GIVEAWAY and Interview with Author Bonnie Bridgman

Interviews 4 Minutes

Hi Readers,

Today, we have a special guest whose recently debuted picture book is perfect for this time of year: Author Bonnie Bridgman!

headshot photo of bonnie

Bio: Bonnie is her happiest in a land of imagination. Having worked as an actress for nearly a decade and perfecting the art of talking to characters inside her head, Bonnie took a leap of faith when her daughter was born and chose to write her characters down instead of acting them out. She can be found having many a conversation with said characters over a cup of tea – notebook and pen poised, ready for any story they may tell.

Bonnie lives in Hampshire with her husband and daughter. Her debut authored picture book Catch that Cough will be published by Tiny Tree books in November 2019.

twitter:@BonnieMrsbbh

Hi Bonnie, thank you so much for joining me today on the Math is Everywhere Blog to talk about your writing and your fantastic debut picture book Catch That Cough.

Kaitlyn: How did you first get into writing?

Bonnie: I’ve always been in love with writing. I love that words can take you on a journey and that the page can take you anywhere with endless possibilities. When I was younger, the pull of the stage was too strong and I ended up acting instead but when I had my daughter, everything changed. I would write as she slept and haven’t stopped. I love it.

Kaitlyn: That sounds like a brilliant journey. I bet your acting experience even helps with your story writing, too. Can you share with us, what prompted you to write the story Catch That Cough?

Bonnie: I’m a mum and I work in a school. Anyone who has had experience with either knows that there are certain times of year when coughs and colds seem in endless supply. I wanted a way to help children catch their cough’s but in a fun way.

image1

Kaitlyn: I bet your agent loved that. How did you go about landing your agent?

Bonnie: I was trying to write a festive picture book when one of the characters decided they wanted me to tell a different story. A longer story. So I wrote and wrote. And had loads of fun in the process. It was that story I submitted to my now agent and I was very lucky that she loved the story as much as I did.

Kaitlyn: There are so many hilarious spreads in Catch That Cough, what’s your favorite comical part?

Bonnie: I love the part on the trampoline and with the birds when the seeds fly everywhere, they were really fun to write. The illustrations bring a whole new level to the text though and it’s the small details which are my favourite parts. I love the gnomes that Louise (Forshaw the illustrator) has added and the kitchen scene. (Insert image) See if you can spot how many cheeky things the Cough has done.

Birds_spread_CtC

Kaitlyn: Did you picture the cough looking the way Louise Forshaw drew it?

Bonnie:Louise has captured the Cough perfectly (pun intended). I put in the illustration notes that he should look like a cloud but his facial expressions have surpassed any expectations I had. He’s brilliant!

Kaitlyn: Hahaha. She captured the cough, way to go, Louise! Now that the Cough has been caught and your beautiful book is out in the world, what things are you doing now?

Bonnie: I’m doing a few author events which are incredibly fun and exciting/terrifying. I’ve also written a middle-grade story and a few picture book texts. There are some exciting things ahead but for now, my lips are sealed!

Bonnie with her book

Kaitlyn: Do you have any advice you’d like to share with new writers?

Bonnie: Keep writing. Enjoy what you’re doing and never give up.

Kaitlyn: Finally, if you could spend the day with your favorite author, would you rather go outside and fly a kite or sit by a fire with tea?

Bonnie: Anyone who knows me knows how much I love tea so I would definitely choose that option. We could have a natter about books over tea and biscuits. Perfect.

That does sound perfect! And based on your book, I DO know how much you love tea 😉 Thanks so much again for joining me today and sharing about your journey into the kidlit world.

As for numbers, my big takeaway today is our globally connected world. Despite Bonnie living over 5000 miles (8000 km) away, my daughter and I get to enjoy Catch That Cough. A big thanks to Twitter, Bonnie’s wonderful publisher Tiny Tree, and the Book Depository for helping me discover and get a hold of this adorable book!

Here’s my review of Bonnie’s lovely book Catch That Cough:

This story is the perfect mix of endearing and funny. It gets better and better as you go along, and the funny scenes are an absolute riot. The scenes capture the true emotions of a young child trying to fix her mistakes. The main character’s clever plan about how to solve her problem is absolutely brilliant and the twist ending is so funny! My daughter is three and just adores it.

To get your own copy of Bonnie’s Catch That Cough for free shipping anywhere in the world, click here.

If you live in the UK or the US and want to win a copy of this book, Catch That Cough, enter by commenting on this blog post. For an extra entry share on Twitter and/or Facebook (make sure to tag @KaitlynLeann17 and @BonnieMrsbbh) and copy the link to your post into the comments below.

BONUS if you live ANYWHERE in the world and want a picture book critique from Bonnie, enter to win the same way as above; we’ll do a random selection of 2 people!

Good luck and happy reading!

Sincerely,

Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez

PS. I just found out that Catch That Cough is up for the People’s Book Prize. Vote for it herehttps://peoplesbookprize.com/winter-2019/catch-that-cough/!

Published

30 thoughts on “GIVEAWAY and Interview with Author Bonnie Bridgman”

  1. Congratulations on your book, Bonnie. I too have switched my creative outlet from acting to writing and have worked in a classroom, so your journey feels very familiar. I look forward to this very fun Catch a Cough.

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  5. Congratulations on the book!!! So exciting! I too would prefer a nice cozy chat in front of a fire with any author really, it’s so much fun to talk about writing with another writer who really gets it! I can’t wait to read your book!

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  7. Congratulations, Bonnie! Catch That Cough looks like a fun picture book that kids would love. I’m a former teacher and caught every cough that entered my classroom!

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  11. Pingback: Not the Stuffing! – Math is Everywhere

  13. What a fantastic idea for a story! Right now,my classroom is filled with juicy boogers & raucous coughs. And not matter how many times we show, and tell, the kiddos what to do, the germs just spread (hence why I’m currently sick with you guessed it, a cough!). Anyhoo, this book looks adorable & I’m totally hunting it down!

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  14. This book looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing this great interview. I had a terrible cough that flared up every Autumn as a child. Back then, I was moved into the hall at school because my cough disrupted the class. 😦

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