Mark Thomas News & Events
August 22, 2026
Unconfirmed
Sneepoogull is almost ready to fly
Final illustrations are being tidied and the last read-through is underway. Publication details, stockists and ordering links will be posted here the moment they are confirmed.
August 22, 2026
September 2026,TBC
School Visits in Pembrokeshire
Where Sneepoogull came from
As yet unconfirmed. Mark is available through his contact page.
The idea for Sneepoogull began in a very ordinary way, during a walk with my five-year-old granddaughter, Jasmine.
We spotted a seagull, and I jokingly told her to watch out in case it flew overhead. I then invented a silly creature called a “Sneegull”, a seagull that sneezed and pooed at the same time. The idea made Jasmine laugh, and that little moment was all it took to get my imagination going.
I started wondering: what if this wasn’t just an ordinary seagull? What if it was enormous, perhaps the size of a small car? And what would happen if something that big sneezed while it was flying high above you?
That was when the Sneegull began to develop into the Sneepoogull.
The idea grew into a story about a strange, oversized seabird with a sniffly nose, a poorly tummy and one particularly messy problem. From there came the warning rhyme and the phrases that became such an important part of the story:
“AHH... CHOO!”
followed, unfortunately, by...
“AHH... POO!”
The rhyme gave the story its rhythm and helped turn the original joke into an adventure. It also created the simple rule at the heart of the book: if you ever hear a Sneepoogull sneeze overhead, don’t look up — run!
What began as a silly comment on a windy walk with my granddaughter gradually grew into a complete story, a character called Reggie, and eventually my first children’s book. Sometimes a story really can begin with nothing more than a seagull, a laugh and a little bit of imagination.
Book two is being scribbled
More posts are on the way
This page will grow into a proper blog as new books, events and behind-the-scenes sketches appear.Write your text here...
A second seaside story is in early draft, this time it might be about something that washes up on the shore after a storm. More news as it takes shape.