Today we talk about Me, Saffron (My first year), a book by David Greaves published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author David Greaves to get to know him better, where he found the inspiration to write his book Me, Saffron (My first year), as well as what parents and children will understand through his stories.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where did you find the inspiration to write about Saffron’s adventure?
I had already written (and self-published) another book for children, which grew out of bedtime stories for my grandchildren. It was about an animal, a parrot this time, and I found it a satisfying expérience, and something that I could do again. A little while later, when we had become owners of Saffron, a friend who was staying with us, having heard us describe our journeys between the French countryside and Paris, suggested that I should write about this too. I liked the idea, but decided to do it from Saffron’s point of view. Apart from comparing country and city life, I also thought that Saffron was such a lovely puppy, with lots of personality, that I would like to introduce her to the world at large, and to children in particular. Then I was taken with the idea of describing each year of her life, as a series. A bit like Les Cahiers d’Esther by Riad Sattouf (which I love). So that’s what I’m doing, with My Second Year already available, and My Third Year now underway.
- What would you like to hear from your young readers?
Most of all, I would like them to love Saffron, and want to know more about her. If they want, they can write to her, and I’ll make sure that each one receives a reply. It would be great to get some communication going with the young readers, and/or their parents, which could give me some ideas about what direction to take next. I’d like to know which parts of her story they find interesting, or funny, and whether they have their own dogs that do the same things and behave in the same way. I’d also be interested in knowing whether they think Saffron’s story could be turned into a cartoon version, or even a television programme. Who knows?
- What will parents and children understand through your stories?
The Saffron books are meant for younger children, in the 8-10 âge group. My other books about Rita the parrot are aimed at children a couple of years older, and those books talk about travel and survival skills. Also about friendship, and how to deal with the difficulties that arise in day to day life. Back to Saffron though, there’s no big messages, other then the pleasure of being a dog, living a great dog’s life, with loving owners. And learning from experience, as she grows up. This first book compares what it’s like to live in Paris, and in the French countryside, with their respective advantages and disadvantages, which is something I think children could find interesting. And most important, it’s not me, but Saffron who’s talking, describing her expériences from her own dog perspective. I think that’s something that children could well relate to.
- How was your publishing experience?
Well, I began by self-publishing. It was great to see my books in print, but I wasn’t able to do much by way of promotion and marketing. Partly because I live in France, and the books were in English, and partly because I don’t really use social media that much. I gave copies to friends and family. So they got into school libraries, and a couple of bookshops (Mollat, Bordeaux). But there were no réal sales to speak of. Until, I was contacted by several publishing houses, both for the Rita books and the Saffron books. I chose to go with Europe Books for the Saffron project, and they’ve been really enthusiastic and responsive. I’m very hopeful that with their expertise, I can bring Saffron’s story to a wide readership.
- Are you working on new writing projects that you can tell us about?
Firstly, I have some other self-published books already available online. ‘Me Saffron, My First Year’ is available in French, and ‘Me Saffron, My Second Year’ is available in English. And I’m currently writing Saffron’s third year. Separately, my book about a parrot called Rita, who escapes from her horrible owners in England, and gradually works her way back to Mozambique, where her parents had been captured, is being published very soon by another publishing house. And the sequel of that book is already written, describing the way in which, with the help of her cousin Tina, she learns how to adapt to the life of the jungle. My plan is to continue both series, with a sequel each year.
Europe Books thanks the author David Greaves once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book Me, Saffron (My first year). We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my readers, may this book be a great source of inspiration for everyone and may it bring you a great experience to enjoy. And remember that, no matter how adult you are, books for children have a lot to teach us all! Written in simple and clear concepts, illustrated children’s book have the ability to give us important life lessons or they put us back in touch with our forgotten child side which just needs to be awakened.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!