Today I will be interviewing the delightfully comical Guy Bass - award winning children's author of the renowned 'Stitch Head' series and his most recent, catastrophically flawless masterpiece, 'The Legend of Frog'.
I bumped in to Guy at his London home, just as he was cooking up a rather unusual culinary delight of sorts...
I bumped in to Guy at his London home, just as he was cooking up a rather unusual culinary delight of sorts...
Hi Guy, thank you for taking part in this interview today. Let’s start off with a simple question...
1. Why, if two wrongs don't make a right, do two negatives make a positive in mathematics?
I think it was Pythagoras who said, “Maths makes no sense. I’m off to the pub.” It’s a mantra I’ve always lived by.
Thanks Guy, this is by far the best maths advice I have ever received - see you there!
2. Tell us something about yourself that we may not already know.
I have hobbit’s feet. My wife calls them ‘Bilbo’ and‘Frodo’.
Hmm... scary!
I think it was Pythagoras who said, “Maths makes no sense. I’m off to the pub.” It’s a mantra I’ve always lived by.
Thanks Guy, this is by far the best maths advice I have ever received - see you there!
2. Tell us something about yourself that we may not already know.
I have hobbit’s feet. My wife calls them ‘Bilbo’ and‘Frodo’.
Hmm... scary!
3. You are obviously a dab hand in the kitchen; do you enjoy cooking
anything else apart from books?
When it comes to cooking I’m both keen and amateurish, which only
gets you so far, but I do like to think I make the best Bolognese in London.
Then again I like to think I’m Europe’s greatest free runner, which is how
I broke both my legs.
Oh no, sorry to hear that Guy. Maybe you should stick to the book cooking.
anything else apart from books?
When it comes to cooking I’m both keen and amateurish, which only
gets you so far, but I do like to think I make the best Bolognese in London.
Then again I like to think I’m Europe’s greatest free runner, which is how
I broke both my legs.
Oh no, sorry to hear that Guy. Maybe you should stick to the book cooking.
4. When cooking books, what would you say is the most vital ingredient?
Perseverance - you’ll need around 28 pints. Frustratingly, It’s also the hardest ingredient to get hold of in any significant quantity. Inspiration is putting the right ingredients into the mixing bowl, but Perseverance is stirring that thing until your arm falls off.
Maybe a little light music will help Guy...
Perseverance - you’ll need around 28 pints. Frustratingly, It’s also the hardest ingredient to get hold of in any significant quantity. Inspiration is putting the right ingredients into the mixing bowl, but Perseverance is stirring that thing until your arm falls off.
Maybe a little light music will help Guy...
5. You have written over 20 books to date, am I right in thinking 22? Which one is your favourite? (You’re not allowed to choose the latest one, ‘The Legend of Frog’ or a current WIP).
I guess I should say Stitch Head since it’s certainly the most popular, but I think my favourite is Secret Santa: Agent of X.M.A.S. The puns alone bump it to the top of the list. For some reason I expected a book with Father Christmas on the cover to sell for more than two months a year. I could write a hundred Secret Santa books… or at least four.
I guess I should say Stitch Head since it’s certainly the most popular, but I think my favourite is Secret Santa: Agent of X.M.A.S. The puns alone bump it to the top of the list. For some reason I expected a book with Father Christmas on the cover to sell for more than two months a year. I could write a hundred Secret Santa books… or at least four.
6. Talking of ‘The Legend of Frog’, where did you get the idea for ‘Catastrophe Pants’? Do you have your own pair and if so, could you describe them or better still draw a picture of them?
I think I’d have to go with some sort of “utility bloomer”– roomy, hard-wearing
and comfortable but with added storage pockets for all my catastrophe-busting doodads.
Hmm - very nice Guy, not sure they'd be a good look with your Hobbit feet though!
7. Apart from Frog, who is your favourite character in ‘The Legend of Frog’ and why?
Sheriff Explosion the sheep. He shouldn’t be a fun character- he’s disinterested, non-committal and neither well-meaning nor particularly loyal – and he only says “Baa”. But if that’s good enough for Frog, it’s good enough for me! I love writing him.
