SAMMY: Hi Sigi! We're so excited to welcome you to Yellow Brick Books. We know our readers would just love to get to know you, so let's have a chat about your books and what you do. To start off with, can you tell us about all about your new book?

SIGI: My latest book is called Filthy Fergal. It’s a story in rhyming verse about the filthiest boy on earth who is so dirty and smelly he has to sit inside a plastic bubble at school. Even the town’s rats are forced to flee from Fergal’s odour. I wrote this story some few years ago, having been inspired to some extent by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake.

Filthy Fergal was originally meant to be an anti-fairy tale about a most unwholesome character, but it actually includes quite a wholesome message – that there’s a happy place for everyone in this world – in fact, true love may be just around the corner, even if you are the filthiest boy alive! Actually, in most of the stories I’ve written I try to veer away from heart-warming messages, and some are even a bit subversive, but Filthy Fergal is actually a feel-good tale even if it’s not that ‘smell-good’!

SAMMY: Did you always want to be a writer, Sigi?

SIGI: I never consciously planned to be a writer although I love writing. I decided that after I’d had at least three books published – only then could I reasonably call myself a ‘writer’!

When I was a child I read constantly. I think to be a decent writer you have to be an avid reader too, at least in your formative years. Going to the library was an integral part of my youth and to me the local library was a thrilling place to be.

SAMMY: How long have you been a writer and have you written any other books for children?

SIGI: I used to read bedtime stories for my own three kids. Interestingly, I suddenly had what I would describe as a “creative brain explosion” and I wrote about 15 stories, all in verse, in about three days. I’m not entirely sure where these ideas came from but they just developed as I wrote. All of the stories were gross and/or scary (in a funny way) and different to anything I’d ever read. I think I tried to write the ultimate “anti-picture books” for my kids. Although they were humorous, because of the dark subject matter I imagined they would be totally unpublishable. One of them was My Dead Bunny and it was, frankly, disturbing! To my immense surprise a publisher liked it and so my first book was published. My Dead Bunny made the 2016 CBCA shortlist even though it probably horrified some parents and librarians! Happily, a new, bigger and brighter softcover version is soon to be sold in the UK.

I have a third book that’s about to be illustrated as a follow-up to My Dead Bunny. It’s a funny story about a school bully who has a very scary secret. It has a bit of a twist ending so I won’t give away anything about it right now.

SAMMY: What do you like most about writing?

SIGI: I love writing and when I write I become immersed – it swallows up massive chunks of my time. The editing process can be painfully slow, and when you write in verse it’s extremely important to get the rhythm and rhyme 100% perfect – it’s a discipline. Still, it’s immensely satisfying having some creative outlet. Writing in rhyming verse often leads me to unexpected, fun places (plot-wise) and it’s a concise way of storytelling without superfluity. Unfortunately (or thankfully, depending on how I look at it) it keeps me from my very stressful work as a lawyer. You could say writing is my guilty pleasure and indulgence even (or especially) when time is at a premium!

SAMMY: Tell us about your journey towards becoming a published writer. How long did it take you to get published and what was it like?

SIGI: Submitting to publishers, unsolicited, when you just know the manuscript is destined for some massive “slush pile” can be very disheartening. For me the turning point came when I decided to have my manuscripts professionally appraised. I got excellent feedback and my stories came to the attention of a children’s book publisher. Overall, I’ve found publishing staff to be incredibly kind and accommodating. It’s great seeing one’s stories come to life with talented illustrators like James Foley and Sona Babajanyan – both brilliant at what they do. In this regard, I can thank my publishers for their choice of illustrators.

SAMMY: Tell us about your favourite classic children's book.

SIGI: I had many favourite books and authors – of course Roald Dahl for his incredible (and dark) imagination. Also, I particularly like stories in rhyming verse that are well written. For some reason A Fly Went By sticks in my head. I think it’s the perfect classic picture book.

SAMMY: Tell us about your favourite modern children's book?

SIGI: Julia Donaldson (The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom) writes tremendous stories with imagination and skill and pulls them off in flawless rhyming verse. But I’m embarrassed to say I don’t really know what’s being sold new in bookshops. I have this concern that if I look at new books I’ll be overly influenced and write something derivative and I want to stick to my own style. I did read Andy Lee’s “Do Not Open This Book” and I think it’s very clever.

SAMMY: What's next? Are you working on a book right now? Can you tell us anything about it?

SIGI: I’ve written quite a few stories. As mentioned I’ve done a follow-up to My Dead Bunny. It’s definitely funny and a little bit scary but more appropriate for younger kids than My Dead Bunny. It will be released for Halloween in about 2020. And of course… Filthy Fergal is being launched in October. I can’t wait!!

SAMMY: Thank you so much for chatting with me, Sigi. It's been really great to hear all about your books and your writing. I can't wait to read Filthy Fergal when it comes out in October, and I can't wait to introduce our readers to more of our wonderful creators soon!

So long everybody, it's time for this little sloth to get some shuteye now... Until next time.

Sammy