Today we talk about The Adventures of Beatrice and Risky, a book by Rick Reid published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Rick Reid to get to know him better, where he found the inspiration to write his children book The Adventures of Beatrice and Risky, as well as what parents will understand through his story.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where did you find the inspiration to write a children’s book?
I have always loved writing, painting and drawing from when I was a kid. This led me into the world of advertising and eventually as Creative Director. The adventures of Beatrice & Risky came by some real events. I live inner-city in a cottage with a turret and a courtyard. One day a friend, who breeds roosters, dropped by and suggested I could have a rooster I called him “Risky”. One morning, some time after, I heard this tiny “Meow Meow” coming from the hedge. I found this most beautiful tiny young kitten, obviously abandoned. My heart melted and I gave her a drink and something to eat. I named her Beatrice after a great old aunt of mine. After, Beatrice and Risky built up this wonderful if strange relationship. They obviously both had quite different personalities. Beatrice was inquisitive, and adventurous and cheeky. Risky ‘s personality was quite the opposite. He was very straight and conservative. He thought she was very silly. I would tell my friends about their strange antics and they suggested I should write a children’s book based on these two characters. So, I did. But I expanded their actions into more fantastical stories and events. I loved books when I was a kid so it was easy for me to dive back into that world.
- How important do you think illustrations are in a children’s book?
When you want to connect with ‘emerging readers’ illustrations are crucial. They take up 90% of the area and a huge factor to entice and entertain the young reader. Also, through facial expression and body language you can communicate with more power to our readers. I like to use bold strong colors, with the illustration covering the entire double page spread. The type, which is only 5-10 words, I like to keep fairly large and in a clean friendly type face. I also like to use textures over the flat colors. From water- color wash, to chalk pastel, and even heavy HB pencil for dark shading. Young readers are very tactile and like to rub their fingers over the illustrations in a book. With digital you can enlarge detail areas in the background or the characters faces to intensify the visual experience. Also, with print you can do cut-outs and use textured papers to enhance the young readers’ experience. In summary, Illustrations are one of the most important factors if not the most important factor in books for emerging readers.
- What would you like to hear from your young readers?
A child’s mind is exceptionally curious, creative, and inquisitive. They lap up the stories, your characters, and your characters friends, like a sponge. It is the duty of the writer to make them as attractive as possible. I am humbled by the child’s mind and their acceptance of new things in the story book world. I would love to hear from young readers, what they like and what they don’t like. Where they would like to see Beatrice and Risky go and what kind of new friends they would like to see them to meet. I am their servant who happens to have the modest ability to bring these things to life. I intend to do little interactive activities like ‘How you can draw Beatrice and Risky’ ‘How to make them look happy or sad’. Add in the pages at the back of the book just outlines which they can color-in. It would be nice to send some of my original drawings to avid readers of B&R. These six to eight-years-old are my masters, I am their humble servant.
- What will parents understand through your stories?
Parents play a pivotal role in what their young readers will read. I certainly do not intend to lecture my young readers but rather by demonstration show good manners, kindness, tolerance and thankfulness to the new characters they meet. I also like to drop in specks of knowledge where I can. Like ‘Lick-Etty-Split’s’ ability to use camouflage to keep safe and how he has a very long tongue which he can drink water with. In another book which features two frogs ‘Spic & Span’ they drink by leaping into a pond and absorbing the water through their skin. Plus, B&R are very inclusive of all the different visitors the receive or go out and meet. One was a purple poodle who lived next door to Beatrice & Risky. Risky told Beatrice to be nice to the strange poodle and no to dislike him because he is different. Through tolerance grows understanding, and good friends are made. (This purple poodle does exist next door but that’s another story.) Kids learn things when they possibly do realize it. They are being entertained as well as gaining knowledge by the story telling. Kids will take good and less good things into their life. It nice to show them the good things. And how good things are way better.
- Are you working on new writing projects that you can tell us about?
Most certainly. “The Adventures of Beatrice & Risky Two books in One“ is from the ‘emerging reader ‘category 5-8-years old. I have already completed a further 8 in this category and always adding to the pile. My own research and discussions with school librarians a while back I was informed There are three demographics before the age of ten for children’s reading. The first is Picture Books for zero to five-year old. And that’s what they are. No words just let the pictures tell the story. I have 3 picture books completed and a further three more in the sketched-out stage. The third category is the “Read out Loud” group for nine years old plus This category has chapters about 2000 words each and 20 plus illustrations. These stories are a bit more complicated to suit the audience. I have completed 24 chapters and I will let the publishers decide if it is three chapters per book or some other configuration. That’s if we make it that far of course I hope so. So, there is work done which may need revisiting and work to come. Which I will do with any outcome, be what it may. The joy of sitting in my sunny upstairs studio with possibly a thousand more illustrations to do. I could not be any happier.
Europe Books thanks the author Rick Reid 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 The Adventures of Beatrice and Risky. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my dear reader, 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!