Tilly the Mouse A Day at the DesertTilly the Mouse A Day at the Desert
J Hirtle The Last Storyteller
Storyteller Jim Hirtle chats with indie author Sarah Stronach about her debut children’s book, *Tilly the Mouse: A Day at the Desert*, and how it grew from family stories into a published bedtime adventure. The conversation touches on confidence, gentle lessons about bullying, and the practical realities of writing, editing and promoting a first book.
32:28•31 Jul 2026
Tilly the Mouse: Turning Bedtime Stories into a Brave Little Adventure
Episode Overview
- Childhood storytelling and family encouragement led Sarah Stronach to write down her animal tales and submit them for publication.
- Characters in *Tilly the Mouse* are named after family pets, adding emotional meaning and familiarity to the story.
- Sarah drew on her own experiences of being bullied to shape Monty the nervous camel’s arc, keeping the themes gentle and humorous for young children.
- Working with a hybrid publisher involved shared proofreading, editorial changes, and collaborating with illustrators while retaining creative input.
- Marketing and promoting the book has been challenging, but local events, social media, and personal interactions are helping Tilly reach more readers.
“"If nobody reads it and nobody looks at it, then that's fine. I enjoy it. It's fine. I can carry on doing it for myself. But if somebody enjoys it, then it's more the better."”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation shifts the focus to imagination and childhood, as indie children’s author Sarah Stronach sits down with storyteller Jim Hirtle to chat about her debut book, *Tilly the Mouse: A Day at the Desert*. It’s a cosy, low-pressure listen where you’ll hear how playful tales and gentle lessons can shape young minds, much like recovery stories do for adults.
Sarah talks about growing up making up animal stories for cousins, nieces and nephews, and how her late dad and her partner pushed her to finally write them down. Tilly herself began as a joke about a mouse in a cupboard and a cookie jar; after Sarah’s beloved dog Tilly died, the mouse took on the name as a tribute.
Many of the characters – Bess, Bonnie, and Monty the nervous camel – are named after family dogs, giving the story a warm, personal feel. The episode digs into how Sarah turned those bedtime tales into a proper book, from writer’s block and late-night ideas scribbled in a notebook, through multiple rewrites, to working with hybrid publisher Austin Macauley on editing and illustrations.
She laughs about her “rambling” descriptions and learning to trust illustrators and editors, while still keeping creative control. You’ll also hear how her own experience of school bullying helped shape Monty’s storyline with the “not very nice gang” of desert creatures, keeping the message light and funny so kids feel safe, not scared. Sarah shares future plans for more Tilly adventures, a grandad-inspired fairy-tale series, and even duck detectives.
This episode is a good fit if you enjoy gentle, family-friendly storytelling, indie creativity, and honest talk about building confidence one small step at a time. Fancy giving a young reader a brave little mouse to fall asleep with tonight?
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