It gives me great pleasure to welcome Jude Lennon onto the website today. Jude has published 19 books for children; a collection of short stories for adults; and is currently working on her first full length novel, which is due for release in spring 2022.
Alex: Tell me a bit about yourself, Jude.
Jude: My name is Jude Lennon and I grew up in Southport on the North West coast of England. From the age of five all I wanted to do was be a teacher and this was my career for 18 years. I taught mostly Early Years (4-5 year old's) and KS1 (5-6 year old's) in both London and Liverpool. While teaching I was constantly writing stories, poems, jingles, assemblies and Christmas plays for the children. I was a teacher who loved writing. One of my former Headteachers encouraged me to get my work published. Until then I thought my writing was just something which would stay in notebooks.
I moved back to the North West and settled in Liverpool, which is an amazingly creative city. I continued to teach until severe anxiety and exhaustion set in and I was advised to take some time off. While I was recovering, I entered a writing competition and won. This gave me the boost I needed to believe in my writing. I made the difficult decision not to return to teaching and instead I set up my storytelling business Little Lamb Tales. I visit schools, festivals and community events re-telling stories from memory. These stories can be traditional tales, legends from around the world, old favourites or self penned ones. I have a brilliant memory for stories but can't always remember where I've put my keys. But as Mary Poppins says 'you can only be practically perfect' A good lesson for life!
I published my first book, The Dragon of Allerton Oak in September 2015 and have gone on to publish many more including Middle Grade chapter books and short stories for adults.
Alex: Tell me a bit about yourself, Jude.
Jude: My name is Jude Lennon and I grew up in Southport on the North West coast of England. From the age of five all I wanted to do was be a teacher and this was my career for 18 years. I taught mostly Early Years (4-5 year old's) and KS1 (5-6 year old's) in both London and Liverpool. While teaching I was constantly writing stories, poems, jingles, assemblies and Christmas plays for the children. I was a teacher who loved writing. One of my former Headteachers encouraged me to get my work published. Until then I thought my writing was just something which would stay in notebooks.
I moved back to the North West and settled in Liverpool, which is an amazingly creative city. I continued to teach until severe anxiety and exhaustion set in and I was advised to take some time off. While I was recovering, I entered a writing competition and won. This gave me the boost I needed to believe in my writing. I made the difficult decision not to return to teaching and instead I set up my storytelling business Little Lamb Tales. I visit schools, festivals and community events re-telling stories from memory. These stories can be traditional tales, legends from around the world, old favourites or self penned ones. I have a brilliant memory for stories but can't always remember where I've put my keys. But as Mary Poppins says 'you can only be practically perfect' A good lesson for life!
I published my first book, The Dragon of Allerton Oak in September 2015 and have gone on to publish many more including Middle Grade chapter books and short stories for adults.
Alex: How would you describe your writing, and are there particular themes that you like to explore?
Jude: Most of the books I've written are rhyming picture books for children. My style has been compared to Julia Donaldson which was a huge honour. I've explored several themes in my books including kindness, mindfulness and Road Safety. My stories have gone on adventures with astronauts, pirates and camper vans. Six of my books feature my storytelling mascots Lamby and Flossie.
I've also written two Middle Grade chapter books with Will Hawkes. Will is autistic and wanted to create a character who he would have identified with when he was at school.
I branched out into writing for adults with a collection of short stories and I'm currently working on a full length novel. Writing for children is still my first love but it's been great to explore and develop my craft in other ways.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Jude: Planning is a little bit different for picture books. I generally have an idea for the story which I let play around my head. Sometimes I have to just grab my notebook and let the words land on the page. Sometimes, I do a mind map and pull out the ideas which I like best.
With the middle grade books and novel, I did a chapter overview and character profiles. These proved a great starting point.
Jude: Most of the books I've written are rhyming picture books for children. My style has been compared to Julia Donaldson which was a huge honour. I've explored several themes in my books including kindness, mindfulness and Road Safety. My stories have gone on adventures with astronauts, pirates and camper vans. Six of my books feature my storytelling mascots Lamby and Flossie.
I've also written two Middle Grade chapter books with Will Hawkes. Will is autistic and wanted to create a character who he would have identified with when he was at school.
I branched out into writing for adults with a collection of short stories and I'm currently working on a full length novel. Writing for children is still my first love but it's been great to explore and develop my craft in other ways.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Jude: Planning is a little bit different for picture books. I generally have an idea for the story which I let play around my head. Sometimes I have to just grab my notebook and let the words land on the page. Sometimes, I do a mind map and pull out the ideas which I like best.
With the middle grade books and novel, I did a chapter overview and character profiles. These proved a great starting point.
Alex: Tell us about your latest novel.
Jude: My latest novel is my first novel. It's called Kintsugi and introduces us to Eve who thinks she has a lovely life with her nice husband and nice family. A bundle of letters arrive one day and reveal hidden secrets from her past. The book explores how these letters affect her, how she reacts to them and how she moves on. My BETA readers have given me brilliant feedback and I'm delighted that, in their words, I've captured the characters, setting and atmosphere really beautifully.
