Bristol author and illustrator Duncan Beedie releases new picture book: ‘No Sleep for Bear’

Formerly working in children’s TV animation, writer and illustrator Duncan Beedie made the leap into creating picture books when he had a young child of his own.

Inspired to produce his first book, he storyboarded his ideas and put together a thorough presentation which caught the attention of specialist children’s publishers, Templar.

The Bear Who Stared was published in 2016, and won Beedie a nomination for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize the following year.

Duncan Beedie picture book titles – image: Duncan Beedie

It tells the story of a bear finding his feet in the forest, navigating the world of social cues and manners, and finding renewed inner confidence along the way.

Working from his south Bristol studio, Beedie has since published The Lumberjack’s Beard, The Last Chip, Molly’s Moon Mission and Oof Makes an Ouch, as well as illustrating a number of other books by other authors.

On July 7, he will be releasing No Sleep For Bear, a new title that returns to the much-loved character of his first book.

“It was quite easy and nice to return to the character,” he tells Bristol24/7, “because I love drawing him, and I know his personality. “I imagine Bear as being like a big kid; he’s a bit shy and unsure of himself, and he bumbles through life in the wood, experiencing things, making mistakes and learning from them.”

Book cover, No Sleep for Bear – image: Duncan Beedie

For Beedie, drawing the character first and building a visual world for them to inhabit is the first step towards creating a narrative that works.

In this adventure, Bear is supposed to be preparing for hibernation, but instead finds himself with insomnia.

Readers familiar with Beedie’s work – parents and children alike – will find the usual visual details and jokes that are characteristic of all his books.

“It’s nice to flesh out the main crux of the story with some silliness in the background,” he explains, “so that when kids are re-reading it for a second or third time, they’ll keep seeing things they didn’t see before.”

‘Bear at night’, a page from No Sleep For Bear – image: Duncan Beedie

Now a regular speaker at schools and book festivals, Beedie is often asked for advice by young children inspired by his work. He points out that he never took any formal training in illustration or creative writing; the key to it, is passion, and practice.

“If you like drawing,” he says, “have a little book on you at all times, get scribbling and doodling, enjoy it, and just keep doing it. “If you’ve got a portfolio that you’ve drawn and you’ve spent hours and hours on it, a half-decent editor will know just from glancing at it that you’re really passionate.”

Going out and meeting readers has become a hugely significant and enjoyable part of the process for Beedie, and one that completes the circle for him.

“It really dawns on you when you’re a school, or a book event, that it’s about kids reading the stories, not just me writing them,” he says. “And you get to meet other authors, as well, which is great because it can be such a solitary exercise otherwise.”

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Looking ahead, Beedie is brimming with characters and ideas for more picture books, as well as a rhyming story, and chapter books for early readers; so-called ‘middle grade’ fiction. There might be a further Bear book, too.

“I think it’s quite natural if you’re an author with children, to write for the age of your children,” he reflects. “As my daughter was getting older, I noticed my books were becoming a bit more advanced in terms of the idea or the vocabulary.

“But now that she’s off reading 300 page fantasy fiction novels, it’s nice to go back to Bear, where it all began, because it’s a very simple story, hopefully with a universal appeal.”

Duncan Beedie: No Sleep for Bear is published on July 7, and available for pre-order now via www.duncanbeedie.co.uk. Duncan will be appearing at various summer book events; check @duncandraws on Twitter for updates.

Main photo: Duncan Beedie

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