Jenny McLachlan

Stink: Fairy vs Wizard: A Stink Adventure (Stink)

About Author

Stink the troublesome fairy is back in Fairy Vs Wizard Jenny McLachlan's first book for children that she had both written and illustrated. Jenny is also the author of the Dead Good Detective duology and the bestselling Land of Roar series. Before Jenny became a writer, she was Head of English in a secondary school; she now loves visiting schools as an author and delivering funny and inspiring talks and workshops.

When Jenny isn’t thinking about stories or writing stories, she enjoys living by the seaside, cycling and running over the South Downs.
You can find Jenny on Twitter @JennyMcLachlan1; on Facebook www.facebook.com/jennymclachlanwriter; and on her website www.JennyMclachlan.com

Interview

Stink: Fairy Vs Wizard (Farshore)

February 2024

Stink the fairy can fly, and she also has a wand, but she's nothing like the kind of fairy we normally read about! We caught up with Jenny McLachlan, author of Stink, to find out more about the troublesome fairy who stars in this series, and Danny, the boy who found her.

Read an extract from Stink: Fairy Vs Boy (book 1) Read an extract from Stink: Fairy Vs Wizard (book 2)

Review: Once I started reading Stink. Worst. Fairy. Ever. I could not put it down and read it cover to cover. I have already identified pupils who I know will be inspired to read for pleasure thanks to this book.

Q&A with Jenny McLachlan

"I think that all my books share similar themes, whether they are set in a school or dragon-filled fantasy world:
they are all funny, adventurous and feature ordinary children doing extra-ordinary things."

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself? You seem to have lived in lots of different places, and to have had many adventures!

I was born in Germany because my dad was a teacher there and since then I've lived in a quite a few different places, but now I'm settled by the sea. Before my husband and I got married we went travelling and did have lots of adventures: we were chased by an elephant, caught in floods in Australia and New Zealand and swam in the most magical places. Moments from this trip have appeared in lots of my books.

2. What brought you into writing for children, and what kinds of books do you write? What has been the highlight of your writing career so far?

I have written a lot of different books for children: teen romcoms, middle grade fantasy, and, most recently illustrated comedy for younger readers. I think that all my books share similar themes, whether they are set in a school or dragon-filled fantasy world: they are all funny, adventurous and feature ordinary children doing extra-ordinary things.

I think the highlight of my career so far is the fact that I'm still doing what I love, ten years after I was first published. That feels like quite an achievement.

"The Stink books came about from a dream I've had ever since I was very little:
to have a small magical friend."

3. What happens in your Stink books, Boy vs Fairy and Fairy vs Wizard? What drives Stink and Danny's adventures?

The Stink books came about from a dream I've had ever since I was very little: to have a small magical friend. Growing up I read a comic called Twinkle and there was a story in it each week about a girl who had an elf friend called Elfie. I always thought that school would be much more fun with a small secret sidekick to liven things up so I invented Stink. Stink is way more anarchic than Elfie ever was!

The Stink adventures are driven by Danny trying to get rid of Stink and Stink trying to stay with Danny so she can earn golden nuggets (fairy money). Danny claims not to like having his own fairy, but she's definitely growing on him!

4. Can you reveal Stink's real name? How did her character emerge?

I'm afraid I can't reveal her real name, although if you'd like to take a guess I can tell you if you're right or not!

Stink is very inspired by all the toddlers I have known: my daughters, my little sister (who was six years younger than me), my nephews and nieces. She has a toddler mindset but she is wilder than a toddler because she can do magic and can bring anything she wants through the door from Fairyland.

5. Are you ever tempted to take the reader back through the fairy door into fairyland?

And, yes, I'm very tempted to take the reader into Fairyland. I've given them a few glimpses of it and I have wondered if Stink could shrink Danny down and take him on a day trip…

"Who wouldn't want to romp around a playground made with Malteasers?
And remember, to Stink they are GIANT Malteasers!"

6. What are your favourite magical inventions from Stink's adventures? Her cupboard playground for the fairy-sized foxes? Her amazing new wand? The nearly-invisible cat?

Definitely the playground. Who wouldn't want to romp around a playground made with Malteasers? And remember, to Stink they are GIANT Malteasers, the size of her head. I think the jelly spell is deeply satisfying too. I'd like to be encased in jelly and have to eat my way out…

7. Why did you decide to write the books like a diary - and to illustrate the pages? How did you create the illustrations, and where did you learn to draw?

I have been drawing all my life. It's my first love and when I was growing up I wanted to be an illustrator. I knew that I wanted to draw a book packed full of illustrations, but didn't think my pictures would be good enough (although I secretly really wanted to do it!).

During lockdown my daughter got a pen so that she could draw on the iPad using an app called Procreate. I started using the pen too, and found it so addictive that my drawings just got better and better. I do draw by hand as well.

Often I start with a drawing by hand, take a photo of it, then draw over the top of the photo on Procreate. I also take photos of myself doing the trickier poses in the book so my phone is full of pictures of me leaping off the sofa holding a ruler (that's my wand). I did the whole Disco Danny dance too. I'm not sure I ever want anyone to see those pictures…

"I laugh the whole time I'm writing and illustrating the book. Seriously!
Out loud, on my own, in the kitchen where I do most of my work."

8. What makes you laugh the most when you're writing Stink and Danny's adventures?

I laugh the whole time I'm writing and illustrating the book. Seriously! Out loud, on my own, in the kitchen where I do most of my work. If any of my neighbours looked over the garden wall and saw me chuckling away to myself they would wonder what was amusing me so much. The answer? My own story and pictures. I'm not sure if that makes me massively big-headed or not!

9. How would you manage if Stink suddenly arrived in your life? She's quite endearing, but what would you find the biggest challenges in having her around?

I would LOVE Stink to arrive in my life. The biggest challenge would be keeping her away from my dog who loves chasing small fast things (like fairies). Maggie (my dog) is basically Frida (Danny's dog), but I made Frida much friendlier towards Stink than Maggie ever would be.

I think Stink could live with our hamster, Ursula, or she might prefer hanging out with Willow our house rabbit. Willow is very soft. She'd love cuddling him.

10. What kinds of non-fairy adventures do you enjoy in real life, when you're not at your desk?

I love cycling and running over the downs, swimming in the sea, making clothes, painting, walking, gardening, baking. Recently I've been spending all my time writing and illustrating books so I need to get back to my many hobbies. I miss them!

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