In December 2023, on one of my off days, I opened a children’s craft kit I’d brought a few months earlier. It was a set of two pom-pom caterpillars. I sat at the dining room table to build them, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Once finished, they found their home on top of the fireplace alongside a candle and a ceramic owl.
A few days later, as I lay on the settee, the idea for a story came to mind. So, I wrote it. And it got cut from the final book, but hey ho. The content was too old for the rest of the book. Once I’d started writing these stories, more and more came to me. All of the little occurrences that happen in life.
Over the next few months, I wrote more stories about these two caterpillars, named by my mum. I wanted to tell the story of a caterpillar’s life through Wiggle and Waggles’ adventures. Humour in the stories was also important.
Once the stories were finished, I began looking for an illustrator. As with my other books, I learnt the hard way not to force these things or to chase. So, I waited patiently (or maybe a little impatiently) for the right illustrator. I worked on other projects, and I’d almost forgotten poor Wiggle and Waggle until, early in 2025, a friend introduced me to an artist who became the illustrator, Suszan Daniels.
Once I had the illustrations, I sent everything to my editor, who ruthlessly red-penned it and helped me produce the book it is today.
With this publication, I’ve done something I’ve never done before. I’ve set the book up for pre-order on Amazon, listed it on KDP Select, and entered the Kindle Storyteller 2025 competition! Even though I’ve only just published Charlie Gold, I want to publish three books this year, and this is the second.
The result of 18 months’ work is The Adventures of Wiggle and Waggle:
A heart-warming book of short stories about the life cycle of a caterpillar.
Join the mischievous Wiggle and Waggle on their series of fireplace adventures.
Suitable for anyone from 5+
***Paperback contains bonus content**
I hope you enjoy reading Wiggle and Waggles’ little stories as much as I enjoyed writing them.
Thank you so much to Suszan Daniels for the wonderful illustrations, Shaun Hand for his editing services and Chris Thomas for the cover design.
For more information and to pre-order, please click the button below.
To listen to the first chapter, please follow the link below