Cork author: ‘I love the vibe and energy of children’

JENNIFER Wallace is an author and mother from Cork who loves stories.

Her first book, Dinosaur Pie, written for children aged six and up, has just hit the book shelves.

“Growing up in Monkstown, I was one of those kids for whom books were their thing. I read a ridiculous amount and I’ve always written. It is how I process the world,” said Jennifer.

She is excited to share Dinosaur Pie with readers.

I hope children enjoy it, and that the adults reading it find it funny too. 

"I wanted to write a family book. It needs to be funny to the adult reading it at night too, otherwise the bedtime story becomes a chore. It is a book about family and friends, muddling through with kindness and gentleness.”

Kindness is important, she says.

“I have read so many funny kids’ books; the ones I connect with most have a humour that is kind. It is very easy to do unkind humour, but that is not what I want to put out in the world. You can write stuff for yourself with all kinds of energy, but when you are sharing something with the world, it’s different.

DINOSAUR PIE

The book features a neurodivergent character, another element with personal resonance for the author.

“I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as an adult. Rory, the main character in Dinosaur Pie, also has ADHD, as does his mum. He happens to have it and that’s his lens; it also happens to be mine. 

The book is not about ADHD at all, but I’m interested in representing families – ordinary, slightly chaotic families. 

"Those families who are very loving and nurturing, and who do things slightly differently to what is perceived as normal. I’m interested in those human traits.

“I also wanted a neurodivergent child to be a main character and not a sidekick.”

Jen works in both verse and prose and likes to weave stories from a child’s perspective, full of wonder, wisdom, and questioning. She gets a lot of her energy from being around children, and celebrated the launch of the book, at 2Point Road in Crosshaven, a distinctly family affair.

“I’m not interested in a formal setting. I love the vibe and the energy of children. They are so open and enthusiastic, fun and ridiculous. I love playing with that.”

The writing and development of the book was absolutely a family affair.

“It helped that I had a seven-year-old child when I was writing. And it was lovely as a family, going through the editing process. 

When the cover designs were coming in we all voted on them at home. 

"It was great for my children to see the process and good for them to see their mother doing her own thing too.”

EXCITING TIMES

“It’s very busy. I’m working with Ark Theatre in Dublin now, as well as Branar Theatre in Galway. I have just finished a residency in Monkstown Primary School as well, working with junior and senior infants.”

Jen was thrilled to win a fellowship with Raising Voices in 2022 and her writing career has really taken off since.

“Rasing Voices gave me huge support. I wrote a draft of this book during the fellowship and connected with Little Island Press. Little Island have also been amazing. They are lovely and patient. It’s been fun, and they have been so enthusiastic about the book. I was thrilled when they connected me with the fabulous illustrator Alan O’Rourke.”

The illustrations add to the book’s accessibility, another factor of importance to the author.

“I wanted it to be as accessible to as many readers as possible. It is written with the kind of humour that I hope we don’t grow out of. 

The chapters are short with cliff hangers and the publisher has printed it in Dyslexia-friendly print. Alan’s drawings really break up the text too.

Jen Wallace seems very content to be at her stage of life.

“I turned 50 at the end of last year. Most of my working life, I’ve been teaching kids in some way or another. It’s only in the last two or three years that I have had real space for writing in my life. I’m busy driving kids around but I have time now to write too.”

Everything is coming full circle for the Cork creative.

“ I’m still kind of reeling a bit from it. This is the stuff I have always wanted to do. I’m old enough now to realise how much of a privilege it is to work and write for young people. It is all very important stuff.

“It is a real honour to spend time with young people – to have them listen to you, to get a chance to listen to them.

“I’m very excited to do school visits with the book soon. Not everyone is comfortable walking into a school, but I love it. I’m also aware that not everyone is comfortable walking into bookshops, so I’m happy to reach them in other ways, by just hanging out and chatting with them where they are are.”

Dinosaur Pie, published by Little Island, written by Jen Wallace and illustrated by Alan O’Rourke, is in bookshops now.