WriteMentor Award: Picture Book winner interview

How did you feel when you found out you won the WriteMentor Picture Book Award ?

Ecstatic! Making the shortlist was a thrill, so to win was beyond anything I expected. I read the email multiple times to make sure it was real!

How did you celebrate?

I was alone when I found out, so after some solo whooping and messages to friends, I watched Murder She Wrote and ate pizza. It was a good day.

Tell us a bit about your writing journey to date.

I was watching a terrible film about superheroes which made me think about what the worst superpower would be. I very quickly wrote a rhyming text about a boy that turned into a poo whenever he clapped. I thought my story was great and signed up to a short picture book writing course.  

Plot twist, the story wasn’t great, but the course was, it gave me the foundations to learn what is crucial in a picture book. Everything clicked from then on, and I knew it was something I wanted to take seriously. I signed up for the Golden Egg Academy which really helped focus my attention and give invaluable guidance. This is also where I met my critique group whose feedback has been instrumental in refining my work and pushing me to grow as a writer.

Tell us more about the winning book.

The story follows a strawberry obsessed slug and the lengths he is willing go to get what he wants. The slug is so consumed by his desire, and the imaginary situations that might stop him getting what he wants, he doesn’t notice the real-world danger.  I’d like to say it was an allegory for modern day consumerism, but really, it’s just a silly story I want children to find funny. 

What inspired the idea?

Initially Agatha Christie. The idea started as a detective story; I imagined the slug with the voice of Poirot, disguising itself and solving low-level crimes. However, once I got into it, the story evolved into that of a more obnoxious slug—though in my head, it still retains the voice of the Belgian detective.

Having said that, I do have a dachshund, who does bear a resemblance to a slug and would happily step on my face to get cheese. So maybe she’s in there somewhere.

What was the WriteMentor Award experience like for you, as an entrant?

Long, but ultimately rewarding. The anticipation and the process itself were both challenging and exhilarating, I’m so grateful to everyone involved. There aren’t many picture book competitions available, so just having an outlet to be able to put your work out there was a motivation to write more.

What advice would you give other writers when entering writing awards in the future?

Don’t play it safe or submit something you think is en vogue, submit what you love writing. With so many entrants for the judges to read, it’s crucial to stand out. Make sure your work grabs attention right from the beginning.

Any general writing advice for writers of children’s fiction?

Everyone knows something you don’t, so follow authors/illustrators /agents/publishers online and learn from their experience. 

Listen to feedback and be ready to cut your darlings, you might have the most amazing line, or character, but if it doesn’t move the story along it needs to go (maybe into a new story).

What’s next for your writing? Any new projects on the horizon?

Getting an agent is my next step. I’m currently working on a series looking at the first time someone attempted something that blends fact with a lot of fiction, it’s a slight swerve in direction for me, but I’m excited about it.