We complain about children, these days, who can only dream of being celebrities, never thinking they may need talent or might have to do something special to attain that status.

Actually, I was like that. Rather than work hard, I daydreamed through my teenage years at school, doodling affirmative statements on my exercise books, usually, “Shoo is a Star!” drawn in 3d hollywood style, surrounded by 3d shooting stars! I believed it too.

Back then Rock and Roll was what you did to become famous. I guess I did work at it quite a bit. I spent a long time practicing my poses in the mirror. I actually wrote songs, maybe three or four a week for years, usually about unrequited love. The ones that people liked were story songs. One was about a young couple moving to Peterborough and their relationship with the housing corporation, another, I was reminded about just a couple of weeks ago, was about Fred, who was a whizz at electronics and had a plan to take over the world.

When I finally got a taste of the reality of Rock and Roll, in a band called Flamazine, (See more here) I realised that I not only didn’t want the rock and roll lifestyle – travelling, living out of suitcases, interacting with the fans – I knew it would probably destroy me too.

I gave up and committed myself to my other string. I hid away in a shed and became an illustrator. And that’s how I thought it would be. My aim was to reach the point where I only had to do one picture book a year. The rest of the time would be researching and getting better at drawing. I was happy!

You must be careful what you wish for. I never got to spend my time quietly dreaming up new stories. I now spend half my time travelling, living out of suitcases, interacting with with my readers? Performing three or four times a day is quite enough of a job for most people. Then I come home and immediately have to get writing – again enough of a job for most people. Then I illustrate the books – another job on it’s own. Then I have to become a web designer, animator and systems administrator to keep my website up and running when my ISP lets my site get hacked. I market myself and my books (I’m doing it now. My publishers want us to blog – to be “out” there”). I do my online drawing school, so I’m a video director and editor too. Then I have to be secretary, booking agent and tour manager when I go off visiting schools and libraries. Never mind dealing with the general email, post and office stuff everyday.

And then I always get asked the same question by children. “Are you famous?” I have no idea how to reply. I certainly don’t feel it. If I am I don’t think I’m getting the benefit – No swimming pool, no flunkies at my command.

After a week visiting schools, I’m exhausted. I have today to catch up and then I’m off again tomorrow. I know it’s my fault for taking on all these roles, but it seems to me that unless you get really lucky and one of your books takes off, that’s what you have to do these days.

In the early eighties we were warned to prepare for the leisure society. Technology would take over so much that we would spend most of our lives on the golf course – living the celebrity lifestyle, in fact. Technology has changed my job as well as everyone else’s. What used to feel like a vocation has become a hard slog to stay in the business. Maybe I’m doing something wrong.

And yet, I’m very aware that what I do must seem quite glamourous from the outside. Glamour is a bright light that dazzles the audience so they can’t see the rickety scenery wobbling in the background.

Would I have it any other way? Would I swap and do something else? Of course not!