An interview with Stuart Simmonds – ex-pro cricketer, turned children’s author! – Mummascribbles

Sometimes I get an email pop into my inbox and I think, oh that sounds fun. And this happened very recently when I was contacted about the opportunity to interview Stuart Simmonds, an ex-pro cricketer and an accomplished sports coach, turned children’s author. I was interested because a) I have a big cricket fan of an other half in the house and the kids quite like it too (I came home from a dog walk the other day to find them both sat on the iPad watching a match), and b) because I was genuinely intrigued at how a sportsman came to be a children’s author! So I sent off my questions and a few days ago they returned. Here, Stuart talks about his sporting career, his books, why he is so passionate about getting children reading, and also has a couple of nuggets of advice if you are thinking about writing your own story!

For the record, I have not received any monetary payment for this post, or any gifts in kind. It is quite simply an interview for content purposes 🙂

I was really lucky to play with – and especially against – some truly world-class players as well as getting to spend so much time with so many brilliant people. Probably the best and most exciting time was my first season as an overseas professional in South Africa in 1995/96. Over the years, there were lots of massive highlights and a few low points to boot, but getting my all–time hero, David Gower to my book launch in London was pretty special. Seeing the look on my Dad’s face when he arrived made all the effort worthwhile. He laughed at all the jokes in my speech as well, which was a real bonus.

What was the inspiration behind your move to writing children’s stories?

It all came about as a bit of a surprise after the success of writing “Watching with my Heroes”. In essence, it was all about keeping the promises I’d made to my girls that one-day I’d turn their bedtime stories into real life books. I managed to just about get Hannah the first rough drafts for her 21st Birthday and then the whole project went ballistic. Two years later, it’s become a completely different beast and Lucy is about to get her book, “Harry the Karate Monkey” in a few weeks time.

Was it hard to get your first children’s book published and did you come across any barriers from having a cricketing background and not being taken seriously?

It was an absolute nightmare, to be honest. Because I was up against time in order to get it done for Hannah’s birthday, I was initially going to go down the self publishing route because all the literary agents in London either never answered their phones or said it would take up to two years just to get someone to have a look at it. So after knocking up the first drafts, an agent told me the books had so much potential that I should set up my own publishing business and take care of it myself with the help of our newly formed team of experts. It was all set up in a few days and off we went… like you do!

How did you come about getting Bill Greenhead as the illustrator for your books?

We’d been introduced by a mutual friend called Dan Evans, who had helped me with the first drafts of Watching With My Heroes. He’d worked with Bill at The Daily Telegraph, so when I was looking for an illustrator to do the front and back cover, we hooked up. I told him of the plans I had to do the kids books and a few sketches later we were on our way.

Do you have plans for more children’s books over the next year?

Once Harry the Karate Monkey comes out in late September, we’re looking to do another two stories a year in 2021 and 2022 as a minimum. We were also taken on by an overseas rights agency last year and there had been lots of interest in Asia for the series, before all the Covid 19 lockdowns sent the industry crashing for a while. We have been asked to start looking at another Hannah series, which we have in the pipeline but we’ll just have to be patient and see what the world looks like when and if we return to normal.

We’d obviously love that to happen and we’ve already spoken to several production companies about turning Hannah the Spanner into a series. However, again, those plans have been put on hold because of the Covid 19 nightmare, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed the interest will pick up again.

Tell me a bit about the reading workshops that you run in schools.

We’ve visited so many schools over the last couple of years and have started to run workshops trying to get the children reading and using their imaginations in order to come up with some new stories and ideas. Having stopped coaching sport for a job just after the cricket book came out, it’s been lovely to spend some time with the children in school again.

Why are you so passionate about getting children reading?

There are so many other things that are on offer for children these days so I’m really passionate about them doing something useful other than having a screen strapped to their face all day and night. I know I sound like an old man but that’s the way it is for so many kids and that’s why I seem to spend so much time these days trying to get children into books and playing sport.

What are your 3 top tips to get children interested in reading if they don’t show willing?

Have a go at making up some stories and characters on a subject that they’re interested in. If they like art as well, get them to draw or paint the characters. You never know, they could be worth a fortune one day.

Fully throw yourself into the world that the books create. Do the voices, throw your arms around and make it fun. If they ask for the story again, it’s obviously been a good one so have another go.

Try not to make it the same as reading at school. This is just your time between the two of you and enjoy it, because trust me, it won’t last forever.

Just let your imagination off the leash and see what you can come up with. Even a look around your kid’s bedrooms will give you somewhere to start. It never matters just how bizarre or strange the things that come out, just keep going with it. Oh, and before it becomes a world-wide sensation, make sure you write it down first just in case you forget it.

Finally, don’t ever worry what anybody else thinks of your stories. Have faith in what you’ve done and see where it takes you. Just don’t take fifteen years to turn them into books like I did!

About the author:

Stuart Simmonds is a married father of two girls, Hannah and Lucy. An accomplished cricketer and sports coach, he now runs a property business from his home in East Grinstead, Sussex.

Prior to writing the Hannah the Spanner series, he wrote an autobiography on a life in cricket, titled ‘Watching With My Heroes’, which was widely sold through all major retailers.

Having long considered writing children’s books based on a promise made to his daughter when she was just five, late last year he presented her with the first edition drafts on her 21st birthday.

You can find his books at www.hannahthespanner.com