Robert Vescio was recently interviewed in Kids Corner (Children’s Book Council of NSW) about his very first chapter book for kids. Here’s what he had to say…
What’s the book about?
Three magical stories with fantasy dragons, witches, and danger at every turn. In ‘Ruby, Wicked’, a mischievous young witch transforms her Burmese cat into a supermodel. In ‘The Dragon’s Lair’, young Eric clanks up a mountain to steal a dragon’s tail to lift his family from poverty. In ‘The Golden Telescope’, timid Garth and bold Sally portal into a dimension of fairies, trolls and a stolen sceptre via an old telescope to uncover secrets in their great-grandfather’s spider-infested house.
One character I developed who stands out is an apprentice witch named Ruby. When creating her, I wanted to explore themes of growth, self-doubt, and the journey from curiosity to mastery. This balance of personal growth and magical development was key to creating a character I found interesting to explore!
Tell us about your writing
My writing is influenced by the world around me, and a love for various forms of storytelling. Usually, my own experiences, struggles, and emotions often make their way into my writing. I tend to write characters who are grappling with self-doubt, growth, or finding their place in the world.
I chose to write about magic and fantasy because a) Fantasy opens up a world of possibilities. You can explore completely new worlds and delve into questions about life. Magic provides a way to stretch the imagination, giving characters the ability to transform, and face challenges in ways that real life doesn’t always allow. It’s a way to let creativity flow. Who doesn’t like a bit of magic in their lives?
Writing for younger readers, is a great exercise to convey complex ideas and emotions with a playful tone. It’s about capturing universal emotions, like friendship, courage, and discovery, in a way that feels accessible but still meaningful.
But when writing for young adults, there’s more room for depth and description using a more sophisticated tone with a bit more edge. You can explore more complicated themes and characters while still keeping it engaging and emotionally stimulating. It also gives you more freedom.
How is writing a chapter book different from a picture book?
As a writer, I think it’s important to challenge ourselves and try different writing styles. It helps us to know ourselves better, build curiosity and spark our creativity. That’s a great question! I’d love for people to ask what would happen to the characters if I wrote a sequel. This opens doors to how the characters might evolve further. It’s a great way to explore the ‘what ifs’ and imagine how the story could continue.
Check out Robert's new book here: https://ipoz.biz/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/SacredR-FCov-2.jpgwp-content/uploads/2026/02/CharlesF-1.jpgwp-content/uploads/2026/02/CharlesF-1.jpgproduct/mischief-and-magic
