By Rosanne Tolin

When I first set out to write about Michael Bond, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. He was a legendary figure—after all, the Paddington Bear books have sales topping 35 million and have been translated into 40 different languages! How could I possibly bring this literary giant to life in a way that honored his legacy? So, I started with a hook: the astonishing bits of information I had read about the true origins of his Paddington character. Those surprising facts made me confident that Bond was worth writing about. That’s because he wasn’t only a gifted children’s writer but also someone who was deeply affected, from a young age, by immigrants and refugees. His life had to be worth documenting in a way that had never been done before.

It all began with an article I read in Tablet Magazine titled “Paddington’s Surprising Jewish Roots.” At the time when I began my research, there were a number of interviews that glossed over the author’s writing journey. Since he had passed away a short time earlier in 2017, most of these memorialized him, sprinkling in amusing quotes about the author’s own bond with Paddington Bear. The two of them, as it turns out, were essentially the same being—inseparable.

It seemed I had suddenly found multiple points of personal connection. Here was a man who lived very much in his imagination. In his mind, it made perfect sense that Paddington Bear was as real as an old companion or immediate family member.

If I overthought it, the task I’d set out on—to write the first ever biography of this iconic writer—seemed a bit daunting. However, as I began to research in earnest, carefully putting the pieces together, I felt a deep affinity for both Bond and Paddington. Like Bond’s connection to his book character, I too, in a sense, grew close to the writer and his best furry friend. As my fondness for them expanded, I found myself fully immersed in their timeless story.

For me, that was the only way I could invest in writing More than Marmalade by befriending my subjects and appreciating both Bond’s faults and his genius—from his self-deprecating (and quintessentially British) wit to his undeniable quirks and his quiet human kindness.

These weren’t the only qualities of Bond I identified with. He was a writer after all, and it is somewhat apropos that my debut book was about his burning desire to be an author. Above all, More than Marmalade: Michael Bond and the Story of Paddington Bear is his story of persistence in pursuit of a dream. Somewhere along the way, Michael Bond became my mentor, too. So, you see, Bond and I—along with Paddington Bear—go together almost as perfectly as bread and orange marmalade.

Bond had to go through a lot of trial and error before he created the wildly successful Paddington series. For my part, it took me three years, from concept to publication, to see my book debut in the world. Here are a few of my suggestions for setting yourself up for writing success:

Writing happens when no one is looking. The fact is, writing itself is a solitary business. While many writers are more introverted, many of us still seek feedback from others. Understand that you’ll need to be self-motivated, but you should also seek out others you trust to give you the honest opinions you’ll value. That will immensely improve your craft.

Build a team around your writing. Join SCBWI. Go to conferences, both in-person and virtual. Attend author events and readings. Make connections on social media in whatever form you choose. Just pick one and get comfortable with using it. The biggest team builder for me? Find a critique group! If you have a good one, they’ll always have your back. They’ll let you know what works, how to make it better, and when to put away that manuscript for good. The same goes for beta readers and literary agents. Never stop growing your circle!

Don’t fear tech. Embrace it! Continue expanding your toolbox when it comes to technology. Especially with events like COVID-19, many of us had to leap head-first into areas of this that scared us: ZOOM, Google Hangouts, YouTube Read Alouds, and SO much more. Many writers realized out of necessity that online platforms could be used in new, creative ways to reach our audience of readers.

Most of all, have fun with writing middle grade! After all, is there a better job out there than writing for kids? So, go ahead, trust your gut and sure, take your writing aspirations seriously. But—taking cues from the late great Michael Bond’s author playbook—maybe not too seriously!

Rosanne Tolin is the author of More than Marmalade: Michael Bond and the Story of Paddington Bear.