I had the joy of e-meeting Emily Lloyd-Gale on ‘Doing the School Run with your Children’s book’- an amazing Facebook group ran by Isobel Kent.
As an author myself, I love to share and uplift other authors, and I especially resonate with Emily in that, my books also feel like my babies too!
It was wonderful to interview Emily about her Christmas book and hear about Maurice too.
How did your story ‘The Moose That Saved Christmas’ come about?
It’s quite simple really, after writing my first book ‘Mighty Maurice’, a story based on my own experiences of bullying in school, and it being really well received by schools and children, I really wanted to write a story about Maurice and his friends that is just a super fun and thrilling adventure.
That is where my new book ‘The Moose That Saved Christmas’ came from. I wanted to create a longer rhyming story with all his moose-tached friends, and a few extra animal creature thrown in for children to find.
It hasn’t been at all easy though. Everything that could’ve gone wrong, did go wrong, from my printers in Stockport closing down, to having to find a new illustrator……it all happened! Despite those challenges, this book has come out so well, and my illustrator, Lorna Humphreys has just been so incredible that now it’s here, I love this book like it’s my own child.
What do children learn from your book?
The main themes in this book are friendship, teamwork and kindness. I feel that they are such important topics for children and it’s important for them to see these attributes in books that they read and hear, and I hope, in reading my books, they are encouraged to practise them in day to day life.
There is also snail that appears in the book (he’s also my publisher mark) that I really love. I named him Sunny, and when I visit schools, I tell the children the story behind him.
The story….
When I was at university, (I have a degree in hand embroidery) there was his huge embroidery on the wall in the studio. I remember being show it, and in the cover was this tiny little hand embroidered snail. I was told by the team that it was there to show the dedication, patience and perseverance it took to create the artwork.
I couldn’t think of anything better to represent what I put into each and every book, and what everyone must do to achieve their goals. Children always respond so positively to that story, that I know I made the right choice.
What is next for you?
I get asked this question all the time. For the meantime at least, I’m going to have a break from writing.
The new book, although it has turned out better than I could’ve hoped (nearly all the credit must go to Lorna Humphreys for her incredible skill, and patience in translating what was on the page and in my head into such beautiful illustrations) was a long and complicated process, and I need time to reboot and get my creative juices flowing again.
I do have a few ideas for other Maurice story’s where I introduce more of his family as well as his friends though, so watch this space. ☺️
Where can we find more about you?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily_lloyd_gale/?hl=en
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/mighty.maurice.moose/
Where can we buy the book?
Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/2hWSPQf
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