Writing The First Story... 'Becoming a Family'
How it all started...
An email from 9 years ago!
Back in 2013 I sent myself an email with an attachment of a story I was writing… I forgot all about the story, and the email, until one day in April 2022 when I randomly came across it in my emails! It still baffles me how it just popped up after 9 years!
I opened the attachment and started to read… I couldn’t believe that I’d written those words! I’d forgotten how I used to write, and that’s when I fell in love with writing all over again!
So I picked up the story from where I left off… but, after a few days my mind wondered to my pets—who are continuously up to something, either together, or alone, and usually at the same time!—That’s when the idea of ‘The Adventures of Lennie & Lexie’ first started.
The Plot...
I didn't have one at first!
I read up about plot setting, and I bought the Julia Donaldson course about how to write a picture book…
But, this wasn’t going to be a short picture book, and I wasn’t your average plot setter! I just started writing and it seemed to flow from there. It wasn’t until I had written my first draft that I decided on the plot and then made my edits!
The first book brings the family together, I took some characteristics of my own step-children to bring Harry and Lily to life. And as for the pets, well, I had so many real life characteristics to choose from for those two! Like how Lexie really didn’t like Lennie at the start! Some of what they get up to in the book really is true, and then obviously the rest is made up!
I added a little twist at the end which would lead me into book number two…
What's Next...
More Adventures!
It was never going to be just one story book! I had so many ideas that it spilt out into two stories… But, then it lead to three, then four, then suddenly I had five stories!
I am really enjoying writing this series. So, watch this space for more to come!
Then came...
The Drawings...
I was good at drawing—when I was younger! I got an A* in drawing—at Senior School!
So, I bought a sketch book, and I tried, I tried again, and again… But, I didn’t know where to start, and I just wanted to carry on writing instead!
A friend recommended an illustrator and I sent across a description of drawings for my book and we got to work etching out the storyboard.
Once the drawings were back, I did make a few edits—when you’re putting a book together you have a certain visualisation for how that will look, which isn’t always easy to explain in words! However, it did spark the artistic side of me again. I created a few of my own drawings and designed the front and back cover using some of the images I had paid for, and I’m really pleased with the outcome!
The Inspiration...
He looked so sweet and innocent!...
She was so small and cute!...
Together they were the perfect pets!... Right?...
