BRENTON CULLEN is a bookseller, children’s literature advocate, and now he’s an author with his first book The Prime Minister Problem. Wren feels like nobody sees him, but when he writes a letter to the Prime Minister, he starts something beautiful in his small town.

Read on for a Q&A with Brenton.

ABOUT THE BOOK

What sparked the idea behind The Prime Minister Problem?

One day, a random thought popped into my head: what if a ten-year-old kid decided he had had enough of the grown-ups messing everything up in the world? What if he decided he knew better? What if he ran for Prime Minister – and won? There were no rules saying how old a Prime Minister had to be. So maybe it could work!

This was my very initial idea. but a book is much more than one idea, so it needs many more ideas to build and create a whole story. Think of a blue sky being the foundation or the backdrop. Think of the puffy white clouds as the ideas; you need to fill the sky with the clouds to build an entire book.

So although that was the spark of the initial idea, when I sat down to begin writing, it very quickly changed as I gathered more and more ideas to build my story. Within just a few chapters, it wasn’t the short, funny book I thought it would be. It went deeper; more ideas were added (more clouds filled the sky!) and very soon I found all the ideas coming together, layer upon layer, adding texture to the story until I found the true heart of what the book was meant to be.

Wren is such a sweet and loveable character, so what was your favourite thing about writing him?

I loved writing about his total passion for the environment, animals and nature! He really is so sweet and he is very caring. He is also very quiet, but has a huge imagination and a big amount of internal thoughts. I think lots of kids are like this; maybe they seem shy or quiet on the outside, but inside, they are full of worlds.

I loved writing gentle and soft and sensitive moments of Wren interacting with animals or interacting with his beloved grandma, because I got to really immerse myself in his character and write as though I was seeing through his eyes. I hope, when you read the book, you feel like you are immersed fully in Wren’s world, too.

Wren is a big reader who shares his favourite stories with his Grandma. Were you a big reader growing up and is he inspired by your own love of books?

I was a huge reader growing up! I think I was born that way. But my mum and my Gran and my Grandma certainly encouraged it, from before I could talk or walk. They bought me books for gifts, read me stories and took me to libraries. My Mum even tells the story of when I was about one years old and she came into the room and I had pulled every single book off the book shelf and spread them all out across the lounge room floor. Apparently that happened more than once! So, obviously, I have always loved books.

You know, I think Wren is partially inspired by my own experiences; his love of reading and definitely his relationship with his beloved Grandma is very much the same as mine. But Wren is not me.

He isn’t autobiographical, but I’d say he is the character I have written who is the closest to my heart. I even sneaked some of my favourite books I read as a kid into the pages of The Prime Minister Problem. If you read it and spot any titles of books mentioned that Wren is reading, then those are books I also loved to read when I was Wren’s age.

The Prime Minister Problem deals with some heavy issues for kids, like loneliness, families moving apart, and a loved one having a stroke. Can you tell us a little bit about how you balance the sadness and hope in this story?

Life has hard bits and happy bits, scary bits and sad bits, laughing bits and the bits that don’t go your way. Some kids deal with the themes of this book in their everyday life – and it’s important for them to know it’s all right to feel lonely, or sad about a family member moving away.

In my book, tough moments leads to new opportunities. Wren is sad about his grandma moving, but he decides to do something about it: he starts the ‘Adopt a Grandparent’ program. Through that, he makes new friends and discovers courage he didn’t know he had. Sometimes it’s talking things out that makes you feel better – whether with a friend, teacher, or parent.

By the end, Wren sees that after every storm comes a rainbow. Good news, hope, and laughter are always around the corner. Everything will be all right in the end. And if it’s not all right, it’s not the end.

There’s a beautiful blend of old and new in this book, with modern social media helping to spread word of the ‘Adopt a Grandparent’ program in Fairley. How else do you think young people can make a real change and what do you hope readers take away from this story?

Young people can make real change in so many ways, not just through social media. They can start small projects in their schools or communities, volunteer, write to local politicians about issues that matter to them (which is exactly what the protagonist in my book does), use their creative methods such as story writing, poetry or art to tell important stories, or simply stand up for someone who feels unheard. Change doesn’t always begin with something huge; sometimes it starts with one person with a brave idea and the courage to follow it through.

I hope readers feel uplifted by the story. I hope they realise they already have the strength and courage they need inside them, crouching there, waiting to be used. I hope they realise that their voice matters, and that even one person can change the world. I hope the story reminds them to be kind, to embrace being different, and to see others without judging. Most of all, I hope it settles in their hearts and inspires them to think, to feel, and to take action.

On a more practical level, I hope, just like in the books, kids and classes and schools establish their own ‘Adopt a Grandparent’ programs in real life. Imagine if there were one of these in every community in Australia? It would be a fantastic step towards combating loneliness, for all ages.

What are the top five books that Wren would recommend readers his age pick up?

Again, so many possibilities. But I think Wren would want to share quiet, sensitive books that are about nature or animals or how to handle going through tough times, with relatable characters at the story’s centre. So my picks for the top five will be: The Other Shadow by Tania Ingram; Skippy Blackfeet by Rebecca Fraser; Honey and the Valley of Horses by Wendy Orr; A Small Collection of Happiness by Zana Fraillon; and Neeka and the Missing Key by Tina Strachan.

What’s next for you? Can you tell us about your upcoming writing projects?

I am excited to have a few books in the pipeline. I have a picture book called Meena’s Moving Day, about a girl who wants her very own room, that will be published in October by Wombat Books.

Next April, I have an exciting mystery adventure novel coming out for ages 8-12. I am currently writing a historical young adult novel about a boy searching for gold during the 1800s Australian gold rush. That is part of a series called ‘Rhiza Shorts’, aimed at pre-teens and teens, to be published by Rhiza Edge Press within the next couple years.

To any reader who wants to adopt their own grandparent, how should they start, and what are some fun activities they can do together?

Great question! The best way to start would be to ask an adult in your life; maybe it’s your mum or dad or aunt or teacher or big sister. Have them help you so it’s safe and everyone knows what is happening. You could organise your class or your whole school to work with a local nursing home, or maybe some local charities or programs that have elderly clients. You could ask your neighbours or your own grandparent, or your friend’s grandparent. Put the word out in the newspaper or make posters to put around town, or ask your parents to put a call-out on social media. Why not check your local library if they have a program for making intergenerational connections? Maybe the library will start one thanks to your idea!

As to what are fun activities, board games or puzzles, swapping recipes and baking together, exploring local parks or spots in your neighbourhood, going to the movies, or shopping together. Having a regular morning tea date at a café with your adopted grandparent and your family. Teach each other things you both love; dancing or gardening or craft or drawing or yoga.

Above all, spend time together and getting to know each other. Have a lot of laughs. Connect via your common interests. Make memories. Be a friend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brenton Cullen writes stories from the heart for children and young adults. He is a bookseller, interviewer, children’s literature advocate, reviewer and 2023 May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Fellowship Recipient and 2024 Winner of the Just Write for Kids Pitch It! Competition (Middle-Grade Category). Brenton lives between the bush and the beach with his partner, a quartet of fish named The Supremes, five terrariums, eight house plants and an ever-growing picture book collection.

Follow Brenton Cullen on Instagram here.

Visit the Simon & Schuster website here.