About Weird Grape
The story behind the story – Chapter 1
Julia & I set up Weird Grape in January 2007 to give us a vehicle to create, market and distribute our children's series, Nobby Travels.
Prior to setting up Weird Grape, publishing was not something we had any experience of so many thought it strange we decided to take the "long way round". However, the journey we've travelled to bring Nobby to life has been extraordinary and one we hope will inspire others to turn their ideas, dreams and aspirations into reality.
The idea of creating a series of "Magical travel books for little people" came to us over dinner one cold November evening in 2006 following previous conversations we'd had about our favourite cartoon characters & places we'd travelled to.
Having just found out that we were expecting our first child, we began wondering what the best ways were for children to learn about the many places there are in the world and soon realised there weren't many interesting ways for them to learn about the world, or even about places on their doorstep.
Julia and I were married in September 2006, having got engaged on Valentines Day the same year. A week after we were engaged we decided to get a puppy as we thought some forced responsibility would help us adapt our lives sufficiently in preparation for children. The dog we choose was a Chocolate Labrador who was born on Christmas Day 2005. Although he is known to us as Branston, his official name is Nobby Bronie.
As our conversation on that cold November evening in 2006 about travel, children, and cartoon characters intensified the idea of writing a series of children's books was discussed. We'd now had Branston for nine months and over that time we'd had many conversations about his naughty behaviour.
About Weird Grape cont..
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Not only had he managed to chew through shoes, clothes, cables and anything else he could get his teeth into, but he had a habit of jumping through his dog flap and coming back into the house a few minutes later with mud on his feet and bits of our garden in his mouth. We were forever clearing up after him and putting his toys away.
The idea of writing a series of children's books about a naughty Chocolate Labrador who each night jumped through his dog flap and landed in a different country was born. Two days later we'd written three stories and set the company up, though the name "Weird Grape" would not be adopted until two months later.
The journey to bring Nobby to life had begun. The following six months would see us work with a multitude of professionals including: three different illustrations; a graphic designer; an author; a proof reader; two marketing companies; a banker, lawyer and accountant; a manufacturing organisation; a public relations specialist and a number of merchandising organisations. By the end of June 2007 six books were finished and were sent off for final proofing before being edited and checked for the last time. On 18th July 2007, seven months after that cold November evening in 2006, we sent the books to press – Nobby was now ready to be born.
The journey to bring Nobby to life has been fast, exciting and at times challenging. However, we've written just the first chapter in Nobby's life and as we write more, we hope you will continue to enjoy the story of Nobby – wherever it takes us.
