The Gnomes of Fibberton follows a group of gnomes who count and collect all the lies and fibs that children tell, and once they reach the secret number they were assigned at birth, they are brought to live in Fibberton. What was the inspiration for your story?

The story came about one Christmas over a decade ago when my niece was telling tall tales. I wanted to share a story with her that would make her think about the consequences of lying in a creative way. So, I came up with a story about little gnomes that count your fibs and take you away to Fibberton. She kept asking how many fibs she could tell before the gnomes would come, and I told her the number was a secret to keep her in suspense! I wanted to give her something to think about each time she considered telling a fib… because you never know which one might be the fib! Over the years, I’ve told that story to other children, and every time, the kids would get really excited, start playing pretend and create games based on the story. It sparked many conversations about what counts as a fib. You could really see the kids’ minds working as they tried to figure out what they could or couldn’t get away with. After seeing so many kids enjoy the story and make games from it, I finally decided to write it down.

The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Aadil Khan?

Considering that the first two illustrators I hired stopped working about 85% of the way through (and an 85% illustrated book is as unusable as a 1% illustrated book), I feel truly blessed to have found Aadil. His art is fantastic, he’s incredibly patient, and he does a very thorough job. I can’t say I’ve always been the easiest to work with since I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my books. Yet, Aadil has always been such a positive person! I remember a couple of times having to remind him that these are unhappy, grouchy little creatures, as he often made the Gnomes look a little too happy for their life of drudgery. It felt like a long process to ensure the images conveyed exactly what I wanted, but Aadil did not disappoint. Aadil Khan is an impressive artist and deserves a great deal of praise for his hard work and dedication.

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

The two main ideas I wanted to drive home were the importance of telling the truth and inspiring integrity. You can’t always see the Gnomes of Fibberton… but they see what you do. I wanted a magical, fairytale-like story that would ignite children’s imaginations—something playful and funny—but I didn’t want to hide the fact that lying has consequences. I also wanted the book to serve as a great conversation starter about a topic that is usually delivered in the form of a parent’s lecture. I’ve seen this approach work in my own home. While my children know the Gnomes of Fibberton aren’t real, they still talk about them and play games as if the gnomes are watching. One day, my son Sampson told his little sister, “If the gnomes are watching… you really are my best friend, Suzy.”

Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?

The Gnomes of Fibberton is the first book in the series, focusing on the downside of telling lies. The next book, The Tunnel of Truth, explores the redemption that comes from telling the truth. The Tunnel of Truth resonates with kids who are scared of the consequences of coming clean, even though it’s much more liberating and often easier than they think. I also have three more books in the works: Too Many Tall Tales, The Boy Who Didn’t Do It, and Santa’s Other Helpers.

In Too Many Tall Tales, a little girl loves telling outlandish stories, like lifting cars and flying airplanes. The Boy Who Didn’t Do It centers on a boy who always uses the oldest excuse in the book: “I didn’t do it.” Finally, Santa’s Other Helpers is a playful take on how the Gnomes of Fibberton help Santa with the naughty list by working as special agents for the “FIB”—the Fib Investigation Bureau—under the Department of Naughty. Unlike the happy elves who make toys and wrap gifts, the Gnomes of Fibberton deal exclusively with fibs.

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The Gnomes of Fibberton helps children learn the importance of being honest with a magical and unique twist. Every child has a secret number of how many fibs they can tell before the Gnomes of Fibberton come to collect!

In the hidden world of Fibberton, a story unfolds about the importance of being honest, much like the lessons in Aesop’s fables. “The Gnomes of Fibberton,” tells a tale where mysterious gnomes keep track of the lies, half-truths, and tall tails of the children throughout the world. This story shows how even a small lie can cause big problems, teaching kids why it’s important to tell the truth. Just like Aesop’s fables taught lessons long ago, this book helps young readers understand why honesty matters in a fun and magical way. Sing along with The Gnomes of Fibberton by scanning the QR code inside the book.