Interview: Mark Lemon

Bristol-based children’s publisher, Lemon Drop Books has made a significant impact since its first publication in 2016, scooping awards and enjoying a growing readership.

Founder of Lemon Drop, Mark Lemon, began writing and publishing after becoming frustrated with the lack of diversity in children’s books. Mark, who has two dual heritage children, decided to create a series of picture books featuring non-white characters. His first book Otis Lemon & The Spectacular Submarine was awarded the Platinum Junior Design Award 2016 in the Children’s Book of the Year category.

For his latest book, The Magical Wood, Mark turned his attention to helping bereaved children cope with grief and loss. At the age of 12, Mark’s father was murdered and he has drawn on this childhood trauma for the book. It was recently awarded Bronze in the Best Designed/Illustrated Book for Children category at the Junior Design Awards 2018. Some of the proceeds from sales of the book have raised funds for bereavement charity, Winston’s Wish.

Mark spoke to Joe Melia about his work and the life-changing traumatic event of his childhood.

What first inspired you to start publishing children’s books?

As a dad of two dual heritage children, I know how important it is that we continue increasing the visibility of diversity in children’s literature in the UK. While Otis and Thea loved all the classic kids’ books, I couldn’t help but wonder if there were books with characters that looked like my children. Disillusioned by the lack of diverse characters, I decided to take matters into my own hands and started penning our books during my daily commute to work.

Diversity in kids’ literature didn’t even cross my mind until I had my own children, I wanted to inspire them and tell them amazing tales with characters that looked like them.

The books are illustrated by Maia Walczak. How does the relationship between writer and illustrator work?

I was extremely lucky to find Maia Walczak through an old school friend. It started by sending over a couple of stories to Maia and some images of ideas for how I wanted the characters to look. Everything she sent back was amazing and we clicked from the off. Her style is different to anything else out there and this also attracted me to working with her. I have been very lucky, but as an author you need to be satisfied that the illustrator will represent your stories and how you envisage them in your mind. We work very well together.

What impact has winning awards had on your publishing plans?

I feel extremely proud to have won the awards. We’re always up against some fantastic children’s books, which makes it even more rewarding and completely unexpected when we win. It has instilled in me a passion to continue to publish more titles.

Your latest book is designed to help children cope with grief. How difficult was The Magical Wood to write?

The Magical Wood was a difficult story to write, but it was a journey that I needed to undertake to help bereaved children. This very special title was written to help open up the difficult conversation around death with all children. I wanted to write a book that would’ve helped me after my dad was killed when I was 12. I believe the earlier we start to introduce the conversation around death and grief in our schools, the earlier we can break the taboo in the UK.

How on earth did you cope with the murder of your father at such a young age?

I learned from a young age that you simply learn to build your life around your grief. Following the weeks and months after my dad’s murder, I found myself lost and unsure of my emotions. I was confused and I struggled to comprehend what had happened to my family. As a 12-year-old boy starting secondary school, the impact of my grief manifested itself in a sense of not belonging or fitting in. I felt different to my peers, and always had this overshadowing feeling that I wasn’t the same person anymore.

For many years, I wouldn’t talk about what happened to my father. I locked the memories away. But I could never forget my dad’s smile, or how quickly he walked and how I struggled to keep up with him when holding his hand.

I recently made the important decision to speak with a grief counsellor about my feelings. The last time I met with a professional counsellor was in my mid-twenties, and since then I have found it very difficult to share my feelings at an in-depth level. Speaking with a professional was a difficult decision to make, but an important one for my future and my mental health. I wanted to check-in with my grief and re-evaluate my feelings. After my session I realised that a lot of my emotions had manifested over the years since my father’s murder; sadness and my confidence were the two prominent emotions.

My grief is not depression or suicidal thoughts, but the sadness is overwhelming and painful. Grief has no age restrictions and doesn’t stop hurting after a certain time period. The grief never leaves you, but you do learn to live with it throughout your life. No matter how old you are the grief will take you by surprise; triggering old emotions and painful memories. It’s never too late to have counselling or revisit your grief. My session has encouraged me to continue the process of counselling and share my feelings so I don’t have to be alone with my thoughts. Please don’t suffer alone and seek help if you feel you need it.

Some of the proceeds from sales of The Magical Wood are going to bereavement charity, Winston’s Wish. How important is that to you?

Donating proceeds to Winston’s Wish was hugely important to me. I wanted to help children suffering as I did as a child. I simply had to help Winston’s Wish in some way.

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m currently working on an audiobook version of The Magical Wood, due for release spring 2019. We’re donating proceeds from every download to charity.

I am also working on a new children’s story that I think children will love!

For more information on Lemon Drop Books, visit https://www.lemondropbooks.co.uk/

Read more: The Little Black and White Book Project