What inspired this latest adventure for the Woolly Crew?
This is a re-invention of a story I wrote in 2013 for a competition. In the competition story, Winnie the Pooh and friends visited the city. So many schools I’ve visited wanted to buy the book, but it was never available commercially. I decided to rewrite it featuring Lamby and the Woolly Crew instead. After all, Liverpool is their home, so it’s only right they should feature in a story about it.
Did you always plan for the Woolly Crew to explore their own city, or did that idea grow over time?
I always planned to re-do the story featuring the lambs, but other stories decided it was their turn first. The time is now.
How do you balance fun and facts when writing for children about a real city like Liverpool?
Liverpool is a brilliant city with many great sights to enjoy, so finding the fun wasn’t hard. Plus, there are so many facts – some well-known, some not so well. The hardest thing was not having room for them all. I must give a shout-out to local tour guide Sean MacGregor, who helped me compile the facts which I included in the book.
The Woolly Crew
The book celebrates so many landmarks. Do you have a personal favourite among them?
It’s so hard to pick out just one. I still enjoy going on the ferry and especially taking visitors and showing them the magnificent skyline from the water. I also love Calderstones Park. It’s a real gem and also home to the Allerton Oak, which featured in my first book, The Dragon of Allerton Oak. I didn’t grow up here (I grew up in Southport), but until I was thirteen, we’d visit my nan in Mossley Hill regularly, so one of my favourite memories from childhood was the Liverpool Garden Festival. I remember it vividly, and we visited several times with various relatives that year.
If the Woolly Crew had time to visit just one more Liverpool spot, where would you send them?
The Williamson Tunnels. I keep meaning to go, and they were under threat of closure. For now, they’ve been saved, so we’ll definitely have a Team Lamby outing there.
The rhymes are so playful and well-paced. What’s your process for crafting them?
Thank you. I’ve always liked writing rhyming stories for children. During my teaching career, I wrote countless jingles, rhymes, ditties and stories to enhance lessons, and my dissertation at university focused on the link between nursery rhymes and reading skills. I’ve always been aware of the importance of rhyme for literacy. But to be totally honest, the ‘process’ really involves the words having a dance in my head, arriving on the paper and being moved around until I’m happy. I always ask my partner, Dom, to read the stories through. He’s a musician, so he has a keen ear for the rhythm and flow.
What’s been the most rewarding part of watching Lamby grow into a recognisable character for children?
I love the fact that children (and families) recognise him and the Woolly Crew. Children really seem to respond to the lambs, and they always ask questions about them when I visit schools. But it’s not just children, I’ve heard myself referred to as the Lamb Lady on many an occasion at networking events.
How do young readers respond to your stories?
Children love the lambs, which helps them to take an interest in the stories. They also seem to enjoy the adventures the lambs go on and the many and varied costumes they have! I’ve received lots of drawings of Lamby and the Woolly Crew over the years, and the children will often tell me how much they’ve enjoyed the books. To quote a very recent response following a book reading… ‘That’s amazing!’
Do you have plans for more Woolly Crew adventures in the future?
There aren’t any at the moment. I’ve done eight so far, so maybe another two to round it up. The lambs will let me know!
You also write fiction. Will you be writing any more books for the adult reader?
I’m currently working on a collection of short stories with fellow author and journalist Maggie Fogarty. We’re writing six stories each for a book which will be out next year.
Lamby and the Liver Bird is now on sale here.
