Julia Donaldson has revealed she first dreamt up the idea for the latest book in her highly-lucrative Gruffalo series.
The hugely successful author appeared on BBC Radio 4 to discuss the launch of her new book Gruffalo Granny.
However, while the new title, which follows on from The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, might only be coming out now, Donaldson said the idea for it has been in the making for decades.
She said: ‘I’ve had this idea for the best part of two decades, but I’ve just been so busy writing other things.’
The author, who lived in Scotland between 1989 and 2014, said that while she had the idea, she couldn’t think how to develop it.
She added: ‘It was only when the National Literacy Trust, whose work I’m very impressed by, used the first two books as part of their Early Words Matter programme that I was spurred on to get my idea out of the cupboard and see once and for all if I could turn it into a really satisfying story.
‘To my surprise, I managed to do just that.’
The new story, publishing in hardback and audio book, on September 10, will see the introduction of Granny, a brand-new character, who will join the Gruffalo family an ‘exciting new adventure’.
The Gruffalo first published in 1999 with second book The Gruffalo’s Child following in 2004.
Combined sales for the books, which were illustrated by German artist Axel Scheffler, are 18.2 million and the books have sold in 115 languages and dialects.
Joking about the length of time between the first book and the new one, Mr Scheffler said: ‘As I have had to draw the odd Gruffalo and his daughter over the last 20 years, I’m not completely out of practice.’
Born in London, Donaldson studied drama and French in the late 1960s.
In the 1970s, she worked on BBC children’s TV, writing songs for Play Away and other shows, as well as running children’s drama sessions in her then hometown of Brighton.
However, it was only when she and her family moved to Bearsden, near Glasgow, in 1989, after her husband Malcolm secured a paediatrics post in Scotland, that she started writing books.
Appearing in 1993, it not only launched her as an author, it also began her collaboration with Mr Scheffler, who would work go on to work on The Gruffalo, Room On The Broom and many other titles.
Donaldson was appointed children’s laureate in 2011 for two years, using the platform to tour the country to campaign against library cuts. She also received an MBE for services to literature in 2011.
