Big Interview | Tom Fletcher

The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List has just hit shelves. What can fans expect?

The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List is the unintentional book in the Christmasaurus trilogy. It basically follows the Christmasaurus, who is on a mission to try and help some kids who have found themselves on the naughty list. He tries to steer them back to the nice list before it’s too late. The Christmasaurus picture book, which I’ve also got coming out this month, is a retelling of the first book but for younger readers, so it’s a nice, cosy, warm bedtime story.

Were you on the naughty or nice list growing up?

I think I was on the nice list. I was a bit of a teacher’s pet and a goody two shoes. I think I was a bit annoying in that sense! Ha ha! I was definitely on the nice list and proud of it!

Are there any new characters to look out for in this book?

There are some new characters, which have been really fun to write. It’s always fun writing characters who are a bit naughty. What’s also been really fun is I’ve brought in some characters from my other books. So, readers who have read The Creakers or The Danger Gang and some of my other novels, they might see some familiar faces from those books who have found themselves on the naughty list. It doesn’t mean you have to have read those books though, it’s just a little bit of something extra if you have read them.

  The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List by Tom Fletcher and illustrated by Shane Devries is published in hardback by Puffin and is out now.

Where do you get the inspiration for your stories?

Do you know what? I have no idea! The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List – that title just popped into my head last Christmas and I thought it sounded like a really fun adventure. Being naughty or nice isn’t black and white; there’s a real grey area there and so I think that’s kind of the moral of the book. The Christmasaurus feels that everyone is a bit naughty and everyone is a bit nice. I wish I knew where the inspiration came from!

Are any of your characters based on people you know, such as your McFly bandmates?

Maybe a little bit. I draw a bit from real experiences, maybe not so much exact characters but things that people do or funny stories. The great thing about being an author is that you often hear about things that people have done and you think: “That is so ridiculous it has be in a book.” So yeah, I definitely get inspiration from real life.

Is it true that the Christmasaurus is being turned into a film?

Yeah, we’ve been developing it for a movie ever since I first started writing the first book. It’s an animated movie musical that I’ve written the songs for. I’ve been working on it with the director of The Greatest Showman,Michael Gracey. Animation just takes a long time, so in a few years’ time, fingers crossed it might be ready.

You also write the Dinosaur That Pooped series with your bandmate Dougie Poynter. What is it that you love about dinosaurs?

They’re these huge, monster-like creatures that were actually real. They just captured my imagination when I was a kid. What’s amazing is that I see it now with my own kids and the fascination they have with them. They’re just discovering dinosaurs and I feel like the fascination is just timeless. Once upon a time (and this isn’t a fictional story, this really happened!), there were these huge things that roamed the Earth and they looked so cool.

We know you’re a Christmas superfan, but what’s your favourite festive tradition?

I think it would have to be putting up the Christmas tree. It’s a wonderful tradition that you do every year, and I just love decorating the tree.

You’re known for putting it up very early… how early are we talking this year?

Well, hello! [Tom points to the Christmas tree in the background of our interview]. I’ve already got one up!

The Christmasaurus (picture book) by Tom Fletcher and illustrated by Shane Devries will be published in hardback by Puffin on 28 October.