Children’s picture book, 32pp, B&W

Description

I always wanted a dog, but Mum said I wasn't allowed.
So I got one anyway.
My secret dog lives in the cupboard and we sneak out at night to play.
We'll be best friends forever.
As long as Mum doesn't find out...

Background

My Secret Dog was my first published book for children aged 6-9. It was published in the UK and US by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

It was originally written for my sister Lois, who lives in a small flat and wanted a pet so badly. The illustrations were originally just make-do placeholders for the handmade version I made as a gift for her.

A few years later, I was working at JKP as a production designer and in a meeting about children’s books, I showed the prototype to some colleagues. It went from there to the commissioning editor and without really meaning to, I became a children’s author.

I’m pretty fond of this book. It was one of those stories that just flows out from you, almost fully formed. That happens so rarely that it feels amazing when it does. I wonder more and more if that’s because it’s written with a particular person in mind. Perhaps that’s the key – having that one reader as your target audience, rather than a mass of them.

There’s some other bits and bobs here.

A link to an article on JKP Website about the book.

Also some animated GIFs I made to promote the book on social media.