I think I’d have to go with some sort of “utility bloomer”– roomy, hard-wearing
and comfortable but with added storage pockets for all my catastrophe-busting doodads.
Hmm - very nice Guy, not sure they'd be a good look with your Hobbit feet though!
7. Apart from Frog, who is your favourite character in ‘The Legend of Frog’ and why?
Sheriff Explosion the sheep. He shouldn’t be a fun character- he’s disinterested, non-committal and neither well-meaning nor particularly loyal – and he only says “Baa”. But if that’s good enough for Frog, it’s good enough for me! I love writing him.
8. The illustrations in your books are amazing, particularly in your latest one. Do you leave the design to your illustrators or do you have the ideas yourself?
I doodle a lot when I start a new series, and I definitely have an idea of how certain characters, items or locations should look - but I’ve come to realise there are a lot of people who are better at drawing my characters than me (namely Jonny Duddle, who did the incredible cover, and the ace internals illustrator Oda Sonju). I do stick my oar in as much as possible though! I’ve been
incredibly luckily with illustrators and seeing the designs and roughs is one
of my favourite parts of the process.
Yes I totally agree with you, it's very exciting to see a book cover come together, however I don't have any that are so dramatic and eye-catching as yours. Maybe I should look in to the 'Frog' options for future books - I wonder if I could conjure up a frog romance with a dribble of humour...
9. If you could star in ‘The Legend of Guy’, who or what would be your sidekick and what could they do for you?
An otter. It would teach me the forgotten arts of frolicking and
clamshell-cracking.
incredibly luckily with illustrators and seeing the designs and roughs is one
of my favourite parts of the process.
Yes I totally agree with you, it's very exciting to see a book cover come together, however I don't have any that are so dramatic and eye-catching as yours. Maybe I should look in to the 'Frog' options for future books - I wonder if I could conjure up a frog romance with a dribble of humour...
9. If you could star in ‘The Legend of Guy’, who or what would be your sidekick and what could they do for you?
An otter. It would teach me the forgotten arts of frolicking and
clamshell-cracking.
10. What sort of books did you read when you were a small boy?
I read a lot of Roald Dahl, the Willard Price Adventure books, the Silver Brumby series… plus a lot of non-fiction. My brother was into dinosaurs, so we had dozens of dinosaur books. My dino-knowledge is pretty good to this day as a result. I also read a lot of comics – I mean, a LOT.
I read a lot of Roald Dahl, the Willard Price Adventure books, the Silver Brumby series… plus a lot of non-fiction. My brother was into dinosaurs, so we had dozens of dinosaur books. My dino-knowledge is pretty good to this day as a result. I also read a lot of comics – I mean, a LOT.
11. What is your favourite sandwich filling?
A good sandwich is a numbers game – the more ingredients, the better. Chicken, cheese, lettuce, pastrami, coleslaw, pickle… pickle galore. My aunt does the most cracking piccalilli. I have two jars in the fridge the size of my head.
12. What annoys you the most?
Injustice. And when musicians break into song during interviews.
12. What annoys you the most?
Injustice. And when musicians break into song during interviews.
Oops - sorry Guy - didn't mean to annoy you with that!
13. If you were to get a dog, what type would it be (a permanent resident, not a doggy-sitting job)?
A soppy Staffordshire bull terrier. The more softies like me have them, the fewer people will see them as status symbols.
13. If you were to get a dog, what type would it be (a permanent resident, not a doggy-sitting job)?
A soppy Staffordshire bull terrier. The more softies like me have them, the fewer people will see them as status symbols.
14. When is your best time to write, mornings or evenings or anything in
between?
Mornings and evenings. I have a period of creativity when I get up, which I generally augment with a gallon of coffee. Catch me at 3pm and I’m just staring blankly at the computer screen or writing and deleting the same sentence, like a stuck record. I really get going at around 6pm though. Not great for the social life…!
Ah, so you're a night writer. Well Guy, here is a little something to keep you warm during those long winter nights of writing on your laptop...
between?
Mornings and evenings. I have a period of creativity when I get up, which I generally augment with a gallon of coffee. Catch me at 3pm and I’m just staring blankly at the computer screen or writing and deleting the same sentence, like a stuck record. I really get going at around 6pm though. Not great for the social life…!
