I am thrilled to have interviewed author Inger Brown, who shared with us details of her writing life, her book ‘The Bobbling and The Beanstalk‘, which was released on 25th August 2024, and answered a few fun questions. This post contains affiliate links.

Inger Brown is a children’s writer and illustrator. She predominantly works on The Bobbling series which is about a cute, helpful poodle who goes on adventures. All her books are available on Amazon print on demand an Google Play.

The Bobbling and The Beanstalk is a bit of a mish-mash. It has the beanstalk theme from the classic fairy tale. But I wanted to do something underwater and I hadn’t done anything with mermaids so I kind of put all these ideas and themes together in one book.

I do a lot of lists and spider diagrams, add some little drawings. I write all the things I want in a book and illustrations, e.g. mermaid, colourful coral reef … and then write out a story including these ideas.

It came at the end when I finished the book, this title was easy as it was always going to be “something” and the beanstalk. I can’t say I thought very long on it, it is a classic title.

Bobbling is a long standing character and so are his friends. I have complied the names over time. Bobbling is a play on Bob, Woo is named after the nickname I had for my dog. Batty is because it’s a bat and Julian I had to think about. He is a dinosaur with a top hat and I wanted something a bit flamboyant sounding.

I love books obviously so it was an excuses to look through a lot of books on fish, oceans, I watched a couple of documentaries too. I am lucky so when I am putting a book together it is not just the writing I am thinking about how the whole book is going to look.

I always write and illustrate for children. I have often thought about other genres but then I would be writing for adults. I would loose the illustration part which is what drives me to write and I think some of the fun and silly parts would get removed. So I think I would always be a children’s author and illustrator.

I always give myself a year. I am sure if I didn’t have a day job I could get it out in a couple of months but life gets in the way haha…. However, the actual writing of the books really does not take long. I think if I complied the time to write it and the edits goes through, a day, if that.

Fun, dazzling, Joyful.

I think for everyone it’s coming up with a story idea. I always have ideas and things I want do with The Bobbling however, when you have time to sit down and write it is not when an idea comes. It’s always when you are in the middle of something else and then elbow deep in work.

They should pick up my book because it is fun, jovial and it will take them somewhere else. It will leave them feeling happy. The whole point of The Bobbling is escapism, funny and heartwarming. I think this book has that element properly. It is a twist on a classic so it’s not hard to work out where it is going, everyone ends up at home and safe in the end.

Nope I’m a lone ranger. But would like to get another dog one day. They are great for ideas.

I do like to have a pot of loose leaf green tea/ oolong tea before I write or illustrate. The really nice stuff, it gives me a real boost. I also quite like being alone for that time. I think writing and illustrating is quite a personal thing, you want space to make mistakes and not have someone looking over your shoulder.

It depends on when an idea comes, if I happen to be out I do just write out the story there and then, frantically and then round off and edit at home.

I would love to see The Bobbling and The Beanstalk as a start stop picture. In which I would love to do some of the work on moving the puppets, creating scenes. I really think it would work really well as that sort of movie.

‘I really fancy some beans on toast haha..’

A big thank you to Inger Brown for sharing her writing life with us and for a wonderful interview.