Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mister Figg. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mister, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

I had always been interested in fun, fantasy, adventure or science fiction stories for kids – but mostly fantasy. Like many kids of my generation growing up in the 1970s, I loved Dr. Suess. Added with that, I enjoyed some of the classics, like The Wizard of Oz, Alice In Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, Peter Pan and many others. The potential writer’s and creative’s bug was always hanging around me…even when I would look at other possibilities in life. Eventually it took over at some point. I wanted to be a writer in some capacity.

As I went on my hopeful writer’s path, I also went on the discovery path which would mold what type of writer I would become. I always enjoyed children’s stories, but wasn’t sure if that was the path that I’d be on. I did writing of all sorts – even getting opportunities doing online articles for a period of time. However, after writing in various ways in my journey, the one passion kept coming back – children’s stories, in particular, fantasy and adventure with a slight touch of science fiction. That led to the next part of my journey.

Since I was making open-mic nights a part of my writer’s path, I one day decided to test out my children’s writing, even though it was not the norm for open-mic nights for writers where works for us grownups is the dominant form. It was also something that I did not expect as a real focused on possibility – certainly not as my main goal as a potential author. However, I took the chance and wrote a kids nonsensical piece to see how it would work. In short, it had a good return that encouraged me to take a serious look at it. Other persons thought I was children’s author. I did the same thing at other open-mic nights, and the same responses. It led me into taking this interest a lot more serious as the writer’s path I should be taking.

The next part of my journey was looking at all of my previous works that had been compiled, many of which were printed copies literally gathering dust in a closet, to determine which pieces could I work with in the new possibility for children’s pieces. After gathering them, the process led to determine which would be the first project I would work on completing to bring out publicly. In the end, the first project I determined to complete and get out there was the one that sent me on this path – the nonsensical piece for open-mic nights that involved a bunch of animals doing odd things.

Once determining the first project, I determined on recreating it as a short picture book story instead of the original nonsensical poem. I then gave it a name that reflected the first animal appearing on sending the reader/narrator (and myself) on the journey. It became “Orange Orangutan”, which I proudly feel is “an everybody book” because my main message with it is for everyone to love and embrace themselves for who they are (differences and all), and to do the same in loving and embracing others who are different in their own unique ways as well.

After recreating the piece, the next step was determining how to proceed with publishing. Like many writers, we were used to the writing industry norm of sending your manuscript out to agents and editors with the hopes of the work being accept for purchase and publishing, but that is a long process, that more often than not doesn’t get most writers the results they want. I looked at that route, but I looked at the ever-changing industry and how indie/self-publishing had risen greatly to the point that there were many indie authors were having great success, many of which having comparable success to that of traditionally published authors. I also considered that I wanted to keep my manuscript as close to its original form as possible – with only major changes coming due to copyediting needs with creative changes not being of a nature of reconstructing the story as intended. This latter part was important for me since this writer’s journey is more about my happiness than anything else. And to top things off, there was also the added bonus of the indie route being a speedier process than going the traditional route. All of these factors led me to decide that I would start my children’s author career in the indie/self-publishing path, then when I achieved certain goals, I’d look at the possibility of transitioning into the traditional route.

After determining the story and the publishing route, I started work on getting everything needed to bring Orange Orangutan, and any following works, to life. I learned everything I could for indie/self-publishing…and I continue to learn something new everyday. I went out on a long process to find the illustrator that I felt matched my vision. I did my research to find other needs that would bring it all together. In 2019, after just under a couple of years of starting my first children’s book project, I released Orange Orangutan in a light release effort, and made my first appearance in the Miami Book Fair. The goal at the time was just getting my dream goal started and just see what happened, enjoying the journey along the way – always making it clear that this is about happiness for me, and everything else is a bonus. One person purchasing my first book made me already exceed my expectations.

Since then, I have now released two more books – my second picture book, “A World of Candy” in 2020, and my first chapter book, “Papete’s Backyard: Food Chain Adventure” not too long ago in late May 2022. Also since the release of my first book, I have enjoyed the journey that has allowed me to be at events and book fairs, doing storytimes, and other commitments that have me continuing on this path and journey. On the journey, I have been thrilled to enjoy certain moments, like when “A World of Candy” won a Children’s Book of the Month honor, and most recently when “Papete’s Backyard: Food Chain Adventure” was selected for display by ArtToSaveLives for one of their exhibitions that focus on literature.

Currently, I am working with a couple of other children’s author’s to bring picture book works to life. One will be making her authorial debut in her mid-80s. Another will be transitioning from writing pieces for older kids to do her first picture book. On a personal note, I am working on the next phase of my career as a children’s author. Information on these fronts will come at later times.

With future, we’ll see where paths lead in this journey. All I know for certain right now is that, no matter where the paths take me, I’ll try to grow from them, enjoy the journey, and get as much happiness from all of it as I go along.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a children’s author from South Florida. Whether it is an adventure in a backyard or set in fantasy, my stories usually will take readers away from the everyday world. My goal is to always create a story that is entertaining while providing a lesson or two. Additionally, in my writing, I aim to feature characters that don’t fit society’s past norms. I consider myself a Children’s Fantasy, light Sci-Fi and Adventure author.

For the other questions, I covered them in my first answer.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, there are many rewards. I start and end with the happiness I get from chasing my dream to be an author.

Additional rewarding aspects include the many experiences.

First, I always have a chance to create ‘newness’ for myself with every new project I take on for myself or others. As a creator, I always need to do something different – to create something that I hadn’t before.

There are also enjoyable moments that come from the kids that I encounter in my role as a children’s author. Since I give freebie stickers, that always gives rewarding encounters, to kids of all ages (birth to a century old). There are the conversations about anything related to my work or that can be teachable moments, etc. – many of which feed my need for “nerd conversation” for anything from the latest fantasy or SciFi film, character development, trivial facts that are relevant for some literary piece, TV or movie. And also part of the enjoyable moments are the reactions from kids – the genuine smiles of the happiness they get from a sticker they like, or the conversation about unicorns, birds, or any other creature they like to talk about…or teach me about that I didn’t know. There are countless joys and moments that I remember from these encounters. It makes me understand a bit how the greats in children’s entertainment were able to be happy with their roles.

Another great reward for me is also the creative process from the beginning concept to the final product that is shared with the public. I enjoy bringing the story and characters to life, and then see the response. It’s almost like wanting to be a parent, then becoming a parent, then you get to see everyone loving your child as being a great child.

There are just so many rewarding aspects to being an author or any type of artist.creative.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Without a doubt, Ingram Spark. While it can be a challenge at first, once you get a full understanding of it, you can bring your indie work to new heights. It gives you new levels of reach.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.misterfigg.com
• Instagram: @realMisterFigg
• Twitter: @realMisterFigg

Image Credits
Illustrator: Susan Massey McClellan