I’m so excited to introduce to you all Inger Brown, author of The Bobbling Series. The Book Smuggler’s Den doesn’t get to speak to many children’s authors, so it was a pleasure to learn more about writing a series of picture books for kiddos to enjoy. Inger sent me a copy of The Bobbling and The Dragon and we felt it was the cutest story. I showed my son the pictures and he gave me a big smile. Looks like we found our new favorite bedtime book!
What inspired you to write a book?
I have released two books this year “The Bobbling and the Dragon” and “The Bobbling’s Christmas Nutcracker”. The first book I have always wanted to do a book with dragon’s so I finally managed to fit one in with my Bobbling series. The second book “The Bobbling’s Christmas Nutcracker” is quite special as it is my first chapter book and it was inspired obviously by the ballet. I am a big Nureyev fan and I saw his Nutcracker on DVD, it was awe-inspiring and then this story came from seeing that. My book is nothing like the ballet though apart from a whippet being in a tutu haha…
Was there a book or author that you admired that played a role when developing your book?
I take inspiration from a lot of places, soaking it up from all over whether it is music, film and articles, books or even a conversation that you have with someone can trigger inspiration. I do obviously look at other children’s books Dr Seuss is amazing, he is on another level. I love the fact that he writes with rhythm, it is something that is very hard to do but he nails it every time.
They say that in order to write something, you must believe in what you are writing. Do you agree with that?
It is true in everything you do in life. If you don’t believe in yourself who will lol. I think you have to believe that your project has a place in the world, if you don’t believe in it then you cannot put your best into your project. So yes I truly believe The Bobbling has a place in the world even if just to make people laugh for a moment.
Do you have a set schedule for writing, or are you one of those who write only when they feel inspired?
I write when I feel inspired or when a story is formed in my head. As an illustrator I have set days/ evenings that I draw. Like everyone in the world, I get very tired as I work full time. If I am too tired I do not create very good work and this makes me very frustrated and angry so I limited myself to when I am well-rested.
Tell us about your writing style, how is it different from other writers?
Writing for very young children can be difficult, you do need to keep things fairly simple in that you cannot expect the audience to know or assume they understand something. You need to be direct in your story, with adults I think you can leave storylines open for them to decide and you can assume they understand things.
What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing?
What would you say is the easiest aspect of writing? I hate admitting to the fact I am dyslexic but at the same time, I should be open so kids realize the door to being an author is not shut to them. But sometimes I find grammar and absolute mind field, especially as one person says one thing another person will think another on the matter.
Have you ever experienced “Writer’s Block”? How long do they usually last? Any tips you would like to share to overcome it?
Yes Everyone does! don’t believe them if they say otherwise haha… The best thing to do I find is to not dwell on it and do something else. Go for a walk, watch some TV soak up other things in life and don’t just do it for an hour and expect it to go away, writers block lingers. Leave it for about a week and then when your mind is elsewhere and you have cleared it something will come along when you come back afresh.
Are you working on something new at the moment?
Yes, I have already started the next Bobbling series book. He is my guy, I love doing stories for him, we can go anywhere and do anything the possibilities are endless. I have moved into doing these highly illustrated chapter books so I have a bit more scope for being able to do a longer more interesting story which I am enjoying at the moment.
Thanks for giving us insight into what it means to be a children’s author Inger! You can follow Inger online to stay up-to-date about the Bobbling Series and be sure to visit Austin Macauley Publishers for further information and to purchase your copies.
Instagram @the_bobbling
Facebook @thebobbling1
Twitter @thebobbling
TickTok @thebobbling
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