Writing Tips and Middle Grade Series Secrets from an Author and Illustrator ...

The award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, 2014-2018

"If you could give ten-year-old Philippa advice about writing, what would it be?..."

My new book, Alex and The Other, is now out! It's book four in the award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, horror stories for ages 8-12.

To celebrate, publisher Dundurn Press has a two part blog-post on their website this week, featuring two Q&A posts between the series illustrator, Shawna Daigle, and me.




In PART ONE I ask Shawna questions about her work as an illustrator, like this one:

"Philippa Dowding: Which book of the four books so far in the series has been the most fun for you to illustrate, and why?

Fog Monster, by Shawna Daigle

Shawna Daigle: I’d have to say Myles and the Monster Outside was still one of my favourite books to work on. I really enjoyed getting to create the fog monster who could look like anything I wanted. I tried to make him look a bit different every time I drew him, because fog is always changing and moving. It was a really fun challenge!"

And in PART TWO, Shawna asks me some great questions,
like this one:

"Shawna Daigle: If you could give ten-year-old Philippa advice about writing, what would it be?

Philippa Dowding: I guess I’d say this to myself as a ten-year-old, writer-in-waiting: don’t stop writing, even when people tell you can’t do it, or you shouldn’t do it, or you’re wasting your time (sadly, you’re going to hear all of those things). And don’t stop reading and losing yourself in stories, either. One day it’ll make sense why you’ve read The Hobbit ten times: you’re a writer!"

Shawna (left) and Philippa on stage at Forest of Reading
award-ceremony, May 2017, Toronto (we won honour book!)
Photo Courtesy Riley Murray

We pick our favourite scenes, illustrations and book in the series (they aren't the same). Plus, I talk about my favourite character (who is based on Mr. Atoz from original Star Trek), the theme of the evil twin as inspiration for Alex and The Other, and much more.

Read On! Both full Q&A posts are here: 

Secrets from an Author & Illustrator, 
PART ONE (Shawna's answers to Philippa's questions)

Secrets from an Author and Illustrator, 
PART TWO
(Philippa's answers to Shawna's Questions) 

Order ALEX AND THE OTHER online
CM Magazine REVIEW
Goodreads Reviews
Alex and The Other Book trailer featuring Shawna's illustrations
More about the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series on this blog