In this interview, Sarah Thelen shares how inspiration struck, what it felt like to see her story come to life, and why nature and connection play such a big role in her writing. From nervous first drafts to happy dances in the living room, this is a behind-the-scenes look at the magic of storytelling. It might be gnome-sized but it’s full of heart.
How did the idea for gnomes in the Rhine Valley come to you? Did you draw inspiration from any folklore or childhood stories?
I was actually writing a story about a dragon on Dragon Rock, inspired by one of the seven mountains where I grew up, but I couldn’t get it right. When I looked through my other picture books at home, I found a story about little people having adventures and I loved the drawings. My head somehow drifted off and created The Merry Gnomes of the Rhine Valley.
View from the Rhine Valley towards the dragon rock
Did you always plan for it to be a rhyming story?
No, that wasn’t planned. While I do love rhyming children’s books, I thought a story would be difficult enough. But after the first two sentences, it felt more natural to rhyme. As a non-native speaker, it added a whole new level to my writing and I learned a lot, especially from the wonderful feedback of my beta-readers.
What message or feeling do you hope children take away from the story?
I really hope children (and adults) enjoy the perseverance of the gnomes, their teamwork, especially when it gets tough, but also them celebrating together.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while creating the book?
The biggest challenge, besides the rhyming, was handing it over to someone else for their judgement. I was really nervous about it and about someone telling me it wasn’t good enough to be published. At the beginning, I thought a lot about why I chose this story and not one of the others. The encouragement and help from others in my wonderful writing group helped a lot.
How did you feel seeing your words come to life in print for the first time?
Every step to turn my story into a book was celebrated by a little happy dance around my living room. It feels unbelievable and I am very proud to have persevered.
The illustrations are beautiful. How did you work with Lisa Williams, your illustrator, to bring the gnomes to life?
I love Lisa’s illustrations so much! There wasn’t much for her to go by at our first meeting. I am not confident in drawing, and I could only give her my idea that gnomes are happy and cheerful people to me. Lisa made them come alive anyway, and they all have brilliant personalities. I can’t wait to hear if others notice those little personal details as well.
Sarah with LIsa, her illustrator
The story has lovely themes of nature and community. Why are these important to you?
I’ve lived far away from my family (in Germany and the USA) for a while now. I miss them and building a community in a new country is so important. A chosen community can’t replace a family, but it can make you feel less alone. Nature has always been my calming place, especially when there is some form of water nearby. For me, a simple walk in the park or along a river can be like a reset to my nervous system and help me get a new perspective, especially when I am stuck on something, like my writing.
What advice would you give to someone writing their first story for children?
Never stop! Keep writing, learn about writing and publishing, and keep exploring themes that are important to you.
If The Merry Gnomes of the Rhine Valley had a soundtrack, what song would play over the credits?
That’s a brilliant question! I guess something along the lines of “With a Little Help from My Friends” by the Beatles, or if you want to go classical, Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” would be fitting.
What has been the best part of your publishing journey with TAUK Publishing?
The best part was having a say in my book. I was able to ask questions (sorry everyone!) and have guidance, but I never felt lost or left alone. I loved seeing how it all came together, step by step, and everyone involved was cheering and I could really feel the joy from everyone included in the process. Estelle brought together a wonderful team for my book. I couldn’t have wished for a better one!
Are there more adventures planned for the gnomes in future books?
Never say never! There is still a dragon story waiting on my desktop, maybe he can pay the gnomes a magical visit…
Finally, if you could spend a day with one of your gnomes, what would you do together?
I would love to spend a day with Pitter up on the mountain. We would have some great food (probably some apple pie and a nice cup of coffee) and enjoy the view over the Rhine Valley. Who knows, maybe we would even get the knitting needles (or in my case, the crochet hook) out!
The Merry Gnomes of the Rhine Valley is now available on Amazon.
