Introducing Captain Sunshine!
My new series arrives at port in 2026.
The Bologna Children’s Book Fair is currently under way in Italy and my new series is out there with my UK publisher, Piccadilly Press (part of Bonnier). Having a new book series to sell and promote is always a big deal, and it’s especially amazing when a publisher puts your work up as a HUGE poster on their stand.
As you’ll probably see from the photo, Captain Sunshine is set on a bright orange cruise liner. It’s a totally new, standalone series, but it feels very much like a natural extension of Hotel Flamingo as it’s set in the same world. (If you look at the map at the beginning of the Hotel Flamingo books, you’ll see a cruise ship just leaving port, which makes me think I must have thought about animals taking to the seas at least seven years ago...)
So, expect a host of new colourful characters forming the crew, and with each new book there’ll be a bunch of different passengers with problems on each voyage.
Meet the crew
It’s been a real joy working up the characters for the books. Sometimes, building a new world from scratch can feel like an impossible task, especially if you’ve not written the manuscript at that point, but most of the crew popped out fully formed. It’s helpful that they all have different jobs on ship, much like T. Bear or Madame Le Pig at Hotel Flamingo, so you can try to imagine them at their duties as you draw them.
The main character – our Captain Sunshine – is a girl called Bella Day, and as you can see, once again she’s in a world of animals. My favourite element about this book is that her auntie is a walrus, and a sailor too. Probably best not to ask too many questions there.
I’m working on the final art at the minute and it’s so much fun to do. I don’t really have a favourite character yet, although Flip and Flap, the silly twin penguins make me laugh and are super easy to draw (always a delight when that’s the case!), and Mrs Purrpot (the clipboard-wielding passenger liaison cat) and Mr Tatou (the tattooed seadog first mate) make me happy every time I have to put them in a scene.
The Art Deco world
Just like Hotel Flamingo, this series will contain visual elements of the Art Deco period. It’s been so great to draw from all the posters and art of the time, and learn about the sumptuous world of cruise liners. These ships were truly something! I really wanted to capture some of the beauty of the time, as well as enjoy that feeling of speed and adventure that came with going on such a holiday.
As I’ve probably said a milion times, I do love the art of the period, especially those posters of seaside towns, selling holidays to the south of France and the Mediterranean. If I could, I think I’d spend all my days drawing pastiche animal versions like this one.
SIDE NOTE: I remember my art tutor at Shrewsbury College of Art and Technology (back in 1995) being mad about the college library buying a book of cat versions of Impressionist paintings. I absolutely agreed with him at the time and yet here I am making pretty much the same thing. Still, they make me happy and that’s all that counts!
Coming July 2026!
There’s still over a year to go until the series hits the shelves in July 2026, but as is likely obvious, I’ve a good feeling about this series and I’m already so excited. You’ll find the first chapter in the new Hotel Flamingo book, out in October, but I promise to share some more info soon!
For now I will leave you with another photo of the cover taken by Steve Wood at the Bologna book fair… Full steam ahead, Captain!
Can’t wait!
Very excited for you!!