Behind the Scenes of Picture Books – 15 Q&A
Let’s go behind the scenes of Picture books, and look at My Nonno Loves with 15 questions and answers!
1. Who inspired My Nonno Loves?
My Nonno was the inspiration, of course! I wanted to capture the small, quiet ways he showed love. The gestures that felt ordinary at the time but are unforgettable in hindsight. Things like his handing you fruits straight off the tree, welcoming you with arms open wide when he greeted you at the front door, and the joyful way he was present for our family.
2. Why did you choose to tell the story from a child’s perspective?
Children notice things adults often miss. I wanted the book to reflect that honest, curious, and playful way of seeing the world. It felt like the best lens to show how Nonno’s love was experienced, rather than just described. It’s also about all the things I remember about Nonno from my childhood – so the child in the story is loosely based on me.
3. How did you decide which moments of Nonno’s love to include?
I thought about the moments that stuck with me most. The simple gestures, quiet routines, and little acts of care. I wanted them to feel genuine and relatable, the kind of small moments that many children would recognize in their own grandparents. They were never grand gestures, little things like listening intently to a story I was telling or showing me something boring in his old shed. These are the things that I remember.
4. Were the memories you wrote about real, or imagined?
Mostly real! They are drawn from my own memories of Nonno. Of course, when writing for a picture book, you do a little shaping and exaggerating to make it read well, but the core moments are absolutely true to life.
5. How did you work with your sister, the illustrator, on this book?
Working with Claud was one of the most special parts. First, I wrote the manuscript. Then she went away and drafted her vision for each page in black-and-white sketches. These were sent to the publisher for feedback on composition, spacing, and layout. Claudia then revised the sketches based on that feedback and added colour, bringing Nonno’s world to life. Because we grew up with the same Nonno, she knew exactly how to illustrate the small details without me needing to explain everything. It was just the perfect situation. I loved how we could just say “NUP.” to each other’s ideas and there were no hard feelings.
6. What was it like seeing your own memories come to life in illustrations?
It was quite overwhelming. Seeing Claud capture the warmth, humour, and tenderness of our family memories made the book feel alive in a way that words alone couldn’t do. It was emotional and joyful to see our memories become something that other children can experience too. It was particularly beautiful being able to share the book with my own children who have no memories of him, so this book keeps him alive in our family.
7. Did Nonno get to see the book?
No, unfortunately Nonno passed away 6 years ago at the age of 92! But we know without a shadow of a doubt, that this book would have meant the world to him. He was always such a big supporter of everything Claud and I created. So this book would have tickled him pink!
8. What challenges did you face turning personal memories into a picture book?
The hardest part was shaping real-life memories into a narrative that flows well on the page. You have to think about pacing, language, and what children will understand and relate to, while still keeping the heart of the memories intact. It’s easy to make a list of memories but stitching them together into an engaging story was sometimes tricky. That’s where having a brilliant editor is so important. They have this magical way of fixing things by saying, “What if we say it this way..?” Perfect!
9. What do you hope children and families take away from the story?
I hope they notice that beauty and joy can be found in everyday moments and the big family holidays, and expensive gifts aren’t always the memories that will last. Experiences and gifts don’t always need to be big or flashy, sometimes it’s walking around the garden together talking and someone handing you a nectarine off the tree, that are the best memories. And these memories are so easy to create, every day.
10. How did you decide on the tone – humorous, tender, playful?
I wanted it to feel like a child remembering their grandparent – so a mix of humour, warmth, and tenderness came naturally. Nonno’s personality shines through in small funny moments, but there’s always an underlying layer of love.
11. Were there moments you had to leave out, and why?
Yes! Some memories were too detailed or personal to fit a picture book format. Others didn’t serve the story or the pacing, so we left them out to keep the narrative flowing and engaging for children. We weren’t sure if we should reveal that Nonno was no longer with us. In the end, we decided that we should keep him alive because that’s what this story is ultimately about.
12. How long did the whole process take from idea to finished book?
The manuscript, illustrations, and editing process took about two years. Picture books take time because every single word and image matters – there’s a lot of back-and-forth to get everything just right.
13. What makes this book different from other books about grandparents?
It’s really about our Italian Nonno and the way he showed love in his own unique way. Of course, many of the little things he did, like gardening, sharing food, or tinkering in his old shed – cross over to other grandfathers too. But this story captures the warmth, humour, and rhythms of our Italian family life, and the collaboration between me and my sister adds a special layer: we share the same memories, so the illustrations feel deeply personal and authentic.
14. Do you have any funny or unexpected stories from the illustration process?
One of my favourite moments was seeing how Claud interpreted tiny details I’d almost forgotten, like including Nonno’s favourite sweet; chocolate covered marshmallow balls, adding a picture of The Beatles that he had kept in his shed forever and drawing him in his grey zip up leather shoes that we only ever remember him wearing! It’s these little details that are never mentioned in the story through words, yet are still beautifully included.
15. Where to next?
Of course, Nonno wouldn’t be Nonno without Nonna! You can’t really tell one story without the other. So, once My Nonno Loves was finished, we knew we had to write My Nonna Loves too. Her role in the family was just as big, just as loving, just as unforgettable. But of course, in her unique way. Nonna made sure everything (and everyone) was taken care of, while still being right in the middle of everything. Writing her book felt like the natural next step, like completing the picture of our childhood. My Nonna Loves will be released in February 2026 and we can’t wait for you to meet her too.
