What was your favourite subject at school?

I did always love to write, and my favourite subjects were English and History, so I guess it’s no surprise that I write historical novels. When I was at school I mostly wrote plays, often in partnership with my best friend. We started by writing ‘radio plays’ which we recorded on a cassette recorder. Our plays always had a grand historical setting, so radio plays were great, because we could use coconut shells for horses’ hooves and the characters could exclaim at the splendour of the surroundings. When we turned the shed on the farm into a theatre, we had to actually build the scenery and make the costumes, which was great fun. I used extracts from one of those plays in The Secret Hen House Theatre.

• As a writer, how important do you think it is that children and young people develop a love of reading for pleasure?

I think reading for pleasure is utterly life-enhancing, as so many of us have found during lockdown. Sometimes it can be life-changing, and even life-saving. I believe developing a love of reading for pleasure is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child, and one that will last a lifetime. Reading is something you can do anywhere; it can make you happy; it can help you forget; it can inspire you, teach you, make you laugh, cry and empathise; it can transport you to a sunny place on a rainy afternoon or help you unwind after a tough day. A good book is fantastic company. The act of imagination and empathy that is the relationship between the book and the reader feels to me like a magical act.

Thank you so much to Helen for joining us. You can find out more about Helen’s books on her website, helenpetersbooks.com, and you can follow her on Twitter at @farmgirlwriter.

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For wee yins

How can you possibly resist a book as beautiful as this with the most gorgeous wee owl gracing its cover? Snooze is a ‘helpful guide for sleepy owls‘ and it is, without a doubt, one of the most beautifully illustrated picture books I have ever had the pleasure of reading, perfect for the smallest ones in your life.

Little Door Books, have a reputation of publishing stunning, thought-provoking, fun picture books with oodles of character and I was already familiar with Eilidh’s work from her colouring books and exquisite illustrations for Lari Don’s Fierce, Fearless and Free so I knew Snooze was going to be good.

It is, essentially, a guide for getting a good night’s sleep. We follow owl who is desperately tired and in need of some shut eye but obstacles keep getting in his way. Will he ever get the sleep he needs?

Snooze is a beautiful wee lesson about the importance of sleep. The pictures are irresistable and the text conveys a message about taking care of ourselves that, although aimed at early years children, is one that many adults could do with taking on board.

This is an absolutely fantastic, gorgeously illustrated picture that is stunning in its simplicity.

The Beast on the Broch is a story steeped in Scottish history and laced with magic, myth and legend. It is a captivating tale that combines the vivid imagery of North-east Scotland in the year 799AD with the different communities who live there and the local tale of the Pictish Beast.

The story centres around Talorca, a 12 year old Pictish girl. At the start of the story she is living contentedly with her mother within her small community, collecting fish from the nets and exploring the broch.

Then one day her life is thrown into disarray when she and her friend, Aidan, spot some Dalriadan boys stealing the fish from her nets. Soon after, the Dalriadans arrive in her village intent on staying.

Meanwhile she enounters and an animal that seems to resemble the mythical Pictish Beast, who has been hurt by one of the Dalriadans arrows. She nurses the beast back to health and befriends the creature.

Back within her community, the response towards the Dalriadan intruders varies. Talorca decides that she is going to find a way to drive them out and she is going to enlist the help of the beast to do it.

I loved the vivid rugged setting of the Beast of the Broch, bringing the area of North-east Scotland to life and creating a vivid and engaging picture of the small community.

At the heart of The Beast on the Broch is a message about understanding, cooperation and unity when differences between the Gaelic-speaking Dalriadans and the small Pictish community threaten to dominate.

The Beast on the Broch is a fantastic, magical, historical story that brings to life a rarely touched upon time period. If, like me, you are a fan of history and folklore, then this is an absolute must read.

Ever since I read Sky Song, I have been a huge fan of Abi Elphinstone. She is a master of imagination, creating worlds that are so vivid and alive you start to believe that they are real.

The Unmapped Chronicles series began with a tempting glimpse into this alternate universe with the short book, Everdark, that was originally published for World Book Day 2019. It was a tantalising snapshot of what was to come. Later that year the adventure continued as we followed Casper Tock’s journey into the Unmapped Kingdom of Rumblestar, one of my favourite books of the year.

