An unexpected publication journey

Sherryl Clark shares the unexpected publication journey of her new picture book.


“The Night Tiger” is a picture book. With a long story behind it. Not a story about the writing, but about what can happen when you least expect it. Originally, “The Night Tiger” was accepted by Allen & Unwin in 2015 and a lovely, eccentric, talented illustrator was chosen and accepted the job. We had several meetings with him (which is often unusual - I have other picture books where I have never met the illustrator) and discussions about the text, and working on it a little more. I saw roughs, then I saw two or three completed page spreads. They were beautiful.

Then … nothing really. A few more roughs. Eventually, after several years or more, I was emailed some files of ideas for the other pages. Then nothing. The publishers really tried, but the illustrator was somehow stuck, and was doing other work to earn a living. I tried to be patient, but gradually I lost hope. It became the picture book that wasn’t going to ever be finished.

One day, I decided to hunt for that final email with the roughs and had a really good look at them. I suddenly realised that the illustrator had somehow gone down the wrong path and lost their way. Oh, this happens with novels, too, even short stories. It’s awful, and sometimes you just can’t get it back on track.

I also realised that I didn’t want the picture book to look anything like this. I emailed the publisher, heart racing, and said I couldn’t go on with it like this. And if they wanted to cancel the contract, I’d understand.

This story has a happy ending - obviously! They still really wanted to do the book, and they found a new illustrator, Hannah Sommerville, who has done the most amazing work and created something so beautiful that there are pages that make me cry.

“The Night Tiger” was finally published on 10 March this year, more than eleven years after I signed the contract.

I’m not even going to make any silly tiger jokes, because it’s so great to see it out in the world.

Oh, all right then - which side of a tiger has the most stripes?

A: The outside!

Here’s a bit more about the writing of it - in Good Reading.

And a review - or two.

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