https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09LGRVG5D/
Monkey’s Favourite Jug looks like an exciting story. Can you tell us a little about Monkey?
Monkey has the best interests of everyone around him at heart. He is as true and loyal a friend as you could ask for and is always there when you need him. He has a jug which seems to be filled with a magical healing liquid which he shares to soothe the troubles of others.
Monkey is highly empathic and kind but needs to learn to slow down once in a while.
Any plans to turn it into a series?
I have actually finished writing a second book already and am currently working on the illustrations. I am not sure when it will be released just yet, but it has received great feedback from a few select individuals who I have shared the story with. Otherwise we will have to wait and see.
How were the illustrations done in Monkey’s Favourite Jug?
The illustration were all hand drawn. I sketched them out initially on paper and inked them using Copic markers and fineliners. Once I found a style I was happy with, I scanned the pictures and finetuned them using art software.
What inspired you when writing Monkey’s Favourite Jug?
As children we learn to share, to be kind to others and to embrace our imagination and creativity. I have been extremely fortunate in my life in knowing a great many wonderful people. People who care for and look after other people, but they can often do so at the expense of their own needs or wellbeing.
Parents, friends, family members and even kind hearted strangers. I was inspired to write ‘Monkey’s Favourite Jug’ to highlight the importance of self-care to these people as well as to lay the foundation of this principal in the minds of children from an early age.
What will readers get out of your book?
‘Monkey’s Favourite Jug’ focuses on the importance of caring for others, but also looking after yourself in the process. Adults receive a reminder to make time for themselves now and again while children are introduced to the idea that everybody needs time to recharge once in a while.
One of my absolute favourite pieces of feedback actually came from a couple whose child loved the story, but didn’t fully understand the message. They were able to sit down and explain the importance of self-care to their son. That to me is the essence of the book.
What age group is the book for?
The book is written with any age in mind. The colourful pictures and rhyming narrative make it an ideal story that can be read to younger children; Though many adults I know have also found enjoyment and reassurance from the story and its lessons.
Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when writing Monkey’s Favourite Jug?
I think the biggest challenge with any creative project is knowing that it’s not about sitting down and instantly creating something that resonates with you. It’s about learning. Discovering what speaks to you and, in the case of writing, rewriting until you find the message you were trying to give. Language itself can be a restrictive form of communication at times in that words can mean a variety of things depending on the tone or inflection we read them with. When writing the book I tried my best to ensure it was a clear message, without sacrificing the narrative that makes the story so engaging.
What do you like to do when not writing?
Writing, illustrating and painting are three things I love doing in my free time. I work a full time job through the week, so this is really a labour of love.