Will Mabbitt, Author of The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones | Speed Interview

The Children’s Book Review | July 19, 2015

Will Mabbitt writes. He writes in cafes, on trains, on the toilet, and sometimes in his head when his laptop runs out of power. He lives with his family somewhere in the south of England. The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones is his first book. Another one is coming soon.

The Children’s Book Review: Which five words best describe The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones?

Will Mabbitt: Funny, Exciting, Scary, Disgusting, and a complete disregard for rules. 

If you had to take a vacation with one of the characters from your book, who would it be? Why?

It would be Pelf the goat. He’s first mate aboard The Feroshus Maggot pirate ship. Pelf’s had an interesting life and could tell me all about his adventures. We wouldn’t be able to go anywhere by plane though as he’s always smoking. I’d probably have to pay for everything too.

What has been the best reaction from a reader of The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones, so far?

Someone said it inspired them to write their own story. It’s more than I could ever have hoped for.

What’s on your nightstand? Any books?

I know exactly what is there as I am writing this in bed and I can see. There’s two stagnant glasses of water, a paperclip, some dust, a dead crane fly and a copy of The Imaginary by A.F Harold (wonderfully illustrated by Emily Gravett), it’s a wonderful, wonderful book. It’s not really a nightstand though. It’s more of an upturned cardboard box.

For your writing energy: sugar or salt, tea or coffee?

Tea. Milk and two sugars please. Here’s a tip – always put the spent teabag in the sink for a few hours in the sink. This means someone else will usually perform the onerous task of carrying it to the bin without it dripping on the kitchen floor.

Writing tools: computer, pen and paper, or all of the above?

Laptop. Sometimes I draw things with a pen if I am confused which is often.

Can you tell us one more thing we may not know about The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones, your writing style, or yourself? 

Last night I fell down a hole. My foot has swollen to twice it’s normal size. Once I get out of bed I will go to hospital. If they have to remove it I will raffle it off to anyone who likes my Facebook page or who follows me on twitter.

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones

Written by  Will Mabbitt, Illustrated by Ross Collins

Publisher’s Synopsis: A funny fantasy-adventure series for fans of LEMONY SNICKET, NEIL GAIMAN, and ADAM GIDWITZ

Have you ever picked your nose? Have you ever picked your nose and EATEN IT? Have you ever picked your nose, eaten it, and, by doing so, opened a portal to a world run by PIRATES?

Mabel Jones has.

Kidnapped, Mabel is forced to serve aboard The Feroshus Maggot with the strangest crew you’ll ever meet. And the captain—an odious wolf named Idryss Ebenezer Split—won’t let her go until she helps the pirates uncover the treasure they seek.

Mabel’s voyage takes her across the Greasy Pole of Certain Death, into the belly of a whale, and underground to a decrepit crypt. And she does it all…in pajamas!

Read on if you dare. You are promised a most unlikely adventure.

Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers | 2015 | ISBN-13: 978-0451471963

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This interview with Will Mabbitt about The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones was conducted by Bianca Schulze. Follow along with our content tagged with Author Interviews, Emily Gravett, Humor, Pirates, and Speed Interview to discover more great articles just like this one.