Hell Hath No Fury… Like a Hungry Dragon! Behind the Book with Jorge Martin
I’m Hungry is Jorge Martin’s debut author/illustrated picture book being released on July 7th and published by Penguin. It’s a heart-warming and comical tale of a naughty little dragon who mistakes her jungle friends for dinner until Mummy dragon swoops in to save the day!
Jorge will be joining us for our next story time Sunday and for his book launch July 12th, so we asked him a bit about where this book idea came from, and here’s what he told us.
What inspired the story?
I met my editor at a pub in Kentish Town to discuss new ideas for stories. Amongst the many things we discussed was a dragon I had drawn to illustrate a feature on Chinese New Year’s for Time Out Magazine. I think we must have been very hungry as we started to toy with the idea of having a dragon going on a binge, eating everything and everyone in her way. We thought this could be very funny and also, because eating is so central to a child, we saw a potential to resonate with readers and so went for it.
How did you develop the idea?
It was mostly informal. Initially I would discuss ideas with a trusted friend over a pint. Later, it became a bit more formal as I emailed my thinking to my editor, get feedback, refine, send my thoughts again and so forth and so on. My agent, Anne Moore Armstrongalso played a very important role. It’s easy to get stuck in the creative process but I like to get the ball rolling, produce, get feedback, come back, refine…
What is your creative process?
I like to work quickly. Get things quickly down on paper. I find it hard to improve on those swift first sketches. They have this raw energy that is hard to replicate. Sometimes I wish I could just finish the book at that stage as it’s typically when I have the most fun.
What are you planning next?
I’m currently illustrating another text called BOING! for S&S US, but I am also working on my own stories. One is about a donkey that is trying to please everyone and the other is about two dogs fighting over the same bone.
I’m Hungry Events
Look out for the I’m Hungry Recipe Blog Tour with the four biggest parenting bloggers!
Over four weeks in July, top parenting bloggers Sarah Yewman (picturebooksblogger),Amy Walsh (Cocktails in Teacups), Emma O Donovan (Booksniffer) and Ky Holbrook (Clementine Rocks) will be taking part in a Vegetarian COOK OFF!
Each blogger has been tasked with making a delicious veggie meal with their little ones, and at the end of the month Jorge will judge the meal he likes the look of most. The winning blogger will receive a prize bundle worth £100, including a Spiralizer, three chat topping cookbooks and a huge plush dragon!
Jorge will be at The Bright Emporium on St John’s Hill in Battersea on Sunday 10th July for our next Storytime Sunday – book your ticket here!
Jorge studied at London’s Kingston University and Central Saint Martin’s College of Art. Before becoming an illustrator, he worked in service design, design innovation and advertising. You can see more of Jorge’s design portfolio here.
When not making Children’s books, Jorge organises illustration workshops along with his friends, fellow children’s book illustrators Benji Davies, Alexis Deacon, Marta Altésand Chris Haughton You can read more about the Picturecamp workshops here, and see a video all about it here.
(From left to right) Benji Davies, Jorge Martin and Marta Altés
Jorge Martin is represented by the Bright Group