Ah, so you're a night writer. Well Guy, here is a little something to keep you warm during those long winter nights of writing on your laptop...
15. Your school presentations are hilarious – you have a great sense of humour. Are you comical in your general day to day life too?
Thanks!
I suspect I think I’m funnier than I am, day to day. When my wife comes to events people often ask her if I’m funny at home – and she generously resists the urge to tell them I’m a navel gazing grump. I try to see the funny side though. Life can sometimes seem like a bad joke, and I love a bad joke.
I’m also making a funny face as I write this.
I have no doubt Guy, I've seen your funny faces!
Thanks!
I suspect I think I’m funnier than I am, day to day. When my wife comes to events people often ask her if I’m funny at home – and she generously resists the urge to tell them I’m a navel gazing grump. I try to see the funny side though. Life can sometimes seem like a bad joke, and I love a bad joke.
I’m also making a funny face as I write this.
I have no doubt Guy, I've seen your funny faces!
16. I quote, ‘An awesome adventure just waiting to be made into a film!’ Creative Steps
If ‘The Legend of Frog' were to be made in to a film, who should
play the part of Frog, either in person or as a voice-over?
Doesn’t Kermit have a little brother? He might have what it takes.
I think this could be his younger brother - Kevin...
If ‘The Legend of Frog' were to be made in to a film, who should
play the part of Frog, either in person or as a voice-over?
Doesn’t Kermit have a little brother? He might have what it takes.
I think this could be his younger brother - Kevin...
17. Roald Dahl or J K Rowling?
Roald Dahl, although apparently they’ve both done reasonably well.
18. Chinese or Indian takeaway?
Chinese. Crispy shredded beef, please!
Roald Dahl, although apparently they’ve both done reasonably well.
18. Chinese or Indian takeaway?
Chinese. Crispy shredded beef, please!
19. Favourite subject in school?
English… although creative writing stopped abruptly when I went to secondary school. I was gutted.
20. . Are you a planner or spontaneous?
I’m too lazy to make plans. Spontaneous!
21. The countryside or the city?
City.
22. Cautious or reckless?
I think choosing a career that could implode at any moment is inherently reckless. Or at least incautious.
English… although creative writing stopped abruptly when I went to secondary school. I was gutted.
20. . Are you a planner or spontaneous?
I’m too lazy to make plans. Spontaneous!
21. The countryside or the city?
City.
22. Cautious or reckless?
I think choosing a career that could implode at any moment is inherently reckless. Or at least incautious.
23. Can you tell us anything about the future of Guy Bass and his writing?
I’m writing the third Legend of Frog book at the moment, which wraps up Frog’s adventure in Kingdomland. It’s the first time I’ve planned out a
single story arc over more than one book, and it’s been a lot of fun. After that I’m hoping to return to one of my previous series and write another book or two.
That’s another first and I’m really excited about it. Not sure I can say much else at this point! I’m also working on some picture book ideas, and an older book.
Great news to hear that there will be more froggie delights for us to look forward to in the future.
24. Last but not least, if I gave you an elephant, where would you hide it?
In “the room.” No one talks about the elephant in the room, so no need to hide it.
I’m writing the third Legend of Frog book at the moment, which wraps up Frog’s adventure in Kingdomland. It’s the first time I’ve planned out a
single story arc over more than one book, and it’s been a lot of fun. After that I’m hoping to return to one of my previous series and write another book or two.
That’s another first and I’m really excited about it. Not sure I can say much else at this point! I’m also working on some picture book ideas, and an older book.
Great news to hear that there will be more froggie delights for us to look forward to in the future.
24. Last but not least, if I gave you an elephant, where would you hide it?
In “the room.” No one talks about the elephant in the room, so no need to hide it.
Thank you for joining me today Guy, it’s been great fun. I wish you every success for the future.
Thanks Tara! It’s been more fun than fondue!
Find out more about Guy and his books either here, on the Author Showcase, or at his website: http://www.guybass.com/
Thanks Tara! It’s been more fun than fondue!
Find out more about Guy and his books either here, on the Author Showcase, or at his website: http://www.guybass.com/