Wonderful to have one of My Book Corner’s very own contributors on the blog today. When Josette’s not championing other people’s books or freelancing as an editor, she is busy writing her own stories. Her most recent title is How Not To Get Eaten – a non fiction title illustrated by Asia Orlando about surprising survival strategies in the natural world. And she is also the author of the toe-tappingly brilliant Got To Dance, illustrated by Annabel Tempest – modelled below by her beautiful pup, Peggy!
Both of Josette’s books have animals at their heart – read on to find out why!
- Tell us about you in 25 words or less.
Nature-loving writer, editor and dog momma from Lancashire, with two books to my name: Got to Dance and How Not To Get Eaten.
- Your Non Fiction title HOW NOT TO GET EATEN came out earlier this year. Can you tell us a little bit about how it came to be?
I’m one of those people who cheer during nature documentaries when the prey animal escapes from the predator, which I know is a bit mean – predators have to eat! But I’ve always been fascinated at the ways in which animals protect themselves and thought it would be a really fun topic for a book. When I started looking into it, I realised just how many amazing staying-alive strategies there are, not just for animals but for plants too. For example, trees which team up with ants to drive away elephants, caterpillars that pretend to be snakes to scare off birds, and snails that get eaten by fish but manage to pop out alive the other end.
You don’t usually write the whole thing when submitting a non-fiction book, so I wrote out a proposal and a few pages of sample text. DK responded to my agent’s submission email really positively within a few hours (obviously, it took a lot longer to go through the full acquisition process!). They wanted to make the book bigger than I’d originally planned, which was a challenge but a great opportunity to cover lots of wonderful wildlife. They also paired me with artist extraordinaire Asia Orlando, whose beautiful illustrations made the book so much better.
- Ok, here’s a challenge… can you sum up your book in five words? [runs and hides!]
How Not To Get Eaten?! OK, OK, that’s cheating. How about… Wildlife survives in surprising ways.
- What does a typical day look like for you?
It usually starts with a walk with Peggy the greyhound, and lots of tea. But because I’m freelance, it really is different every day. I do fact checking for a few magazines so I might be doing that most of the day. I work as an assistant editor for a fab publishing consultancy called Speckled Pen one morning a week too, and also contribute to children’s magazines, including Aquila and Eco Kids Planet. And obviously I write reviews for lovely My Book Corner too. I try to carve out as much time as I possibly can to work on my books – I’m usually more creative (and awake) in the mornings.
- What makes you happy?
Reading and writing, of course. And just generally being outside, exploring, spotting wildlife and hugging trees, preferably with my partner and dog.
- What’s on your TBR pile at the moment?
Richard Osman’s new one is top, and second is probably Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, which I’ve been wanting to read for a while. There have also been loads of great middle grade books out recently which I need to catch up on, like The Secret of the Treasure Keepers by AM Howell and A Beginner’s Guide to Ruling the Galaxy by David Solomons (I love everything they write). I’m also eagerly awaiting The Ministry of Unladylike Activity by Robin Stevens, out very shortly.
- What’s your worst habit?
In term of writing, definitely having too many projects on the go at once, in various states of progress. I’ll say to myself: ‘Just focus on getting this manuscript finished before moving on to… ooh wait, I have a shiny new idea!’
- Your favourite word(s) and why –
Quibble. Preposterous. Squiffy. They’re just funny words to say!
- What are your top tips for budding writers?
Don’t submit too soon. Give yourself time to build up a strong collection of work which has been critiqued by beta readers and honed as much as possible (leaving manuscripts to one side and coming back to them later with fresh eyes can really work). Agents and publishers may not go for the stuff you send them first but may ask to see other examples of your writing, so it’s great if you’ve got more to show.
Also, find a fab critique group! They really are invaluable. I love my Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) North West crew.
- Can you give us a glimpse / hint at your current WIP? (I can bribe you with cake!)
As mentioned, I always have far too much on the go at once! But I have a couple of wildlife-themed, narrative non-fiction ideas that I’m really excited about developing.
Just for fun
Tea or coffee? Both, but usually tea.
Paper books or e-books? Mostly paper, though I do love reading my Kindle in bed under the covers!
Cake or chocolate? You monsters! Both, obviously, but I don’t think I could live without chocolate.
Write or type? Mostly type. Though I often use pen and paper when writing out a first draft of a picture book as I find it quite freeing – I can just write utter nonsense, but there might be the odd juicy nugget in there too.
Poetry or prose? Usually prose.
Hot or cold? Cold, preferably snowy.
