Jakob Wegelius

Outside In World talks to author and illustrator Jakob Wegelius about his latest book - Sally Jones and the False Rose.

Hello Jakob, could you tell our readers about the character Sally Jones and what inspired you to write about her?

Sally Jones turned up first as a bi-character in a short story that I wrote many years ago. I got curious about her and decided to find out about her life story. That resulted in the book The Legend of Sally Jones.

In that book, a magician teaches her to read and write. And that gave me the idea to let her tell the next story herself. That became The Murderer’s Ape.

Sally Jones and the False Rose came about because I have always dreamt about writing a gangster story.


Why do you think Sally Jones has proved to be such a popular protagonist?

She is a good person

Will there be more adventures for Sally Jones?

Hopefully … I don’t know yet

Did you have to do research for Sally Jones and the False Rose?

Oh, yes. Quite a lot actually. Getting the details right is important, I think. Even if the story is made up.

    
Can you tell us how you started as a writer and illustrator?

I have drawn and made-up stories since I was very young.

Which authors and illustrators would you say have been your biggest influences?

I was a great fan of comics as a child. Hergé and Tove Jansson are favourites (among others)

Outside In World is passionate about children’s books in translation. Can you tell us why you think it’s important to read books from writers around the world?

Getting new perspectives is always good!

October 2022