The latest installment takes us on another journey into the Unmapped Kingdoms to Jungledrop – a land of rainforests with magic coursing through its roots and branches. This time twins, Fox and Fibber, find themselves as the unlikely heroes. Their whole lives their parents have taught them that money and success are what are important and the way to get these things is by trampling over everyone else. As they embark on their quest to save their own world (known as The Faraway) as well as Jungledrop they find they also have a lot to discover about themselves.

Fox and Fibber must track down the long-lost Forever Fern if they are to succeed. However, Morg the evil harpy also wants it and if she gets her hands on it, all hope is lost for Jungledrop. The journey takes the siblings on a magical, fantastical adventure where they start to learn about the real secret of success.

In Jungledrop, Abi Elphinstone has again succeeded in creating a world so vivid, detailed and imaginative that you feel that you are part of the story. The characters are brilliantly brought to life with the most original names you are likely to come across!

As well as being a wonderfully exciting and fun adventure, there are some strong themes that come through as well. The importance of kindness, family and friendship is at the core of the story and the developing relationship between the siblings is beautiful to read. In Jungledrop, the plants, trees, forests and the whole environment are crucial to keeping the world functioning. As Morg begins to destroy parts of the rainforest, Jungledrop and the Faraway begin to die. It is a stark reminder about how we should treat our own world and what the consequences can be if we do not look after it.

Jungledrop is another magnificent and ingenious slice of perfection and Abi Elphinstone has, once again, confirmed that she is one of the most exciting and original storytellers around.

If you have not yet embarked on your own journey into The Unmapped Chronicles I would heartily recommend you do so now. You will not regret it!

The Crackledawn Dragon (The Unmapped Chronicles Book 3) is published June 2021

Young Adult 12+ Contains some mature themes

Rebel of the Sands was recommended to me when I was on the hunt for a novel for a 12 year old who was looking for something that was a wee bit more mature and edgier than what they were used to with a bit of romance and plenty of adventure thrown in. It turned out to be everything I was looking for and more!

The story centres around Amani, a young teen who is stuck in a small dead-end town called Dustwalk in the middle of the desert. As a young female she is expected to do what she is told and as a poor orphan living with family that have no real interest in her, that means being married off to whoever is chosen for her, even if that is her very own Uncle.

Amani, however, has been planning her escape from Dustwalk for as long as she can remember and when a strange foreigner turns up in her small town, she seizes her chance to get out

She quickly discovers that the desert is far from safe and with a rebellion brewing and the Sultan’s army on the rise, Amani needs to decide who to trust and how to outwit her enemies. With dark magic and mysterious beings adding to the danger it is a battle of survival and self-discovery as she and her new companion, Jin, embark on their journey.

One of the things that I adored about this book is the vivid, atmospheric desert backdrop, the vastness of which is conveyed beautifully. I could almost feel the swirling sand on my face. The dark magical desert forces that underpin everything provides another layer of depth and excitement.

I also loved the brilliant, engaging characters. Amani is a fantastic strong female central figure, who is fiercely independent as she fights back against a society where women are expected to know their place. But we also discover a tender and warm side to her as we watch her relationship with Jin develop through the story.

Rebel of the Sands is an epic, compelling, magical adventure that I could not have loved any more. Amani’s determination to not accept her fate has made her one of my favourite ever literary characters. She is strong, inspirational, clever and empathetic and I loved the connection between her and Jin.

Rebel of the Sands is a stunning story that will have you hooked and I cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy. It is absolute must read for teens everywhere. Simply perfection.

I absolutely adored Onjali’s last two books, The Boy at the Back of the Class and The Star Outside My Window, both of which are very poignant, thought-provoking, touching and, ultimately, uplifting stories. They are stories that are perfectly pitched at their target audience and written in a wonderfully accessible way.

I was therefore delighted to discover that The Night Bus Hero is another triumphant masterpiece that is full of empathy, kindness and understanding.

The Night Bus Hero follows the story of Hector whose reputation as a bully precedes him everywhere he goes. Playing pranks, calling others unkind names and stealing from other children are just a few of the things he gets up to on a regular basis. Even when one of his teachers recognises his undoubted talent for drawing, it is not enough to change what people think of him.

As he tries to impress his ‘friends’, he finally goes too far when he plays a prank on the elderly homeless man who lives in the park. It is the start of a journey for Hector who begins to realise the impact that one person’s behaviour can have on those around them.

