Interview with ... Chris McGuire

I am happy I had the chance to talk to Chris McGuire and hear about his unique route into children's publishing, as well as his slime-tastic chapter book Crooks and Nannies: A NAUGHTY Beginning (published on March 28, 2025 by Candy Jar Books).

Chris has generously offered a free, signed copy of his book as a giveaway!

This is a fantastic opportunity to get your hands on this hilarious chapter book! To enter, either comment on this blog post or comment/follow/share on social media - make sure to tag myself and Chris! This giveaway is only open to UK addresses and the drawing will occur on Wednesday, October 22nd.

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Q: When did you realise you wanted to be a writer?

A: I should have a really well rehearsed answer for this, something inspiring. But I don’t. The truth is I never ‘wanted to be a writer’. There has never been a choice. Rather I’ve been stricken by the compulsion to get the stories that persistently fill my head, out onto a page, and shared with people. 

There have been many times in my life where I’d have preferred a vocation to an activity that felt less nebulous. I would’ve liked to be obsessed with something less solitary, that wasn’t so prone to leaving the practitioner full of self doubt, and wrestling with the lingering feeling that you’re losing your mind. 

But, again and again, I’ve come back to the compulsion that keeps me up at night, to get my thoughts down on the page and shared. 

As I’ve grown older, becoming a dad myself, I’ve transitioned towards writing books for children. I’d suppose this is largely down to two factors: never really growing up,and the (genuine) desire to share a love of reading with a new generation. 

Q: What is your latest book about?

A: Crooks and Nannies is about N.A.U.G.H.T.Y. (Nannies Against Underworld Gangsters Hoodlums Tyrants and Yobs) an underground group that infiltrates the homes of the world’s worst crooks and foils their plans. 

In this first book, our heroine ‘Dottie Bottie’ must foil a plan to cover the leaders of the world in banana-flavoured memory erasing slime. The book’s very silly, messy and ridiculous. I can say, with some confidence it’s like no other book published for children. 

My aim is to make a series of books that are purely fun. They’re designed to draw the reader in on a journey that encourages them to read while glorying in broken rules, naughtiness and the type of antics that might make your granny blush. 

Q: Tell me about how you first got published.

A: Crooks and Nannies is my 4th book published, the second for children. I started writing humorous pieces for newspapers and magazines - based around topics like parenthood, being a stay at home dad, and cycling. These spilled into my being commissioned to write funny books for adults - The Modern MAMIL: How to look pro and Homeworking: The Ultimate Guide. With my children’s books, I was approached by Candy Jar, who knew of my work in kids’ TV and asked me to write the The Raccoons’ book Blast from the Past. That was a great experience for all involved and things have snowballed from then. Writing children’s books feels natural for me. Those 7+ readers are a great audience and I’m thrilled to be producing more and more books for them.

Q: It is really interesting that you started out in publishing with two adult humorous books. What is the main difference you have found between writing humour for adults and for children (apart from the quantity of slime)?

A: As for the funny books I've written for adults, there are similarities and differences with writing comedy for children. I think children are a far more discerning audience - they'll tell you straight if they don't find something funny. Writing comedy for kids is far more of a high wire act - it's either hilarious or you're nowhere. With adults there's a whole genre of 'it's funny, but not laugh out loud funny' which can be a safe landing zone, if you're off your game. Also, with writing for kids, you have to make sure the language used will be understood and suitable, which is far trickier than writing for adults. I enjoy both disciplines, but the strictures of writing for kids that make it trickier also make it that much more satisfying when it actually works.

Q: What is the biggest bump or hurdle you’ve encountered so far in your writing career?

A: Battling with confidence was my main issue. I was represented by a literary agent who I didn’t see eye to eye with, regarding my style. I felt like rather than progressing, my work and my ‘voice’ as a writer were diminishing. It was only after moving on from that relationship (embracing the importance of producing work on a daily basis, and being content that it wouldn’t immediately be perfect) that I started to progress.

Q: What surprised you most about your latest launch?

A: It has to be slime. 

There’s a lot of slime in Crooks and Nannies and kids love it! When I talk in schools, the slime is what the students want to talk about. I seem to have hit a rich seam of kids’ literature that heavily features slime. I do wonder how much more popular some of the classics could have been if the main characters were covered in sticky ooze every now and then! Just an idea! It’s been lovely to see an audience engage so enthusiastically with my work and be so keen to see the next instalment in the series - which I’m producing as quickly as I possibly can!

Q: Your marketing (from what I have seen) is a fantastic mix of Nickelodeon style zooms and a lot of slime! How have you found this approach and was it your idea to get slimed? And of course, enquiring minds need to know - what was the slime (my guess is custard)?

A: In terms of marketing Crooks and Nannies, I knew (to stand out) the content needed to include the slime that's so integral to the book itself. It then became obvious that we needed to slime someone for the PR - but (sadly) I was the only person I had available. This, in itself, was quite different to my days as a Nickelodeon producer, where there was always someone on hand to slime - i.e. not me. People really seem to have reacted to the slime video. The slime itself, was custard, which was very sweet and sticky. I won't be having any on my apple pie anytime soon. I'm currently writing the Crooks and Nannies sequel, which is also full of slime - so it wouldn't surprise me if I'm slimed again. Or (maybe) I can slime someone else... 

Q: What is your advice for new/aspiring writers?

A: My advice would always be to write. Don’t worry about it being ‘good’ or correct. Just get something, anything, down on the page. Writing is all about rewriting and editing. If you spend your time pausing over every word you’ll never build up momentum and get the job done. It’s far better to just get something down - that’ll give you something to work with. Also, remember it’s never going to be ‘perfect’, but with practice it will be better than last time you did it.

Q: What are you up to next?

A: I have a new book based on the classic TV series The Raccoons out for the holidays: ‘The Christmas Raccoons’. It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with the iconic characters established by Kevin Gillis 40 years ago. A real joy to embrace their elements while giving the stories a contemporary twist. Then, in the new year, the sequel to Crooks and Nannies will be out. I’m busy with editing that at the moment. It’s been great to return to that world of the N.A.U.G.H.T.Y. nannies and see what else we can do to push the silly, slimy envelope.

• Favourite craft/writing book?

  • I tend to steer clear of ‘how to’ books. To be honest, I get guidance in how to write by looking at really well written books.

• Favourite resource for writers?

  • Once again, I don’t go to a platform to help me write. The best resource I have is time and the ability to close my eyes and let the story play out in front of me. Time is the most valuable thing a writer can have - with time and thought that seed of an idea you have can be filtered into something that stands on its own feet.

• Favourite part of the writing process?

  • Editing. I love it when I have something that I know is strong and editing is only going to intensify its impact. When I’m editing I feel the finishing line getting closer and closer.

• Least favourite part of the writing process?

  • Looking at the blinking cursor on a blank page. It’s torture.

• Last book you read?

  • I’m currently reading Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series. They teach two lessons: economy and pace. Get the basic information your reader needs to them, with the minimum of fluff, while keeping the story moving with enough momentum to keep your interest. Great advice for kids’ books too!

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After a London-based career in children’s TV, producing and writing for Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and CBBC, Chris now lives in Devon with his young family. Chris continues to write for animation, advertising, and a host of different media in addition to scribbling children’s books. Chris loves to write the type of books his younger self would’ve read.

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