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Jude: Gosh, I wouldn't like to say as I've had books around me since I was born. It was probably Miffy or Meg and Mog. Once I was a free reader, I devoured The Famous Five, The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland and the What Katy Did books.
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Jude: Research is so important. I think it's actually more important if you are writing for children as it needs to be accurate. Depending on the book I've visited places to get a feel for setting, researched on the internet, read other books and spoken to experts. I do love a bit of research but it can be a bit of a rabbit hole if you're not careful. I've lost many an hour learning about wonderfully interesting things which are nothing to do with what I'm writing!
Jude: My latest novel is my first novel. It's called Kintsugi and introduces us to Eve who thinks she has a lovely life with her nice husband and nice family. A bundle of letters arrive one day and reveal hidden secrets from her past. The book explores how these letters affect her, how she reacts to them and how she moves on. My BETA readers have given me brilliant feedback and I'm delighted that, in their words, I've captured the characters, setting and atmosphere really beautifully.
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Jude: Gosh, I wouldn't like to say as I've had books around me since I was born. It was probably Miffy or Meg and Mog. Once I was a free reader, I devoured The Famous Five, The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland and the What Katy Did books.
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Jude: Research is so important. I think it's actually more important if you are writing for children as it needs to be accurate. Depending on the book I've visited places to get a feel for setting, researched on the internet, read other books and spoken to experts. I do love a bit of research but it can be a bit of a rabbit hole if you're not careful. I've lost many an hour learning about wonderfully interesting things which are nothing to do with what I'm writing!
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Jude: I wrote two books for The Bobby Colleran Trust to raise awareness about road safety. These books were very much based on Bobby who was tragically run over when he was 6. The family wanted the books to be a lasting legacy and memorial so the main character Super Bob reflects this. In terms of my short stories or novel, I may take characteristics or idiosyncrasies as inspiration but I've never based a character on just one person. I have definitely used settings I know in my stories though.
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Jude: The Five by Hallie Rubenhold, which focuses on the untold lives of the five victims of Jack the Ripper. It was a brilliantly researched book, which put the spotlight on these women rather than the man who killed them.
I've just read Pompeii by Robert Harris and that was brilliant too. Again, fantastic research and wonderful characters.
Alex: How do you market your books?
Jude: This is the one thing most authors hate! I have a website and I use social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I stock my books in local independent shops and we support each other by sharing the information.
For me though the best way to market my books is with author visits to schools. Children are given the option to order signed copies of my books which I take in on the day of the visit.
Jude: I wrote two books for The Bobby Colleran Trust to raise awareness about road safety. These books were very much based on Bobby who was tragically run over when he was 6. The family wanted the books to be a lasting legacy and memorial so the main character Super Bob reflects this. In terms of my short stories or novel, I may take characteristics or idiosyncrasies as inspiration but I've never based a character on just one person. I have definitely used settings I know in my stories though.
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Jude: The Five by Hallie Rubenhold, which focuses on the untold lives of the five victims of Jack the Ripper. It was a brilliantly researched book, which put the spotlight on these women rather than the man who killed them.
I've just read Pompeii by Robert Harris and that was brilliant too. Again, fantastic research and wonderful characters.
Alex: How do you market your books?
Jude: This is the one thing most authors hate! I have a website and I use social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I stock my books in local independent shops and we support each other by sharing the information.
For me though the best way to market my books is with author visits to schools. Children are given the option to order signed copies of my books which I take in on the day of the visit.
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing? And what do you do to unwind?
Jude: When I'm not writing, I love to read, go walking, dance and enjoy music. We have a vintage campervan called Buttercup (she's in one of my books) who we love to get away in. I'm also partial to a little bit of gin and chocolate and sometimes even at the same time!
I live with my partner Dom who is a musician.
Alex: Which authors do you particularly admire and why?
Jude: Julia Donaldson will always be an author I'll admire, look up to and be inspired by. I also really love Kes Gray who writes brilliantly funny books for children. Writing humour is so difficult and it's not something I find easy.
Agatha Christie is another author I admire. Her books are simple but effective. They are still selling in their millions and I think that's because they are full of human frailties. The characters are flawed and the readers feel comfortable with them.
Alex: Thank you so much for giving us a glimpse into your writing world, Jude. And best of luck with your forthcoming novel.
Jude: Thank you Alex. It's been a real pleasure.
Jude: When I'm not writing, I love to read, go walking, dance and enjoy music. We have a vintage campervan called Buttercup (she's in one of my books) who we love to get away in. I'm also partial to a little bit of gin and chocolate and sometimes even at the same time!
I live with my partner Dom who is a musician.
Alex: Which authors do you particularly admire and why?
Jude: Julia Donaldson will always be an author I'll admire, look up to and be inspired by. I also really love Kes Gray who writes brilliantly funny books for children. Writing humour is so difficult and it's not something I find easy.
Agatha Christie is another author I admire. Her books are simple but effective. They are still selling in their millions and I think that's because they are full of human frailties. The characters are flawed and the readers feel comfortable with them.
Alex: Thank you so much for giving us a glimpse into your writing world, Jude. And best of luck with your forthcoming novel.
Jude: Thank you Alex. It's been a real pleasure.
