A brief summary of yourself and your latest book, My Rhyming Adventure: Dinosaurs

Hi everyone, so I’m from St Neots in Cambridgeshire but currently reside in the beautiful area of County Durham. I live with a 1 year old Springer puppy called Chewbacca who takes up a lot of my spare time and I’m a data analyst by day. ‘My Rhyming Adventure: Dinosaurs’ is a book which aims to creatively teach the audience a few dinosaur facts whilst using a fun rhyming comedic style.

How many books have you released so far and could you please tell us about them?

So this is my 2^nd book. The first was called ‘Chewie the pup’ which is inspired by my loveable monster. This story aims to teach empathy, patience and the importance of family to the reader. Its also in a rhyming style and is illustrated wonderfully by Toria Ashplant. It’s follows Chewie on his journey to finding his forever home.

What inspired you to become an author?

When I was in year 6, there was a poetry competition to get your poem published in a book. I remember really enjoying writing it and when I found out my poem had been published, It’s the first time I remember ever being truly proud of myself. Life can however lead you down different paths and back then it wasn’t deemed “cool” to be a writer and sadly I didn’t follow that feeling. In my late 20’s I suffered from anxiety and depression and once I was able to manage those conditions, I decided to change parts of my life. I couldn’t help remembering that boy in year 6 who loved writing the poem and was so proud of his achievement. I wanted to find that feeling again and I decided to chase my dream.

What inspired the plots and characters in your books?

My Rhyming Adventure: Dinosaurs was inspired by my nephew Mylo. I wanted to write a book that could be read to him, and he loves dinosaurs, so it was the natural subject. I have to Google a lot of what he tells me about them as he knows so much more than me, but he loves the book also, so I’m delighted.

Chewie the pup was inspired by Chewbacca of course. Lockdown was hard for a lot of us, but Chewie was a new friend and adventure that I really needed one. I adore him and I’m lucky to have found him.

Is there a stand out character in one of your books who is your favourite? Tell us about them.

I’ve already used Chewie so I’ll go a different route. In My Rhyming Adventure: Dinosaurs, It’s written in a way that the reader becomes the explorer and I love the thought of them living the story and feeling a part of it. I want my reader to be able to immerse themselves in the story and so to me, the reader is the real star of the show.

Is there a message you wish to deliver with your books?

I like my books to be memorable and rhythmic and I hope that the messages and lessons I put across stay with the reader. I also hope to inspire future writers and hope that the wonderful Beth Bluck and Toria Ashplant inspire future artists also. Above all I hope to promote imagination and creativity.

What was the best advice (if any) that you received in your writing journey?

Don’t rush….. sadly, I’m very impatient.

What feedback have you had on your books that you’ve been most proud of?

I have had some lovely reviews but, recently my friend Nadia told me her son Fergus knows the Chewie the pup book off by heart and that he recites it to himself. This made me so happy and to hear stories of kids being upset for Chewie but then elated by the end. Its incredibly heart-warming. It meant a lot.

Do you have any additional titles in the works and if so, will you be staying within the children’s genre?

I have written 2 more Chewie books but cant decide if they are right. I’ve found that the hardest since starting. Now that I have set a standard, it’s tough to accept something new into that world.

I have also started a new My Rhyming Adventure and have some exciting ideas. A big factor unfortunately is how popular the books are but I hope to continue.

Is there anything further you would like to say that isn’t covered in the above?

Just a big thankyou to Austin Macauley for everything they have done to help me make part of my dream a reality.