Trying New Things

Oct 31

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Jessica and Lucy Egan Author Interview

Winslow the Wizard is a delightful, heartwarming picture book filled with whimsical magic, lovable characters, playful humor, and imaginative fun for young readers. Where did the idea for this book come from?

The idea for Winslow first came up during COVID lockdown when Lucy was in middle school. We thought about writing a book as a fun project and talked about a character named Winslow. We then decided that alliteration would be fun, so he became Winslow the Wizard. Winslow the Wizard stayed in our minds and in casual conversations for many years until last year, when we decided to create an entire series of characters based on the letters of the alphabet, starting with Winslow the Wizard, of course.

What made you decide to focus on ordinary activities rather than grand magical adventures?

We thought it would be fun to tell a story about a wizard doing regular things instead of magical things, and we wanted it to be a story about everyday life but told in a way that would be clever and funny for little children.

What strengths did each of you bring to the creative process?

We did the entire thing together, which meant that every line of the story and every illustration in the book was done by both of us. One of Jessica’s strengths is that she has the benefit of being a mother and having read hundreds of children’s books many times over, so she could envision what lines would make children laugh and what would be fun for adults to read out loud. One of Lucy’s strengths is that she has a great eye for quickly identifying what is “off” in an illustration, whether it is the angle, perspective, or size of the characters or objects. Even better, she is great at fixing it.

What would you most like children to remember when they encounter a difficult or unfamiliar task?

We would like children to remember that difficult or unfamiliar tasks are a great way to learn and grow, and they are also very often fun and funny! Life would be boring if we only did familiar or easy things every single day. Some of the most fun parts of life are in trying new things and making a mess.
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Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon

Described as a “delightful, motivational picture book” and “funny, approachable and encouraging” by the Children’s Book Review.

Kids Picture Book Review calls Winslow the Wizard a “sweet and accessible story for young children, particularly those who are learning to become more independent and trying unfamiliar things for themselves.”

Join Winslow the Wizard as he spends an entire day without magic, learning how to paint, bake, and deliver the mail with the help of his friends Peter the Painter, Charlotte the Chef, and Max the Mailman!

In Winslow the Wizard, Winslow, who usually relies on magic spells, decides to spend one full day without using any magic. Readers will follow Winslow on a wacky and whimsical day starting first thing in the morning as he figures out how to get dressed, make breakfast, and brush his teeth without using his magic wand. Follow Winslow’s adventures throughout the rest of the day as he helps his friends with their projects, having fun while learning, getting messy, and trying again.

With clever, easy-to-read text and personal, hand-drawn illustrations, Winslow the Wizard is ideal for:
– A unique way to learn about letters, jobs and community;
– Subtle life lessons that are great for kids, like trying new things, being okay with something messy or out of order, and working together with friends

This is the first book in a series about Winslow and his friends where each character’s name and occupation correspond with a different letter. Hand-drawn illustrations where each character reflects their trade give a warm and personal touch. Keep an eye out for each new book in the series, and collect the whole alphabet!

Posted on October 31, 2026, in Interviews and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.

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