Older Not Wiser is the first book in a wickedly funny new series for ages six and up from the creator of Where Bear?, Pass It On and the Pom Pom series, with colour illustrations throughout!
We chat with Sophy Henn about Older Not Wiser, writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Sophy! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Crumbs, ok, well, my name is Sophy Henn and by some extreme good fortune (and rather a lot of
hard work!) I have found myself writing and illustrating children’s books, and I love it! I have written and illustrated anything from board books through to illustrated fiction. I live in Sussex, England, not too far from the sea, I love a good murder mystery (fictional, obviously) and drink too much tea.
How is your 2021 going in comparison to that other year?
Hmmm, well I have kept focusing on the fact that I am VERY lucky that I can work from home and I have been keeping busy writing and illustrating throughout the whole of ‘ALL THIS’. So far 2021 hasn’t been that much different, but I suppose I am used to changes now, such as doing events via Zoom, so that has made it less jarring. I have just had my first vaccine though, so I am cautiously excited that the world might be opening up a little soon.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
OH! Well, the book I remember actually reading myself was probably Milly Molly Mandy by Joyce Lankester Brisley (having read to me would have been Janet and Allan Ahlberg’s Cops and Robbers). The book that made me become an author was Charlie and Lola by Lauren Child, as that was the book the I read to my daughter when she was little, and we loved it. The ingenious way Child creates her illustrations and the playful way she writes opened up the whole world of children’s picture books to me, not just as books but as objects of design and communication, which made me want to have a go myself. And the book I cannot stop thinking about (other the one I am currently writing) is The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford. I have lost count of how many times I have read it – too heavenly.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I think I’ve always loved it, but I have also loved drawing and that was the direction I initially went in. I studied fashion communication and promotion and then worked in advertising, and it was in advertising that I probably found my confidence with words. Choosing them ever so carefully and sparingly to pair with an image to create an advertisement that hopefully conveyed quite complex message very quickly and impactfully. Rather like creating spreads for picture books really!
Your novel, Older Not Wiser, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Funny, empowering, heart-warming, silly, cheeky
What can readers expect?
Well, a rather naughty grandmother for starters! The book is told through the eyes of Jeanie, Bad Nana’s 7 3/4 granddaughter, who finds her nana utterly embarrassing, completely hilarious, and occasionally inspiring in turns. Bad Nana isn’t BAD bad, she’s more up to no good or a little bit cheeky and she only uses her powers positively…standing up to bullies, taking bossy boots down a peg or two, that kind of thing. And as with all good nanas she a ready supply of sweets in her handbag, oh and a whoopee cushion, I mean, you never know when you might need
Where did the inspiration for Older Not Wiser come from?
Bad Nana started life as a comic strip in a comic I made for my daughter when she was about 8 (it was also my final project for my MA, but she was my inspiration!). I had noticed a real lack of older female characters that were strong, funny, bold and a little bit naughty, and I think that’s lacking across many areas of publishing, not just children’s books. I thought that having a character like that would be hugely empowering to young girls, about to go through those ever so tricky teenage years and all the confusing feelings you might have about growing up. Bad Nana shows that you can be old, but also young! With a strong sense of justice, an eye for fun, and that as you get older you care less about what other think of you, something young girls are often inhibited by. AND basically, I am writing my dream retirement, I am essentially hoping I grow up to be Bad Nana.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
When I do school events, I LOVE to talk to the children about all the things that have gone wrong for me and how I NEVER get things right first time. Every time I sit down to write a book I feel immensely challenged, and for me that works as that feeling pushes me to dig deep and try my very best. I started in picture books seven years ago and if you had told me I would have six illustrated fiction books in the world in 2021 I would have howled with laughter. Then probably run away and hid. But I have, by challenging myself with every book I write. I am upping my word count one book at a time, who knows where it will end!
If it’s not too spoilery, were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Well, I LOVE writing Bad Nana! And as I said I am writing the Nana I would like to be, if I am brave enough! She is such a strong character that I just drop her into situations and follow her around, hooting with laughter at her hijinks! I realize that’s basically me laughing at my own jokes, but when I am writing about her it’s like hanging out with an old friend who knows how to make you laugh. And as I am writing it all in the voice of Jeanie, her granddaughter, I am channeling my daughter when she was her age and all the overheard conversations between her and her friends in the back of the car as I drove them about, so that’s a lovely place to be as well!
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
Well the worst was probably from my journalism tutor when I was at Central St Martins, studying fashion, and it wasn’t so much advice as her rolling her eyes when she was reading my work. I often have a chuckle imagining what she would say if she ever found out I am now an author. But it made me realize (after many years!) that I have my own style and not everyone will get it, but that’s OK because it’s what makes my work, mine! And the best would be something I scribbled on a post-it-note that has been stuck on my computer for the last 5 or so years. It says, “Remember who you are writing for and how you want them to feel.” And that about sums it up. The world of children’s books is a wonderful one, full of some incredible, creative people all doing amazing things and it’s very easy to have your head turned by that. Wondering about how your work measures up to this person or that can get a bit overwhelming but none of that matters. What actually matters is your audience and how you make them feel. It seems obvious now I write it down but coming back to that again and again has really helped me over the years.
What’s next for you?
I am happy to say there are two more Bad Nana book and I would love to write more. I am currently writing and illustrating my Pizazz series about a reluctant 9 1/4-year-old superhero who finds the whole saving the world business a bit annoying and utterly embarrassing. Like Bad Nana, it’s illustrated fiction but also has comic strips running through it to differentiate between her ‘normal’ life and her ‘super’ life. I am also working on some picture books both fiction and nonfiction with The Best Worst Day Ever (fiction) and All Kinds of Animal Families (nonfiction) coming out very soon.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I know I am late to the party, but Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson was an utter joy. A brilliant graphic novel about a bit of an outsider trying to work out where she fits, on wheels and with fabulous socks. And a grown-up book I adore is The Summer Book by Tove Janson (better known as the creator of the Moomins), which is a beautiful story about a wonderful grandmother and her headstrong granddaughter. But there are no whoopee cushions in that one!
