October 12th saw the publication of my latest picture book ‘Heavy Metal Badger’. It was a particularly exciting moment for me as, in picture book terms, it was a bit of diversion. Firstly, it was the first (published) story that I had written in rhyme. And secondly, I had somehow managed to convince a reputable publisher to let me create a picture book about heavy metal.

Although the book only came out earlier this year, I suppose its journey started a long time before. In fact, I could probably trace its origins back to the 90s. I don’t, nor have I ever, sported the aesthetics of your average metalhead – I don’t have long hair, tattoos, or piercings, nor have I ever worn leather trousers. That said, back in my youth when my peers were debating which band were the best out of Oasis and Blur, I was flicking two fingers to all of that and settling into a sonic tsunami of Faith No More, Soundgarden, Therapy? and Nine Inch Nails.

A collection of reference images including the ridiculously good Reading ’94 line up!

Fast forward twenty six years. I am sitting in a deserted studio that was once populated by the animation production company where I rented a desk. The Covid pandemic had sent the vast majority of people home to work remotely. With no space or equipment to do this effectively myself, I opted to stay on and work in the eerily quiet surroundings. Too quiet. I sat alone in the vast floorspace, surrounded by abandoned Ikea desks with just the continual hum of the server cupboard for company.

Needless to say, my mental disposition took a bit of a stage dive (not the cool sort where the rockstar sticks the landing and glides on the outstretched hands of their adoring fans; the sort where the mosh pit parts and you land face first in mud and other unsavoury detritus.) Then it dawned on me . . . with no one around I could pretty much do what I want. So, I ordered a Bluetooth soundbar, connected it to my computer and blasted out rock and heavy metal to my heart’s content. My mood immediately improved thanks to, what I refer to as, the ‘medicinal properties of metal.’ The unsettling drone of the server was vanquished by the thunderous drums of Scott Travis and ear-splitting vocals of Rob Halford on Judas Priest’s ‘Pain Killer’.

Day by day, my mojo came back and I felt revived enough to formulate a new story idea. It wasn’t necessarily a story that I intended to be published – more of a writing exercise that was a tribute to the musical genre that had helped me through a trying time. I wrote in rhyming couplets (an unusual detour for me) to lend the story rhythm and opted for a badger to be the main protagonist – his stark black and white striped face a fairly obvious ode to Gene Simmons.

The UK and Finnish editions (along with a VERY useful reference book) and some exampes of the interior artwork

It wasn’t until I started mocking up some character artwork that I thought ‘there might be a viable picture book here!’ Perhaps a metal-obsessed badger might serve as an antithesis to the saturation of pixies, pugs, and unicorns on bookshop shelves? (Not that there’s anything wrong with these creartures per se, but you can have too much of a good thing.)

I had been working with Little Tiger for a while, illustrating texts by Wendy Meddour, Angela Woolfe, and Karl Newson, and they were keen to see a story idea from me. I thought submitting my draft of ‘Heavy Metal Badger’ would be a Hail Mary pass at best, but to my surprise, their response was one of almost immediate approval. I was teamed up with a new editor, Perry Emerson, whilst the art direction was once again in the impeccably capable hands of Rebecca Essilifie.

Overall, it took close to two years to get ‘Heavy Metal Badger’ from brain fart to polished picture book, but the process was one of the most rewarding of my career. Rhymes and octameters were tweaked and tuned; I pored over countless images of heavy metal record sleeves to help give the illustrations a crumpled, tactile quality. With the end of the book having a rock festival setting (spoiler alert!) I also got the chance to flex my pun muscles when conjuring band names – although I need to credit my sister for ‘Gnus ‘N’ Roses’ and Karl Newson for ‘Dachshund Pumpkins’.

I also couldn’t help littering the artwork with visual homages to various bands and music videos from my youth. There are some not so subtle nods to the ‘November Rain’ video and the attire of a certain Mr F Mercury, as well as some less obvious Easter eggs nestled throughout. Luckily, the youthful Perry was on hand to ensure the book didn’t just become one long Gen X nostalgia trip and I’m glad to report there is plenty enough silliness in there for non-metal fans too.

Some related goodies: A Woodrock Festival poster; limited edition prints featuring Nine Inch Snails, Motley Shrue, Quack Sabbath & Gnus ‘N’ Roses; Heavy Metal Badger guitar plectrum

Since the publication I have been lucky enough to showcase this book at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival, the Cheltenham Literature Festival, and more recently at Storysmith Books in my native Bristol – where they also welcomed me to daub on their windows! So far so good, in that readers young and old(er) seem to be enjoying this story about a hapless badger looking for a suitable outlet for his talents. The rather clunkily titled ‘Heavy Metal Band Name Generator Game’ also seems to have struck a chord with those who have visited events. With the paperback out in April ’24, I’ll hopefully get more opportunities to bring some metal mayhem to schools, shops and festivals alike. Until then, as two righteous rock gods once said: “Be excellent to each other . . . and party on dudes!” 

Bath Children’s Literature Festival, Storysmith window display & the Heavy Metal Band Name Generator (who wouldn’t want to see ‘Howling Steel Warlock’?!)