We are intergalactically excited to welcome Stephanie Ward to the blog to share her universal adventures with the creation of her exuberantly playful story of Allen the Alien – an (overly) enthusiastic space dweller on an earthly mission to make human connections. Thanks, Stephanie, for introducing us to your exceptional new friend! 🙂
Congratulations on the release of your brilliant, out-of-this-world new picture book, Allen the Alien! Can you briefly tell us what it’s about?
Thanks so much! It’s such a thrill to celebrate the launch (and landing!) of Allen the Alien in bookstores across Australia and New Zealand.
Allen the Alien is the story of a fun-loving alien and his pet who crash land on Earth and attempt to make friends with Earthlings. The detailed illustrations tell a different story from what the sparse text suggests, so there are lots of fun things to discover on each spread.
Where did the inspiration for this book come from?
Allen the Alien was one of the first manuscripts I brought to my writing group at Writing NSW when I began to focus on writing children’s books. I was living half-way around the world from my family and was feeling quite isolated. This book became a sort of thank you note to the people who made my family and I feel welcome.
What do you hope readers will gain from reading Allen the Alien?
The book touches upon themes of acceptance, compassion and understanding. I hope Allen the Alien prompts readers to consider how similar we all are despite our differences and, perhaps, kindles empathy when encountering someone or in Allen’s case, something, new.
The illustrations by Aleck Morton are superbly comical with an intergalactic edginess about them, yet at the same time perfectly capture the emotive essence of trying to belong. What do you love most about his illustrations?
I was blown away by the style of Aleck Morton’s illustrations and the comic-like feel to the spreads. The details are endlessly entertaining! People often say that illustrators ‘bring their characters to life’, but Aleck created a whole playfully chaotic setting for Allen and Byte to explore (and sometimes destroy). I’m completely in awe.
What is your favourite part of this book?
I adore the last page of the book and full credit goes to Aleck for it. It shows a boy staring up into the sky, missing Allen. I know that feeling all too well – that somewhere out there is someone you miss. Not only does it speak to being apart from loved ones, but it illustrates how much of a bond we can make with others that have come into our lives, even briefly. It was the perfect way to end the story.
What tips can you share about integrating your personal story with fiction, for aspiring and emerging authors?
This is such a great question that really made me think. I realised that I never set out to write about being lonely or acceptance when I drafted Allen the Alien. Allen was simply a misunderstood alien with a penchant for extreme play. In my debut picture book, Arabella and the Magic Pencil (illustrated by Shaney Hyde, published by EK Books), I didn’t plan to write about my angst at welcoming a new sibling – though my family, especially my sister and brother, will tell you that I talk about it, a lot! Arabella was just a girl who could draw things that became real.
The themes worked themselves into my stories because they are so strongly a part of who I am. They became more prominent as the story developed and the layers became clear. If I was an organised plotter, I would probably make a list of themes that resonate with me and tie them to a story concept, but instead I find that they ooze into my writing on their own accord.
I’m curious to find out how other writers would answer this question. Do some writers know exactly what they want to say and how to say it from the first draft? Or do some stories grow organically from a seed of inspiration that might not be clear at first?
Anything else about yourself or Allen you’d like to share?
If I could write an epilogue for Allen the Alien, it would again be inspired by my own experience. After the warm welcome that I experienced in Australia, my family became citizens and consider Australia another home. I think Allen feels the same way about Earth. I imagine that Allen and Byte can’t wait to come back for a visit…and wreak a bit of havoc once again!
Thanks so much, Stephanie! Allen is awesome! 🙂
Trailer 1 by Aleck Morton
About the Author
Stephanie Ward is the author of board books Clownfish Aren’t Funny! and Don’t Laugh Giraffe!, as well as picture books Arabella and the Magic Pencil and Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin.
After many years in marketing, Stephanie now spends her time writing sweet, silly and side-splitting stories for children. Originally from Spokane, Washington, she can (currently) be found in London, England with her husband and young son.
Stephanie is also a book reviewer for Armadillo Magazine and The Children’s Book Review and a former book reviewer for the Children’s Book Council of Australia.
You can find out more about Stephanie at her website:
Find Stephanie Ward at her website: Stephanie Ward – Notes from a Writer with Wanderlust (stephaniemward.com) and on Instagram, Facebook, Goodreads and Amazon.
Allen the Alien is available for purchase from Riveted Press and online and at your local bookstore or library.
Join in this intergalactic adventure with Stephanie Ward and her out-of-this-world picture book, Allen the Alien, impressing readers across the blogosphere (and entire universe)!
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