The Night Bus Hero explores some really big themes and issues, just as Onjali’s previous books did. Here, she tackles the enormous issues surrounding homelessness in a really accessible and empathetic way, through Hector’s story.

This is also a story that tackles bullying head on. There is no doubt that Hector is really unkind to others when we first meet him and that the reputation that he has built for himself is a hard one from which to break free. He is not a character that you may initially warm to but it is a powerful journey to share with him.

The Night Bus Hero is a story about the importance of empathy. It shows us that we can all change our attitudes and that our behaviours in the past do not need to define where our future takes us. It is a reminder that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, regardless of where they come from and how they live.

This would be an incredible book to read with upper primary classes. It provides so many discussion points surrounding homelessness, bullying and friendship.

It is a really thought-provoking, brilliantly-written story that I would urge everyone to read. I absolutely loved it.

I feel absolutely privileged to be a part of the blogtour for this simply stunning and inspiring picture book from father/son duo Nigel and Robbie Lungenmuss-Ward. Written by Nigel and illustrated by his 9 year old son, Robbie, it is the most wonderful, utterly charming story.

It tells the story of Freddie who has aspirations of becoming a singer. When an early knockback at an audition for the school choir devastes Freddie’s confidence, he vows never to sing again. Will this be the end of his hopes and dreams?

One of the most wonderful things about this book is how Nigel wanted to write it to give his son a chance to follow his dream of becoming an illustrator. It is hard to believe that the glorious illustrations in this book have been drawn by a 9 year old and I loved how this book is about following your dreams but is, in itself, a dream being realised.

This is a story about never giving up on your passion and following your heart. It is about having the resilience to bounce back when times get tough. It is a story about hope, pride and self-belief and having the courage to follow your dreams. It is a beautiful, powerful debut from this father/son team and I really look forward to seeing what they come up with next.

Follow Nigel at @nigel_86 on Twitter

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I am absolutely delighted that author Charlotte Taylor has taken the time to answer some questions for Unicorns and Kelpies. Charlotte’s debut, Broken Twigs: Farewell to Faerie Forest, was released earlier in the year and is the first in a series about a flawed little fairy named Twigs. It is a gorgeous, exciting tale and, I for one, cannot wait for the next instalment!

Charlotte Taylor Interview

1) Where did the inspiration for Twigs come from?

So…Twigs wasn’t planned at all! She appeared in my classroom 9 years ago when I had a particularly bubbly cohort, and from there, her magic spread. From starting out as the mischievous, classroom fairy, she soon became central to our ethos and identity. When children felt exceptionally sad or alone, she started to leave little gifts of sticks on their chairs to make them feel loved and valued. Since then, over the years, she has gifted these to many children, so making their days a little bit happier, if only for a few hours. The children quite often keep the sticks as little treasures; little reminders to them, when they are away from school, that their beloved fairy is thinking of them.

As she continued to become such an entity in my pupils’ lives, they began to ask more questions about her: where was she right now; who was she with; where did she live; how did she travel to see us? Hoping to inspire their young imaginations, I began to share with the class little anecdotes of her life. And so the book series was born!

2) Do you think that it is important for children’s books to have a message or moral at its core?

I think so, yes. It is fun to read books which aim to simply make us laugh, but I feel that the books that children eventually hold dear to their hearts are the ones which resonated with them the most: the ones where they saw themselves in the main character’s personality and the struggles they faced in the story; the ones where they could identify with a situation and then learn to solve it for themselves when reading about possible resolutions in the book; and, the ones where the moral or message helps them to understand themselves more easily.

With the Twigs books, the central theme throughout is to never give up hope. No matter how ‘dark’ life can become, or how alone children may feel, there is always someone out there who can help, if the child is brave enough to accept it. Twigs shares many, many lessons throughout the books, namely learning how to become the best version of herself that she can be through exploring different values, and I know this has resonated with a lot of my young (and older!) readers already.

3) Do you think that your experiences as a teacher have helped you in your writing journey?

Oh absolutely! In teaching children how to become the best writers they could be, I developed my own knowledge and understanding of the mechanics of grammar, whilst dusting off my own love for creative writing, which I established as a young girl. Being surrounded by so many young minds, and watching their imaginations take flight, I was inspired by the way children saw the world…something that we adults sometimes so easily forget with the stresses of modern life! Teaching gave me the confidence to write Twigs’ story down and to see value in my work. The children have supported me too, and they have been as excited about this journey as me!

