Roald Dahl, Julia Donaldson and C.S. Lewis… big boots to follow but self-published author, Gavin Rhodes has high hopes for his own literary success. We talk favourite authors, inspiring young writers and the importance of reading for kids with Gavin, the brains behind children’s book series Superstar Kids and Dad to two.

TLH: what was your journey to Superstar Books?

GR: I always had a creative side to me and after the birth of my children; I had an idea to write some stories based on experiences of parenthood. I started writing some notes on the train to and from work. Morals and life lessons formed the basis of the stories and the first two stories were written with my kids in mind. I love rhyme so I decided to incorporate the style within the stories and it was working well. The writing seemed to flow nicely and before I knew it I had a few stories written in my iPhone notes. With the little spare time I get, I would write wherever I got the chance. With ten stories written I decided to split them into two books and get them published!

TLH: what led you down the self-publishing route?

GR: I decided to go down the self-publishing route as I had heard that it was the quickest and easiest way and that these days it was the preferred option for new authors. I happened to come across New Generation Publishing in my research. They had good reviews and were reasonable when it came to cost. I didn’t realise at the time but my best mate (top sales trainer and author) also used them and recommended them.

TLH: why do you write the kinds of books you do?

GR: Having two young children, watching them grow and learn from mistakes, I thought I could use my experiences as a Dad (and also from my own childhood) to produce a set of stories all around morals and life lessons for children to read and learn about that are fun, colourful and easy to understand.

TLH: what is your writing process?

GR: For Superstar Kids, the process is firstly idea generation for each story. I think about different situations kids find themselves in and link important morals or messages. Each story has a similar format. I write mainly during my commute to work. Sometimes it flows, sometimes it doesn’t! Once a final draft for a story is complete, it gets sent to my editor for review. The illustrator will then start the process of creating a story board based on the text and I work closely with them both to ensure we are happy with how the illustrations fit with the stories. The whole process takes around 3 months before we hand it over to the publisher.

TLH: the Scheffler to your Donaldson; how did you find the right illustrative ingredient to complete your creative partnership?

GR: I advertised for a new young talented illustrator on the Central St. Martins Art School job board and had many applicants. One of the applicants was amazing but wasn’t quite what I was looking for but she recommended I check out her sister’s work. That’s how I met Aliyah. Her work was so good and exactly the style I wanted. We got on well and have worked really well together to produce two great ‘Superstar Kids’ books (so far!).

TLH: Why do you think illustrations are so integral (and important) to children's books?

GR: Illustrations in children’s books are so important particularly for a younger audience. When children are able to see the characters and the environment in a story, it allows them to get a better understanding of what’s going on and keep them engaged. We all know the attention span for kids is not long! You will often see lots of illustrations and bright colours in books for beginners but as they get older it’s not so much the case as imagination plays a more important role, with books having more pages and an advanced / mature text. For Superstar Kids, Aliyah’s interpretation perfectly reflects the stories told in a cool, expressive and colourful way, giving the readers a fun and educational book in more ways than one!

TLH: what is your take on nurturing imagination in children?

GR: It’s really hard to compete with TV these days. TV, phones and tablets are a big part of life now but it’s important to encourage children to use their imagination whether it’s with books, role play or art. Imagination is the key to creativity and without creativity; life would be a bit boring!

TLH: what is your favourite thing about writing for kids?

GR: Seeing kids enjoying my books and learning something from them is so rewarding.

TLH: what was/were your favourite books to read as a child?

GR: My favourite book as a child was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. It was so different to anything I had ever read before.

TLH: who are the authors you aspire to emulate?

GR: Julia Donaldson. I love her imagination and the quirky rhyming stories. She has written so many simple but effective books. I really admire her work and so do millions of others!

TLH: what books/authors do you love reading to your kids?

GR: The Roald Dahl books are timeless. I loved them as a kid and my children love them now. Funny, strange, scary, unique are just a few words that you could use to describe them. My kids love Matilda and The BFG.

TLH: Why is reading so important for kids?

GR: It’s so important to get kids reading from an early age, to give them a platform for learning, from a literary and educational perspective. With so many different types available, books develop their minds in regards to imagination and gaining an insight into life in general.

TLH: how do you think parents could encourage reading in the age of screen time?

GR: It’s certainly harder these days with there being so much distraction by way of technological advances, but in my view nothing beats a good old book! I think we should encourage reading books and give kids TV and Tablet time as a treat rather than being something they can do whenever they want.

TLH: do you take your kids to the library and/or into bookshops so they can appreciate and share in the tangible connection we have with books?

GR: Yes absolutely. The kids get new books to read from school but we still go to the library as much as possible. They love it there. With such a large collection of books available to read all in one place the children are in their element. There is something about reading a physical copy of a book. We don’t read e-books at all.

TLH: do you have any advice for kids who love to write?

GR: For those who love to write I would say express yourself and have freedom in your writing. Let your imagination run wild and have fun with it.

TLH: how about kids who don’t?

GR: For those who don’t, that’s ok. It’s not for everyone but you never know, you may have a hidden talent you never knew you had! I was certainly not passionate about writing as a kid but things change!

TLH: what’s next in your author’s journey?

GR: I am working on the third instalment of ‘Superstar Kids’ at the moment and I have a few other ideas and projects in the pipeline. I am exploring different types of writing so you never know; perhaps I might produce the next Harry Potter!

Shop the Superstar Kids books at Amazon.co.uk
[please note these items do not currently ship to Australia].

About Gavin

Gavin Rhodes is the author of children’s book series Superstar Kids. He lives in North West London with his wife, Nicole and their two children. Gavin began his career in finance, qualifying in accounting and finance and going to work for an insolvency firm. He later moved into investment banking where he stayed for 7 years before changing tack and taking on his current day job working in sales and relationship management for a technology and media firm in the city. To find out more about this self-professed sports mad author and super Dad, visit www.superstarkidsbook.com.