Inspiration and two book reviews

What makes me tick?

 I have never really given much thought to what inspires me to write, create fondant art or do any of the other creative things that I like to do. If asked, I would have simply answered that an idea just pops into my mind and then I write down the words or fashion the figure from fondant. I recently saw a post that discussed what inspired writers and artists and I sat down and gave this question some deeper thought.

Some surprising things came out of this reflection. I realised that most of my stories and poems stem from a situation or circumstance that I have actually experienced. My books about Silly Willy are the result of my bumpy, but happy, parental path with my two, very different boys. Into these short stories I have woven many events and funny happenings that my friends have told me about with their children or that I have watched take place during social occasions. The fondant figures of Silly Willy and Cautious Craig are depictions of how I imagined these two characters would look. Willy, with his mop of unruly curls and naughty eyes is exactly how I would picture a naughty little boy like him. Cautious Craig with his straight fair hair and serious eyes is the epitome of my very sensible son, Gregory.

The Sir Chocolate books were inspired by my son, Michael’s, stories about a little man who lives in a world where you can eat everything, even the trees and the flowers. Michael and I often come up with an idea for a story through chatting about an event or doing something together. When we were in New Zealand last year for the Kids Literature Quiz that my older son was competing in, we went to a lovely ice-cream shop in Auckland. The shop sold a huge variety of different and interesting flavours of ice-cream and this inspired the rainbow ice-cream fairies that will feature in a forthcoming book: Sir Chocolate and the Rainbow Ice-cream Fairies story and cookbook.

Sometimes our ideas stem from a fondant creation. I went through a phase of a few weeks where I made dogs out of fondant. These little dogs gave us the idea for Turkish Delight and the sugar dog Story and Cookbook. Turkish Delight has come into the Sir Chocolate book series as Michael thinks that Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet need a son.

 

The idea for England in the 1940’s: Through the eyes of a child is a more-or-less non-fictional memoir of my Mother’s life growing up in Bungay, Suffolk during World War II and afterwards. This idea came to me when I started writing about my own childhood, growing up in South Africa during the 1980’s and 1990’s and it led me to think about how different my life and the lives are my sons are from that of my Mother and her siblings.

Living with a child that suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder inspired the idea for There’s no return to sender, a book about modern parenting, which is my in progress adult novel.

The more I write and create the more ideas seem to spring out at me from all over the place. The words of songs that I listen to on the way to work and back, the sight of a dewdrop glistening on a rose petal, the frost on the grass, all of these things result in ideas for poems and short stories.

I also get ideas for fondant art from friends and books. One of my friends recently sent me a video on how to build a house entirely out of chocolate. That video inspired Sir Chocolate’s new home made from mint, plain and whole nut chocolate with a Kit Kat roof.

Two reviews

Judy Martin. who blogs over at Edwina’s Episodes, wrote two delightful, rhyming verse reviews for two of Michael and my Sir Chocolate Books. Thank you so much Judy. Such a novel idea to write a book review as a poem.

Sir Chocolate and the Strawberry Cream Berries Story and Cookbook

Another adventure where we meet

Brave Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet

On a quest for a special bean

That gives the flavour of strawberries and cream.

It was a task that was extremely hard

As the berries were under constant guard

The rest of the story you must read yourself

This book is a welcome addition to any bookshelf!

You can read Judy’s post here: https://www.edwinasepisodes.com/sir-chocolate-strawberry-cream-story-cookbook-review/

Sir Chocolate and the Baby Cookie Monster story and cookbook

This gorgeous book is such a delight

that Robbie and Michael sat down to write

The recipes so clear and concise

Are going to taste extremely nice!

Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet

Are both adorable and so sweet

I recommend this book to you

If you like baking and reading too! 

You can read Judy’s lovely post here: https://www.edwinasepisodes.com/sir-chocolate-baby-cookie-monster-story-cookbook-review/

The new look smaller A5 version of this book will be available later this month:

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Robbie and Michael Cheadle are the co-authors of the Sir Chocolate Book series and Robbie Cheadle is the author of Silly Willy goes to Cape Town

Purchase the Sir Chocolate books and Silly Willy Goes to Cape Town from:

https://www.amazon.com/author/robbiecheadle

OR

http://tinyurl.com/zdokqjr (currently available at a discounted price)

Follow Robbie Cheadle at:

Blog: robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle

Facebook: @SirChocolateBooks

Plus.google: https://plus.google.com/105609586198905397891

Twitter: @bakeandwrite