Pip’s Secret Door – Bringing the Idea to Life

Like all my books, the idea of Pip’s Secret Door grew from real life experience with my own children as they imagined a fairy living in our garden. But for the purposes of writing a book, this was only the beginning!

I knew the storyline that I wanted to at least start with, but — as many authors will confirm  — once you start writing, you don’t know where the word and characters will take you. Before I knew it, Pip’s Secret Door had two threads that have allowed me to create this into a series. (Book two is already in first draft).

Many authors will also agree that the first draft of any book is truly awful. Actually, we want it to be awful in many ways, because it allows the process of tidying to happen. The first draft of anything is really a brain-dump of information. Every detail comes out, but not necessarily in the right order, or linked in any way to anything. That’s where the editor comes in, and I am blessed to have the most encouraging, patient, and skilled one.

Lor is the most patient and encouraging editor in the world! She comes back to me with amendment suggestions, and viewpoints that perhaps I hadn’t even thought of. It also helps that she is a mum, so not only is she awesome at her job, she knows what kids look for an enjoy in a book.

Like most stories, my manuscript went back and forward to Lor several times for development with suggestions of tweaks to be made here or there. It is actually a very fun process and really helped the story grow, and subsequent books in the series develop in ways that I initially wasn’t expecting.

During the to and froing, there was also the process of finding an illustrator. I looked around for months to make sure that I wasn’t missing a new style, or illustrator out there that could create what I envisioned, though in the end happily came back to the wonderfully talented Oshadi, that I used for Mousey Mornings. She has, once again, transformed my words into something truly magical that children can relate to. Bringing everything to life.

From the initial storyboard of idea, to sketch concepts, cover designs, and final colouring, the illustration process for an early chapter book can still be a long one, though with less images to consider than a picture book. There can be tweaks, amendments, replacements, and adjustments to be made all the way through, but I have to say, when I finally help Pip’s Secret Door in my hand, felt the beautiful matt cover and turned the pages, Oshadi’s illustrations are a fitting compliment to my words.

The 3^rd September is coming soon, and I can’t wait to share this book with you all. I have also been working on something in the background that you can only discover if you read the book, and I can’t wait to keep growing over time with you too.

Pre-Order Signed Copies are now available via my website.

www.fionalowryauthor.com/pipssecretdoor

Calico Editing Services: About Us – Calico Editing Services

Oshadi Sandareka Illustration: Oshadi Sandareka – Children’s Book Illustrator | Portfolio