Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?
I have always loved picture books, as a child I loved looking at the pictures, being taken somewhere else. I am an illustrator and I enjoy doing jovial illustrations of characters and then writing stories for them. It is what makes me giggle to myself and smile.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer and how does that affect your writing?
A part-time writer and part-time illustrator. This gives me a huge amount of creative control in my genre compared to people who are one or the other. Being part-time is bad in one way as I cannot spend as much time as I want doing what I love. However, it is good because it forces you to do other things, like work; from this, it triggers inspiration from other areas you would not get doing something full-time.
Do you have a special time to write, or how is your day structured to accommodate your writing?
I do not write or draw every day. I have set evenings that I do my artwork and writing and I can relax and have the time to do them. I do it this way because if I am too tired from work in the evening I cannot create in a constructive way and then I become frustrated.
How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?
I think I have started to learn more about structure, how to round a story. The truth is we are always learning and it is through doing something, trying it out, seeing if that works for you that you can then learn and take things forward.
What have you written so far?
I have written and illustrated about 10 books now. Mostly The Bobbling series. The Bobbling is a character I have created and he goes on adventures and tries to help people along the way. He is colorful, funny, and sweet. I have also done an illustrated poem called “The Fox.” I had wanted to do something along those lines for a long time. Also a book about a baby seagull. That was based on a seagull’s nest I could see out of my window at work and a funny one about a bald cat called Herbert.
How do you market or promote your books and what strategies (e.g. social media, email, blog tours, etc.) have demonstrated the most success for you?
I find promotion very hard! I am not someone who likes talking about myself or pushing myself forward and promotion is all about that. I find social media is the best way forward for an indie person like me, it’s a bit more human. The Bobbling is very active on social medial It gives me the chance to do extra illustrations, small animations and generally have a bit of fun with my characters and I think the audience like this too.
Can you share with readers a little bit about your latest book?
I have two books out at the moment. The Bobbling and The Dragon is a picture book where my main character The Bobbling has to save Woo The Whippet from a dragon. This also introduces my new permanent character. Then I have The Bobbling’s Christmas Nutcracker, a Christmas tale about finding Santa who is lost. It is very special as well because it takes The Bobbling series into chapter books in a friendly way for children. It has more writing but broken up and heavily illustrated to make the transition easier for them.
Tell us more about your main character. What inspired you to develop this character?
The Bobbling is original, I created him and there isn’t another guy like him out there haha…I have developed him over the years because I like working with him, he is funny, silly and I can do anything and go anywhere with him.
What is your next project?
I am starting another Bobbling book to continue my series. It is another chapter book and will be another adventure. I am just at the beginning stages of putting it together but am feeling excited.
Want to know more about Inger Brown and get the books?
Waking Writer 