The Very Angry Toolbox follows a little boy who discovers a lonely toolbox in an industrial mart and learns about kindness and second chances when he sees past its gruff exterior. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Working in a store, repairing overhead intake/extract fans over a period of time, hearing people talking and saying unwelcoming things about earning money the wrong way, I came across a toolbox on a dusty shelf all alone. And just started talking to it like you do, and over a short while, I found a story in my head. That evening, I went home and wrote about my meeting in the store. Some years later, when I sold my business, I decided to write it into a story. Then I thought, maybe there are children out there who might like this story, and decided to self-publish the book.

The toolbox is one of the most memorable characters in the book. How did you create his personality?

The story came about due to the meeting in the store, and adding the tools was because the angry toolbox was not really nasty and wanted to help others.

What was the most fun part of bringing the tools to life as characters?

The most fun part about the tools was that they gave their own identity and purpose within the toolbox, allowing children to understand what each tool can do

If young readers remember only one thing from The Very Angry Toolbox, what would you most hope they take away about kindness, anger, and the power of giving someone a chance to become their best self?

What I would like for young readers to take from the book is its mix of rich narrative, deep emotional lessons, positive core values, and captivating visuals.

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