From bedtime stories to bookshelves: Childhood memories inspire first published book

A mum has turned the memories of her children growing up in Blackwood into her first published book.

Bob and Julie and the Musical Bugs, written by Claire Barley, was inspired by characters created by her son, William.

When William was young, he invented two playful characters to make his little sister Georgia laugh. That simple moment sparked an idea and reignited Claire’s lifelong dream of becoming an author.

The fully-illustrated book follows the adventures of two grandchildren, their grandfather, and one of his friends. It also features a pet mouse named Autumn and the Musical Bugs – Cuthbert, Herbert, Hugh, and Fred.

The grandfather, Bob, and his friend Julie are at the heart of the story. Bob’s grandchildren, Willum and Dord, are named after the way Georgia mispronounced “William” and “George” when she was little – a detail that became central to shaping the story.

Now, William and Georgia are 26- and 20-years-old respectively and play in an indie-rock band together called ‘The Family,’ having recently recorded professional music.

Many of the adventures in the book are based on real events from the family’s past, including the time the back of their caravan fell off during a trip.

To bring the characters to life, Claire worked with illustrator Megan Thorne, who transformed her rough sketches and ideas into the vibrant figures seen throughout the book.

Willum and Dord are depicted at the same ages William and Georgia were when the original characters were invented, keeping the story rooted in its family origins.

Reflecting on the release of her first book, Claire said: “I have always wanted to write my own books, from about the age of 12. I have been writing on and off for years, and it wasn’t until last year that I really thought about producing a Bob and Julie book.”

“Now fast forward a year, it releases on Amazon. It’s quite surreal,” she added.

Discussing the reaction her book, Claire said: “The feedback has been fantastic so far. It has been complimented for its theme of friendship and belonging, perfectly pitching to children in school.

“I aim to release at least six Bob and Julie books, with the next one hopefully just a few months away.”