Monsters, Mayhem, and Doughnuts: A Chat with Gianna Pollero
I’m really hyped to have thee Gianna Pollero back on the blog! Gianna kindly came back to talk about the Monster Doughnuts series as it is now complete and in the world for all to enjoy. From sneaky monsters to hilarious mishaps, Gianna shares some behind-the-scenes tidbits on how she brings these loveable (and not-so-loveable) creatures to life. Plus, we talk all things creative process, some fun facts about her characters, and maybe even a hint at what’s coming next. If your kids (or you!) are obsessed with Monster Doughnuts, this one’s for you.
If you could invite any three monsters from the series over for dinner, which ones would you choose, and what would you serve them?
I would absolutely invite Mr Harris. I’m pretty confident he would eat almost anything! I think I’d go for something hearty like a roast dinner and then I’d make sure he had an excellent dessert because he’s got a very sweet tooth – perhaps a nice chocolate fudge cake with ice cream, or a stack of profiteroles? Secondly, I’d invite Marietto the Gelato Guzzler from book two. He’s based on my dad 😊 so I’d give him a good bowl of pasta and then a generous helping of tiramisu. Lastly, I think I would invite lovely little Kenny the Key Catcher. I think he’d like a good bowl of soup and a slice of cheesecake
Grace uses doughnuts to hunt monsters, but if she were to branch out, what other baked good do you think could be weaponised, and why?
Grace will use whichever cakes have that very special ingredient to explode monsters, expertly baked by her sister Danni… so I could see potential for a Monster Croissants, Monster Muffins, or Monster Cookie series!
Mr. Harris has his own distinctive personality—what’s the secret to writing a character that’s so delightfully grumpy yet lovable? What’s your approach to balancing his rough edges with moments that make readers root for him?
Mr Harris was one of the most fun characters I have ever written. I love pairing characteristics that shouldn’t really go well together. I worked on the basis that he was grumpy, rude and incredibly self-centred but that, deep down somewhere in that great big green body, he actually has a heart! I thoroughly enjoyed writing moments where he was completely obnoxious but I equally loved occasionally showing his warmth and (hidden) affection for Grace.
Was there a particular moment or character in Beastly Breakout that was especially fun or challenging to write?
I loved every moment of writing Beastly Breakout! By the third book, I knew my characters inside out so it was a joy to give them another adventure. I especially loved the addition of Betsy, the donkey, in Beastly Breakout (and how impressed Mr Harris was with her!) and also Beyonce, the feisty lady cyclops Mr Harris is rather taken with!
In the spirit of the monster glossary, if you could add a ‘human’ entry based on yourself, how would it read? It’s your turn to be in the monster database! What quirks or ‘abilities’ would you have?
A Gianna monster is generally found in a small, cosy nook with a large pile of books to its left and a cup of coffee to its right. While this specimen is mostly an agreeable monster, if you interrupt it reading or writing, it can be incredibly grumpy. It can be pacified with cakes and trips to book shops. It enjoys the company of animals and its like-minded monster friends. Its super-power is almost certainly the ability to buy books and plants when no books or plants are needed.
We’ve seen Grace and Mr. Harris in some tight spots, but what would be their ultimate challenge—something even more daunting than what they’ve faced so far?
I’d like to see them challenged with something out of their comfort zone – perhaps a whole group of unknown monsters in a totally different world that they have never come across before. Perhaps there’s an alternative Monster World lurking somewhere that’s yet to be discovered!
What’s the funniest scene you’ve written in the series, and did it make you laugh as much while writing it as it did for us when reading?
Lots of scenes I have written have really made me laugh. I love silly humour so it’s never a hardship to think of a ridiculous scenario to put my characters in. I very much enjoyed the scene when Mr Harris negotiates the purchase of Betsy the donkey in book three. But I also love the scene at the end of book two when Mr Harris accidentally (he’d disagree with that) helps overcome the Bottom Biter villain in that particular story!
If you could pair Grace with a character from another book series for an epic crossover, who would it be, and what kind of quest would they embark on?
There are so many characters I would like to pair Grace with! I think she and Bethany from The Beast and The Bethany series by Jack Meggitt-Phillips would be a cracking duo, who could overcome almost any beastly obstacle in their way!
What’s one thing about the Monster World that you’ve never revealed in the books but always had in mind?
Monster World has so many possibilities. I think perhaps it’s the unlikely social lives of the monsters – Snack Snafflers and Poo Shufflers at a weekly book club, Homework Takers and Mess Makers at a regular crochet evening… that sort of thing!
What’s next for you—any new projects or ideas brewing that you can share with us?
Whether it’s more Monster Doughnuts or something entirely different, we’re all ears!
I’m currently working on a couple of new projects which are entirely different to Monster Doughnuts. But… don’t worry, they’re hopefully just as anarchic and silly, with a couple of sidekicks to give Mr Harris a run for his money. Keep your fingers crossed they make it into a bookshop 😊
That’s a wrap! Huge thanks to Gianna for taking us on a little adventure through the monster-filled chaos of Monster Doughnuts. If you haven’t already grabbed the books, what are you waiting for? They’re perfect for getting kids hooked on reading, with just the right amount of silliness, adventure, and, of course, doughnuts! Keep an eye out for future projects from Gianna—who knows what monster-filled madness she’ll cook up next!
If you missed it…
Be sure to check out my previous interview with Gianna where we dove into her creative journey and the inspiration behind the Monster Doughnuts series Getting to know Gianna Pollero
And if you’re curious about what makes these books so popular and such delightful reads, be sure to check out my reviews of each book below:
Monster Doughnuts (book 1) by Gianna Pollero
Monster Doughnuts: Cyclops on a Mission (book 2) by Gianna Pollero
Monster Doughnuts: Beastly Breakout! (book 3) by Gianna Pollero
