This week I welcome renowned author Jenny Kane (aka Jennifer Ash) to The StoryMan. Jenny writes across multiple genres and age groups and was kind enough to stop by to chat about a couple of her children's releases...
Hello Jenny, and welcome to The Story Man. Firstly, I have to say that both Ben’s Biscuit Tin Adventure and There’s A Cow In Our Flat are still firm favourites in our household. Can you tell us a bit about each story, for those who haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading them?
Thank you Chris, that’s very kind of you. It’s always lovely to know the books are being enjoyed.
Ben’s Biscuit Tin
It's the middle of the night, but Ben's stomach won't stop rumbling. As he lies in bed, Ben begins to plan how he can secretly sneak a biscuit from the biscuit tin. But Ben is only seven, and rather short, and the biscuit tin is hidden at the very back of the highest shelf of the tallest cupboard in the kitchen. Working out how to reach the tin is going to take a lot of imagination... string, tape, springs, and maybe even some stilts...
There’s a Cow in the Flat
A cow has managed to stray into Oscar's third story flat! But how? Has she beamed in from outer space? Is she an acrobatic circus cow? She certainly really loves eating all the furniture! As Oscar imagines how the cow could have got into the flat, he and his Mum try everything they can to get her out again, before there is no sofa left! The cow however, has other ideas...
Where did the inspiration for these books come from?
There’s a Cow in the Flat was my first children’s picture book. It started life as a story I made up with my children at bedtime when they were very small. A few years later, when my eldest daughter started school, I was invited into her class (at Crombie Primary in Aberdeenshire) to tell stories. With the children’s help, we embroidered the story, and it began to become something that could – eventually -make a fully fledged picture book.
This process of development carried on when I moved to Devon and was invited into my daughter’s new school (Heathcoat Primary). The children there helped make up new ideas for the story too.
A few months later, I combined all my ideas with the inspiration afforded by the school children, and the story was born. (Naturally, it is dedicated to both schools.)
Ben’s Biscuit Tin Adventure was written for a lad I babysat for many years ago. Ben loved having stories made up for him, and so I wrote him the book as a birthday present. He was always trying to pinch extra biscuits before supper, so I made that the main feature of the story.
I can imagine having your own book written about you is one of the coolest birthday presents ever! Could you possibly explain the process that took you from the initial ideas for these stories, to the final published product?
Once the story for There’s a Cow in the Flat was developed, I spoke to HushPuppy Books in the States, who were very keen to turn the stories into both downloadable and full print books. They also recommended by brilliant Illustrator, Ryan Doherty.
As soon as the publishing contract was signed, my part in the process was over. Apart from marketing of course!
The illustrations are fantastic in both of these books! Did you have a clear idea of what you wanted them to look like beforehand, or did you largely leave it up to the illustrator?
Ryan is a fabulous artist. I loved his ideas for both books straight away. He read the books very carefully, and I was consulted at every step of the way. I have to say however, there was never a point where I didn’t like the pictures I was shown. I particularly love the wallpaper stripes in Cow in the Flat!
Got to say I love that detail too! Something quite nostalgic about that wallpaper, for some bizarre reason! You also write for adults too. What do you think are the biggest challengers for an author when writing to quite diverse audiences and how do you work to overcome these?
Children’s books – especially picture books – often have to appeal to adults as well. The danger when crossing audience age groups is to over think it. Children are frequently more intelligent than adults give them credit for- so although sometimes the vocabulary we use needs to be simpler (especially for small children), that doesn’t mean the stories have to be dumbed-down in anyway.
The biggest challenge of all with different genre work is coping with marketing it all, as each target group needs a different approach to sales.
There’s always room for a slightly silly question, if you ask me! In Biscuit Tin Adventure, Ben goes to great lengths to try and obtain that ever-so-elusive “extra biscuit”. Is there a particular type of biscuit you would do this for?
Oh yes – a cookie. I love cookies!
Cracking choice! Have you ever thought of writing a sequel to either of these stories at all? If so, what would either story look like (plot-wise)?
I haven’t- but there is a third children’s picture book, Joe’s Letter, written and illustrated. Ryan and I just need a new publisher as our old one has retired.
I for one will be eagerly awaiting that one! What other authors have inspired you as a writer?
So many! From the genius of Sir Terry Pratchett, to Katie Fforde, Kate Griffin, Colin Dexter, to Roald Dahl. Every one of them has something that can teach the new writer, simply by reading heir work.
Are there any other projects you are currently working on that you’d like to mention?
At the present time I’m writing the second novel of a trilogy of Aria. A romantic comedy for adults, it is set on Exmoor and features the comings and goings in and around a Victorian manor house and an archaeological excavation. The first book in the series, Midsummer at Mill Grange, will be out in June.
Add that one to your to-be-read piles, peeps! Finally, do you have any advice for anyone out there who wants to write a children’s book?
Just do it. So many writers take a look at the huge number of books already out there and feel too intimated to put pen to paper. However, if you have a story in you, write it. Then – and this is essential- get it professionally edited before you get it out there or present it to possible publishers and agents.
You never know, you could be the next big thing!
Sound advice there, Jenny. Thank you so much for taking part!
Want to read Jenny's fantastic books for yourself? You can! Simply follow the links below.
More About Jenny...
From the comfort of her cafe corner in Mid Devon, award winning author, Jenny Kane, wrote the contemporary women’s fiction and romance novels, Romancing Robin Hood (2nd edition, Littwitz Press, 2018), Abi’s Neighbour (Accent Press, 2017), Another Glass of Champagne (Accent Press, 2016), and the bestsellers, Abi’s House (Accent Press, June 2015), and Another Cup of Coffee (Accent Press, 2013).
She has also written 3 novella length sequels to her Another Cup of.....books: Another Cup of Christmas (Accent Press, 2013), Christmas in the Cotswolds (Accent, 2014), and Christmas at the Castle (Accent, 2016). These three seasonal specials are now available in one boxed set entitled Jenny Kane’s Christmas Collection (Accent, 2016)
Jenny is also the author of quirky children’s picture books There’s a Cow in the Flat (Hushpuppy, 2014) and Ben’s Biscuit Tin (Hushpuppy, 2015)
Jenny Kane is the writer in residence for Tiverton Costa in Devon. She also co-runs the creative writing business, Imagine. Jenny teaches a wide range of creative writing workshops including her popular ‘Novel in a Year’ course. (www.imaginecreativewriting.co.uk)
All of Jennifer Ash’s and Jenny Kane’s news can be found at www.jennykane.co.uk
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