Q&A with Julia Adlard, author of Domino the Miracle Dog
By Hannah Bickerton • • 2 min read
whitefox: helping brands, thought leaders and writers create beautiful bespoke books
Tell us a little about yourself and why you decided to write and publish a book.
I studied illustration and Graphic Design at Brighton with Raymond Briggs, and always wanted to write my own children’s book. When we were bringing our children up we read many stories to them and the children always had their favourites. When I saw an article about this little dog called Domino I decided to write a book about her.
How was the idea of Domino the Miracle Dog born?
I saw an article about Domino in Country Life magazine. The article was about a little dog in Suffolk who went missing for several days down a rabbit hole, and after several futile rescue attempts finally reappeared after a storm. This rang a bell with me as my own family dog disappeared in woodland when I was a child and we had to dig him out.
What was your experience of creating the book?
I really enjoyed writing and illustrating Domino the Miracle Dog. I was able to picture how she felt all alone down the rabbit hole; I visited Suffolk and the places where it all took place to get reference for the illustrations.
You also illustrated Domino the Miracle Dog. Could you tell us a little bit about your practice as an artist?
I work at a school in central London and have always painted at weekends and during the holidays. I enjoy painting landscapes and have a website for painting house portrait commissions. I have held several exhibitions over the years and like nothing more than spending a day painting on the beach or in my studio.
Now that the book has been published, what are your hopes for its reception?
I created the book so that both children and adults would enjoy reading the story and looking at the illustrations. I would love it to become a book that they share together.
What was your experience of working with whitefox?
Working with whitefox was extremely positive. From the very beginning I felt that they were genuinely excited about the project, as was I. They worked with me to turn the idea into a reality and have created a beautifully produced book. They were very professional and the result is exactly what I had in mind. I am very grateful to them.
Is there a specific message or feeling you would like to leave with your readers?
I think the message I would like to leave is never to give up hope. Even though Domino seemed lost, she never gave up.
What are your plans for the future – can we expect a sequel to Domino the Miracle Dog?
I am not sure at the moment, but it is always possible that I might write a sequel about Domino or a children’s book on a new subject.
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