Guest Author Blog Post – Gyasi Sheppy

Gyasi Sheppy Blog Post – ‘But Dancing is For Girls!’

Gyasi Sheppy is a CBeebies presenter turned children’s book author! With fun rhyming text and beautiful illustrations by new talent Ola Snimshchikova, this colourful story encourages young readers to be themselves and follow their dreams – no matter what!

To celebrate the upcoming release of ‘But Dancing is For Girls!’, Gyasi joined us on our blog to answer a few of our burning questions. So scroll down to learn what Gyasi’s favourite children’s book was growing up, why he wanted to become a children’s author, and what he hopes children will feel or learn from his book.

What inspired you to become a children’s author?

As someone who has always worked with children and young people in the theatre space and eventually ending up on CBeebies, I was always working with magical and thought-provoking material and stories that strike up conversations. When I had my own idea for a series that kept going around in my head, I knew I had to get it out of my head and alas I have!

What’s your favourite thing about being a children’s author?

My favourite thing about being a children’s author is the absolute freedom to create entire worlds. Bright, colourful, magical and imaginary. It’s fun to think of crazy things, places and characters! There’s a lot more to come!

What was your favourite children’s book growing up?

My favourite children’s books growing up were Roald Dahl books and I was OBSESSED with James and The Giant Peach and the eventual movie. Again, because they are so out-there and imaginary!

How did the idea of But Dancing is For Girls! come about?

The idea for ‘But Dancing Is For Girls!’ came about because it’s actually what I was told growing up again and again. It stopped eventually when I clearly demonstrated it was something I loved and then after a Lion King audition almost two years ago in London, I was sat in a café and heard a Dad say something similar to his son and remembered all the times I was told that and I remember taking a note of the now title on my phone and travelling home thinking “there’s a children’s book in there!” Only a week later I got a message from Morgan and the rest was history! Now I’m signed with the wonderful people at Sweet Cherry.

What was the best part about the writing process of But Dancing is For Girls! ?

Surprisingly, I wrote the entire thing in about 90 minutes. To be fair this was after many false starts that I wasn’t happy with. I think I deleted 10-15 false starts before the idea clicked one morning. And once I started typing I couldn’t stop. I realised at the time that I was writing about the childhood and relationships I wished I had rather than the one I did have. My childhood wasn’t bad, it was just that there wasn’t much money for classes and lessons, so I attended everything free that I could.

If you could invite one children’s book character to tea, who would it be and why?

Paddington! Everyone wants Paddington for tea!

Finally, what do you hope children feel or learn about your book?

By reading ‘But Dancing Is For Girls!’ I want children to see and feel themselves in the pages. I also want adults and father-figures to understand the messaging that if a child wants to do something and shows a love for something that is outside of the “gender-norm” that it’s okay. Different is okay. Unconventional is okay. Dancing is okay. And they should dance too!

Pre-order Gyasi’s book here