Interview: Author Jax King - Once Upon A Draft

On dyslexia, determination, and the debut of Stinky Cyril

Jax King is an author whose debut picture book, Stinky Cyril – the chaotic tale of a grizzly bear who will try anything to get clean – was recently published by Tiny Tree Books. We spoke to Jax about turning a difficult childhood into a superpower, why rejection deserves more positive press, and what’s coming next for Cyril.

Tell us about your book.

Stinky Cyril is about a grizzly bear who finds himself in a sticky and unsavoury situation. He tries everything to get himself clean, and has all the forest creatures on high alert as they face the danger of becoming a cleaning tool! It’s a picture book with heart and humour, and teaches little ones the importance of not only asking for help, but of teamwork and friendship.

What made you want to write for children?

I’ve always had a vivid imagination and have made up stories from childhood. In the beginning the stories were purely in my head, until gradually I began to write them down – just for myself at first, but it became a way of escaping a sometimes-difficult childhood. The characters became bigger until they just seemed to take over. I write for children because stories were a comfort to me when I was young. I hope they are now a comfort to other children, and able to make them smile.

What challenges did you encounter in your publishing journey?

My biggest challenge has been my dyslexia, without a doubt. I did badly at school – I was a terrible reader, and I was lost and left behind. But what that gave me was my expertise as a daydreamer. I over-excelled in imagination. I thank my dyslexia for this and see it as a positive. I still struggle when it comes to editing, but I’ve turned my lack of school education into an asset.

Dyslexia might discourage most people to embark on writing career. What led you to the decision to go of it, despite it perhaps not being an easy road?

I wasn’t diagnosed when I was young, I was labelled at school as being slow, and I left school with nothing. It wasn’t until later when I talked my way through the door of a radio station as a broadcaster, that I found my feet. I wrote my own scripts, and obviously nobody else could read them, but nobody had to – they were purely for me. I wrote words as I saw them in my head. As a live broadcaster, I reported on what I saw – travel, riots, sport, London marathon, all big events. I’d pretty much report on anything. This gave me the confidence that I could do anything. I was no longer held back.

From an early age, my imagination was high. I wasn’t unintelligent as I’d been told for years, I just expressed myself in different ways. I was just wired differently. Unfortunately, I wasn’t given the encouragement as a child, I was purely labelled as unteachable, but my imagination gave me characterisation and world building skills. I don’t think I could have channeled that if I hadn’t been dyslexic. Of course it still affects my writing and I’m still slow at reading, but it’s heightened the content skills of storytelling, and I’m grateful for that.

What’s the most useful advice you’ve been given when it comes to writing children’s stories?

So much advice, but I think the most important has been to imagine the child who is going to read your book. How old are they? What are they like? Too much detail could bore them – they want escapism too. Write with humour, adventure, and compassion, and keep your readers guessing. I would also advise any aspiring authors to discover the importance of critique groups. Never be afraid to show other creatives your writing; it’s a learning curve. Learn your craft and never lose your determination.

What led you to success and the publication of your first book?

Determination. Believing in my characters and being passionate about their journey. It’s basically down to the mentality of trusting your ability and never giving up.

Is there anything you wish the writing community talked about more honestly?

I think we should speak more about the positivity in being rejected, either by an agent or a publisher. It makes us look at our work differently, from another angle, which enables us to edit more freely, which in turn makes our writing stronger. Never focus on the negativity; it blocks us from making progress in our work.

Your next plans, book-wise?

I have another Cyril escapade releasing on 11th June, Slippery Cyril, in which he creates more chaos and hilarity! I also have a book releasing for Christmas, although I can’t say any more than that at the moment. I’m busy writing a mystery middle grade series too.

What’s your favourite children’s book? (Or give us three if you can’t narrow it down!)

Two of my favourites are The Railway Children by E. Nesbit. It’s such a classic, with everything from adventure and drama to love and humour. And The BFG by Roald Dahl, a heartwarming tale of imagination, compassion, and fun with a hint of danger. It’s very hard to name favourite books as I have so many! But I love books full of mystery, drama, and above all humour.

Find Jax on Instagram @jacquik33 and on X @JaxKingWrites. You can buy Stinky Cyril at Tiny Tree Books.