Freddie’s Impossible Dream is based on a true story of the author Nigel Lungenmuss-Ward life, who overcome many obstacles to realise his dream of being in a band. Robbie who is now aged 9 years, illustrated the story. As my stop on the blog tour I wanted to find out how farther and son worked together to produce the book, and in particular how they collaborated to decided on the pictures for the story. I discovered how the inspiration for Crabby the crab came about and that Freddie Mercury’s life helped give Nigel the confidence to ask to join a band.
I asked Nigel:
1. Having decided to write and illustrate a book together, how did you decide to break up the story into pages that could be illustrated?
Initially, I wrote the story down in a notebook with some basic notes about what I imagined the illustrations might look like. I also showed Robbie some pictures that I took at the First Light Festival, as he did not attend this event. Secondly, I wrote the story in a sketch pad, placing the text where I wanted it on the page. Robbie then got to work on drawing the images. To start with, Robbie and I conflicted with what the pages should look like. His vision and mine didn’t really align.
However, I realised that I was killing his creativity for the project. So, I made the decision to let him complete the first draft before I saw any of the images. I am so glad that I made that decision and he really took off with the project and I think he did an outstanding job with them.
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2. Where did the inspiration for the story come from?
The story is autobiographical. Freddie is me. It is the story about how I joined a band called The Rogue Shanty Buoys. We sing sea shanty songs. Our website is www.shanties.co.uk
I called the story Freddie’s Impossible Dream because the night before I went to the festival, and saw the band perform, I watched the Bohemian Rhapsody, about Freddie Mercury. The film inspired me so when I saw Stephen (The lead singer of the band) on the beach I decided to be brave and ask about joining the band. Maybe, if I hadn’t watched the film I wouldn’t be in the band and the book wouldn’t exist.
I asked Robbie (The IllustraTor):
3. I Notice a crab keeps appearing in the story. How did the idea of the crab come about?
The crab character in the story (Crabby) is my creation. Dad did not have a crab in the story at all to start with. Our publisher asked us to draw a back cover, as we hadn’t done one already. After completing it, dad said to me that it is a little bare and we need to add something else in. This is when I drew Crabby. Then I had lots of ideas of how we should add Crabby in other parts of the story too. I thought it would be funny if Crabby liked ice-cream and that he could skydive. Whenever I tell anyone about Crabby they always laugh, so I think people will like him.
4. What materials, techniques and/or tools did you use to draw the pictures?
I use a pencil – HB and a normal rubber. I just love drawing and I do a lot of it. I have filled up all my sketch books and I keep having to ask Farther Christmas for more. Sometimes I use fine liner pens to draw around the outline of the picture I am drawing.
5. What are your Top Tips for other children that might help them to illustrate a story?
- If you want to illustrate a book then find an author or write a story yourself.
- Practice drawing what is going to be in the book, like if the story is about cars the practise drawing cars.
- Finally be positive about it because I have done it and so can you.
You can pre-order a copy of the book. Straight from the publishers Grace Wright publishing, here.