Jenny McLachlan's new book, Stink, is bonkers, brilliant and will have you laughing out loud (just ask my fellow train travellers!). Jenny is well known for writing funny stories but in Stink she has introduced us to a new talent as a superb illustrator. 

Is Stink the Worst Fairy Ever? Danny thinks so, and he has to put up with Stink's mischievous tricks and outrageous behaviour until he can help her do a GOOD DEED and return her Fairyland FOREVER. The story is written in diary format and every page is decorated with wonderfully expressive and lively illustrations. Perfect reading for kids who like funny stories, funny illustrations and rude fairies.  We caught up with Jenny to find out a bit more about her new book...

Stink is the first book you have illustrated but you have such an obvious talent! Why has it taken you this long?!  Illustrating a book has been my dream since I was very young and I spent hours and hours drawing when I was a child. During lockdown my daughter wanted a pen to draw on the iPad and did lots of jobs to earn enough money to buy one. The second I started drawing on an iPad (using a programme called Procreate) I realised that I might be able to make my dream come true. Drawing digitally allows you to improve your drawing quickly. The more I practised, the better I got and I realised that my dream might actually become a reality. So really I have my daughter’s tenacity to thank for becoming an illustrator!

Was art a favourite subject at school? Absolutely, closely followed by English.

How does the creative process differ from your writing? Did you create the artwork as you went along, or once you had finished writing the story? When I first wrote the book I thought that someone else would illustrate it (although I secretly hoped it would be me!). This meant that I drew most of the illustrations after I had written the whole book and this did mean that I would come to the next picture and realise I had set quite a challenge for myself. When I realised that I had to draw a troll frolicking in a chocolate fountain I did wonder what I had let myself in for, but I got there in the end!

There must be a great satisfaction in being both author and illustrator. Do you think the characters become more real to you once you have drawn them? I think so. Stink definitely runs like a cartoon in my head and I can visualise all the characters and the town where they live in satisfying detail.

Stink's tricks and spells are hilarious! Which one made you laugh the most? Off White randomly changes the colour of things. This amuses me the most because it has a strangely precise and yet dull name, and it is also a really useless spell!

Are there more adventures planned for S.Tink and Danny? (we hope so!) Where do I begin?? I have so many ideas and I can’t wait to get started on book 2. I’m not sure I’m allowed to say too much about it yet, but just thinking about the plot makes me laugh out loud. Sorry, Danny, but you’re in for a bumpy start at secondary school. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it amuses my readers as much as it amuses me!

If you were lucky enough to get the chance, what good deed would you request from a fairy? Having my house tidied from top to bottom, including the attic. My attic resembles Grandad’s in the Land of Roar, only messier. If Stink was doing the good deed, I’d pass though!

Do you have a favourite fairy tale and if so, what makes it special to you? I love fairy tales and always have. I think my favourite is Beauty and the Beast, probably because it’s so dark and I’ve always been a sucker for a romance.  

What was the first book you fell in love with? I can’t remember its name but it was about a girl in hospital who met a sad crocodile who had toothache. I’m not sure why I loved it so much, but I think there were some satisfying pictures of food and I liked the way the crocodile struggled to fit on the hospital bed.  

What does LoveReading4Kids mean to you?  It’s such a brilliant idea! Each purchase brings more books to children in schools. Evidence tells us that children who have an independent reading culture are more likely to succeed in school so fabulous books in school are essential for success and, I would argue, happiness. Bravo, LoveReading4Kids!

Read our review of Stink and you can also download the first chapter. We have added a few more of Jenny's books below - all brilliantly funny.