Chloe Simpson - Making a Splash into the World of Children’s Books

Words by Chloe Simpson & Shona Hendley

“Writing takes practice, so the best thing you can do to be a writer is to just write.”

This simple, yet pertinent reflection from Year 12 student Chloe Simpson, is part of the reason that she can very proudly announce that she is a published author (and yes, before even finishing school.)

An achievement that many writers only dream of, for Chloe has become reality this year, with her debut children’s picture book, Splish, Splash and Splosh being released and available to purchase in book shops and online from March.

Chloe says that the picture book is aimed at children up to seven years old, with messages of family, cherishing special moments with those you love and just the simple joy of having fun.

“The storyline of Splish, Splash, and Splosh is about two puppies, Bindi and Tika, who just want to have fun splashing in the puddles all day long. However, Mother Princess wants them to take a bath. Follow Bindi and Tika as they splish, splash, and splosh their way through an exciting day with Mother Princess cleaning up after them every step of the way!

I really hope everyone will find something in the story that is special to them. Reading a book is an individual experience for everyone, and I hope any young kid reading this story finds a bit of joy and happiness from this story,” she says.

The narrative of the story was inspired by her own dogs – their distinct personalities and the dynamic between them.

Above: Chloe's dogs (and rabbit), the inspiration for her book

“The three characters in the book are based on dogs in my life. When writing this book, Bindi was just a puppy, though Mother Princess was starting to get older. Bindi and Tika always loved playing together, and Princess was like a mother to them, so I wanted to have something to remember the personality of each of the dogs, especially how they were when they were together.

I was simply watching my dogs play in the muddy puddles before being given a bath and wanted to write about it. It was something that I thought was sweet and fun, and so I wanted to remember it. I’ve always loved writing, so I thought I would try to imagine the day from the perspective of the dogs,” Chloe explains.

Although Chloe originally wrote the book for herself, she said that she realised that those universal themes of family and celebrating everyday moments could have a wider appeal. This, with a curiosity of the publishing process, saw Chloe ultimately contact a publisher.

“I wrote this story a few years back but didn’t approach anyone about it until April of 2020, when I contacted Bradley from Shawline Publishing just out of curiosity of the publishing process. I was absolutely ecstatic when he wanted to see my story, and even more so when he liked it and told me he wanted to publish it!”

Discovering that her work would be published was a memorable and cherished moment for Chloe, one that took a while to sink in.

“I was ecstatic, but admittedly in a lot of disbelief. It was a huge dream of mine to have this published, and one that I didn’t really let myself believe would actually come true. In fact, I don’t think it really sunk in until I saw the first print of the book in January this year. It was truly a visceral experience. When I found out that Shawline Publishing actually wanted to publish my book, I didn’t tell anyone for quite a while, then the first people I told were my Year 11 literature class. They were all so happy for me and I received so many messages congratulating me and asking when it would be released so that they could buy it. I was absolutely overjoyed then, and I am still overjoyed every time someone says that they are going to buy my book.”

The process of developing the book from the initial version that was submitted, through to the final product, Chloe says was lots of work but a really fun and rewarding process.

“As this is my first time publishing a book, the entire process of publishing has been quite an interesting and new experience, but it has been made really smooth by my amazing publishers, Bradley from Shawline Publishing and Jodie from Playtime Books (the children’s book sector of Shawline Publishing).

After submitting my initial manuscript it went through the process of revision, edits, and eventually matching it with illustrations. I think one of the best parts of this process has been working with my amazing illustrator, Tess Dowling. The entire time, she has made sure I am happy with every illustration, working with me to bring my words to life in a beautiful and vibrant way. It has been quite a long process admittedly, but one that has been worth it, and well and truly enjoyable every step of the way.”

For Chloe, this accomplishment signifies the realisation a long-time ambition, one she has been working towards for years.

“I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. I think the first time I realised it could be a possibility was in primary school when we were tasked with coming up with a short story book to share with the kindergarten kids. I instantly fell in love with the joy on their faces as we read the books together,” she says.

And now with a published book and a book signing at Ballarat’s Collins Bookstore under her belt and a plan to continue writing, there is a very good chance we will be seeing more of Chloe Simpson’s works on book shop shelves soon.

“I absolutely want to continue writing. I want to write more children’s books following the adventures of Bindi, Tika, and Princess, along with other dogs. I also plan to write fantasy and dystopian books for teenagers and young adults, though the content for this is still in the works!

Having been a book lover from a very young age, I understand the importance of a good book, and want to create stories that have you falling in love with the magic of a fictional world.”

Above: Chloe with a copy of her book