What inspired your books?
I can be inspired by almost anything – an overheard conversation, a news report, a book I might be reading. Rather than seeking out inspiration, I try to be open to it. That way inspiration finds me, which is much less tiring.
In terms of my previously published books, I don’t really remember what inspired those ideas, as they are often amalgamations of different ideas pieced together over time to create one story. With my first book however (The Wondrous Dinosaurium) I do remember that the removal of Dippy the Diplodocus from The Natural History Museum in London inspired several story ideas, including that one.
What are you working on right now?
Funnily enough, I have recently finished the first in what I hope to be a series of chapter books, which was also inspired by Dippy the dinosaur. This book is for older readers (around 5-8 years of age) but it contains lots of the ingredients that I had previously used for my picture books – humour, twists and turns and unexpected (hopefully) endings. The ideas for this series came together around a decade ago, but it is only in the past year or so I felt ready to write anything longer than a picture book (which tend to be 500 words or less). The chapter books are each 10,000+ words. So far, I have written three in the series.
As well as that, I am also (and always am) working on various picture book stories at the same time. I hop from one to the other, so as not to get bogged down or stuck. At the moment I have two Christmas stories and two narrative non-fiction stories on my desktop. Two other picture book stories (hopefully the first in another series) are with editors now. If they get sold I will begin editing those too.
Have you always been creative?
Yes, I think so. Until relatively recently I was a full-time graphic designer, which I have been since graduating from university 25 years ago. Before that I was always drawing for fun, ever since I was little. For a little while I dabbled in filmmaking and that’s really where I got into writing, as I wrote my own scripts and some for other directors. Soon after I tried writing books for children and I’ve never looked back.
John and his books will be at the Pop-Up Bookshop on the 8th April at The Royal Albion Hotel Broadstairs.