- Tell us about The Very Steep Hill in under 25 words.
The Very Steep Hill is a fun, somewhat suspenseful picture book with a surprise climax and denouement that no one has predicted yet.
2. Brontosaurus Books is an exciting new venture for you. How did it come about?
To me the picture book industry is highly subjective and there are presently many barriers to traditional participation in it as an author. I was lucky enough to get three picture books published with major publishers but I was unable to get any more of my stories up after this (and I really tried). Knowing that I had many more great stories for kids, my illustrator wife and I decided to create our own company and see how we went. So far, it’s been really interesting to be involved in the printing, marketing and distribution sides of things (which I wasn’t anticipating) and we’re learning more and more all the time.
3. The Very Steep Hill is fun to read. Did you deliberately write it
to appeal to adults as well as children?
I believe picture books for 3-7 year-olds should be pitched squarely at 3-7 year-olds, both in terms of the language used and the content covered. When this is achieved by book makers, I think the child’s enjoyment and understanding of the story will entertain the reading adult. So yes and no is my answer there!
4. How closely did you work with the illustrator for The Very Steep Hill?
The illustrator is my wife so pretty closely! This being said, it was perhaps only in geographical terms as I knew Megan knew what she was doing and I didn’t want to interfere. Megan wanted the book to look colourful and appealing and I think she pulled it off. Every now and again Meg would ask what I thought about this or that detail and that was fun from my perspective but generally I just enjoyed watching the illustrations come to life every day.
5. What next for Brontosaurus Books?
We have lots of stories that we’d like to make but we’ve recently decided Audrey will be our next title. Audrey is a tribute to giant kangaroos, the work of the Country Fire Service and their equipment and spirit. Megan is ramping up illustrating the book this week and we’re hoping for a 2026 release. Following Audrey we might make The Ginormous Space Crab or The Cheese Wizard or The Hole… I think the titles of these stories reveal the cheerful, imaginative nature of the books we’d like to make to some degree.
Thanks a bunch for having me for the sit-down. Have a great week. 
Ben
Below, you'll find a link to the Brontosaurus Books website... check it out!
The Brontosaurus Books website
Thanks Ben!
If you're a literary creator, and would like to book your own author sit-down, send me an email at affatheeditor(AT)gmail.com with Author Sit-Down in the subject line. Tell me which book or series or concept you'd like to feature and I'll send you five questions.
You answer them in as much or as little detail and you choose, attach one or mor jpegs and links and your sit-down will be up within a few days.
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