Twell Town follows a quirky 11-year-old girl struggling to make friends who sews a teddy bear and is shocked when he comes to life and takes her to his magical hometown. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I’ve always been fascinated by creative people who are able to let go of their constraints of reality and dutiful thinking in order to throw themselves into their passion and create something unexpected. I wanted to let go of some of mine and I envisioned a young, confident yet quirky girl with an unusual talent. I also decided (for once) not to think about the plot of the story too much; I just knew it would be an adventure for the main character and, of course, for the reader.

I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?

The idea for Twell Town actually came from the main character’s talent for sewing and making clothes. I wondered what a world made of handicraft materials would look like. Every character developed along the way as I never knew what the next chapter would bring. This was a big challenge for me personally, because I tend to overthink and overplan everything. Toward the end of the story, I drew inspiration from my sister, who is a masterful knitter – she can knit a pair of woolen socks in less than two days, which is why I can depend on her to keep my toes warm.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

I wanted to explore what it would feel like to be young and different and unable to fit in with the world. Bunny certainly feels out of place in her life. Although she has an optimistic view of life, she misses having a friend who would understand her. It is this desire that leads to Dexter, who in turn, is an oddball himself. You never quite know whether he is a friend or a villain. In the end, of course, Bunny finds out the truth and forms a warm bond with her bear friend.

Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?

I’ve been wondering about that myself. Perhaps there will be a follow-up story. If so, it would not only deal with Twell Town but also introduce another curious place – a rivaling city with much darker tones that you find in Twell Town.

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