4) I have loved following your journey to publication with Broken Twigs. Could you tell us a bit about how you got there?

Aww, thank you! It certainly has been a very surreal journey, and one which I have thoroughly enjoyed! I have connected with so many like-minded and supportive people (such as you, Kirsty!), who have helped to keep me harnessed to the path ahead during moments of self-doubt. I started writing Broken Twigs: Farewell to Faerie Forest in the Easter holidays of 2019. I signed with my publisher back in February of this year, and the last 9 months have been a fascinating experience as I worked alongside editors, proofreaders, layout designers and, of course, my amazing illustrator, Kezzia Crossley. The most memorable moment for me was seeing my characters come to life through her incredible artwork, and I am not sure I will ever find the words to describe that feeling!

Twigs has been so much a part of me for the last 9 years that it is phenomenal to be able to share her with the world and to see so many new children connect with her too. I am incredibly proud of her, and me, for keeping the faith!

5) What were your favourite books as a child?

Oh I had so many! Beatrix Potter’s books were my most loved when I was younger, and then Ursula Moray Williams’ Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat, Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising Series, Pat O’Shea’s The Hounds of the Morrigan and The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis when I was a bit older. Of course, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were also firm favourites as I entered my teenage years. I think it is safe to say that my love of fantasy fiction was truly ignited by Susan Cooper’s books (which my dad bought for me to read as we made our annual boat trip to Southern Ireland when I was 8) and then nurtured by so many other amazing authors in this genre. 

6) Who are your current favourite children’s authors and have you read any brilliant children’s books recently that you think everyone should read?

Again, there are soooooooo many! My girls and I have very recently enjoyed Wishtree by Katherine Applegate, Sky Song by Abi Elphinstone and Guardians of the Wild Unicorns by Lindsay Littleson, to name but a few. We are currently reading The Land of Green Ginger by Noel Langley. Next on our ‘to be read’ pile are the Sophie Anderson books, The Vanishing Trick by Jenni Spangler, Stephanie Burgis’ series about chocolate and dragons, and A. M. Howell’s The House of One Hundred Clocks. Struan Murray’s Orphans of the Tide is also on my list to share with my eldest daughter very soon! I am looking at my bookshelves as I type, and there are so many more I could mention!

For the younger reader, The Robot and the Bluebird is a gorgeous picture book by David Lucas. Oh, and I have to mention the Journey trilogy by Aaron Becker: these are picture books with no words, but, instead, the incredible stories are told through simply beautiful illustrations.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring authors, young and old?

To keep believing. I could have given up so many times when I was almost crippled with anxiety during my debut author journey. I have never been one to exude confidence in myself, so Imposter Syndrome quite often knocked on my door! But I kept going, and through the much appreciated support of my family, friends and new connections, I faced my fears and took the quantum leap of faith to share Twigs with the world.

I imagined my feisty little fairy sitting on my hand and chewing the inside of her cheek the night before publication. Erin Hanson’s poem came to mind, and I almost heard Twigs say to me, “What if I fall?” I had to be brave for her, and for me, so I gave her the now famous reply, “Oh but my darling, what if you fly?” We will never realise our dreams if we are too scared to leap, and who knows what the future brings.

Every author, I have since learned, has these feelings of great worry when they release their new book for others to enjoy, and the same doubts and insecurities surface: what if nobody likes it; what if people are mean about it; what if I am ridiculed for it? But. What if people love it? What if people are really positive about it? What if people celebrate you bringing it into existence? So, keep believing; believing in yourself and in your story. Also get that team of supporters around you who will help you to achieve your dream. They are invaluable!

8) Finally, when should we expect the next instalment of Twigs’ adventures?

So, Book 2 (Broken Twigs: Realm of the Thunderbird) is now in the final stages of my own editing, and it should be ready for publication in the first half of next year. I have also worked on the first drafts of Books 3 (Broken Twigs: Where Unicorns Roam) and 4 (Broken Twigs: The Twins and the Tokoloshe) of the series, so there are many adventures to come. Ideally, Book 3 will be out during the latter half of 2021. For those who don’t already know, this series will have a total of 12 books as Twigs tries to find her way back home to her beloved Faerie Forest.

Thank you so much to Charlotte for her wonderful responses. I hope Twigs continues to fly!

You can follow Twigs’ journey here:

CharlotteLTaylor.com

Twitter: @BrokenTwigs2020

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bumbleHQ