I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Johan Ingler to Linda’s Book Bag today because I think his new book for children sounds simply wonderful. It’s a real sadness to me that I haven’t been able to read it, but life hasn’t afforded me the time.
Let’s find out more:
Staying in with Johan Ingler
Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Johan. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.
Thank you for having me! This is such a fun space for authors, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to talk about my book.
You’re most welcome. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?
I’ve brought along my novel, Frankie & Chair. Although it’s middle-grade, I hope it can be enjoyed by anyone with an open mind and heart. Actually, as this is my only published book, it’s an easy pick. But it’s also a story that’s been with me on a long journey, through thick and thin, and I’m thrilled to finally share it with the world.
Oh congratulations on your debut! I think children have some of the best books around. I might be in my mid 60s but I love children’s fiction. You said Frankie & Chair has been with you a while. Tell me more.
I first wrote it as a screenplay in 2015, ten years ago (gulp! where does the time go?), and was honoured to win a couple of awards for it. It nearly made it into a movie, but we never quite got there. Making movies is hard! So many stories for the screen, written by passionate writers who pour their hearts into their work, never see the light of day. But I just couldn’t let Frankie & Chair wither away on some dusty shelf. So, I turned it into a book, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.
So, what is Frankie & Chair about?
It’s a story that handles big themes of loss and grief, and encourages empathy and understanding. But it’s still light-hearted and quirky, celebrating the power and importance of imagination, and how kids find their own inventive ways of tackling tough subjects that they don’t yet have the emotional tools for.
I hope this book can help anyone who needs a bit of encouragement, inspiration, comfort, or just a friend in the shape of a book—tagging along on their personal journey.
That sounds fabulous Johan. What else can we expect from an evening in with Frankie & Chair?
Based on flattering feedback and reviews, you can expect to laugh, be moved, and find yourself hooked by a page-turning read with characters that latch straight onto your heart. Needless to say, readers have been far too kind to me. And this is from adult readers, which I’m very happy about, as I hoped this book would resonate with readers of all ages.
While the story centres on two nine-year-olds (and an armchair), I’ve also included the perspective of Danny’s mom. Even if there’s only a few scenes from her point of view, I wanted to add the grown-up angle of handling the loss of a loved one, while also being there for your child. For young readers, these scenes might “only” read as advancements of the plot, while adult readers will see a parent’s struggle in a very difficult situation.
Also, as the book has two parallel storylines—Danny’s “real-life” story and the cosmic adventure he writes—you can expect an interesting structure that keeps the reading going at a fun pace. These two storylines are very much connected, enforcing Danny’s feelings, creating one larger interconnected narrative.
That description has made me even more determined to fit in Frankie & Chair to my TBR at some point.
What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?
I brought an extract from the book, I hope that’s not too cheeky of me. I thought it might be helpful to get a sense of how Danny’s friendship with Chair works.
Absolutely not cheeky at all!
This is early on in the story, where Danny and Frankie have their first real conversation—after she has invited herself to his house. Chair tries to intervene in the discussion, but as only Danny can “hear” Chair, it creates a whole heap of misunderstandings. Here it goes:
Danny sat on the veranda railing, clutching his sketchbook, looking at Frankie as if she was an armed bomb.
She sat by the stairs that led to the lawn, regarding Chair on his wagon. “So, you two are like… friends?”
“We’re more than just friends,” Chair said, quickly correcting himself: “But not in that way. I mean, we do more things with each other than just friends do––” He stopped himself and tried again: “What I mean is that Danny and I have taken our relationship to the next level––” He gave up. “Oh, the heck with it.”
“We’re friends and writing partners,” Danny clarified, giving Chair wary side-eyes.
“Can I see?” Frankie asked, referring to the sketchbook, oblivious of Chair’s floundering word salad.
In a situation like this, Danny would never have handed off his sketchbook. No way. He would rather have given away the log-in to his mom’s bank account. But for some inexplicable reason, as if his movements were controlled by some other force, he handed her the book.
Chair nearly choked on his cushion. “What are you doing?!”
Danny could only helplessly shrug.
Frankie flipped through the pages. “I love it! So much action and adventure! You both make this stuff up? You and the chair?”
“My name’s just Chair, thank you very much. And it’s not polite to talk about me as if I wasn’t here.”
“It’s just Chair,” Danny said.
“The chair comes up with this alone?” Frankie asked.
“Can’t say that’s not what it feels like sometimes,” Chair sighed.
“No, that’s his name. Chair.”
Frankie gave the padded furniture a regal nod. “Do accept my apologies. Chair.”
“Yeah, whatever, talk to the armrest…”
“We both come up with it,” Danny said. “But I draw the pictures.” He didn’t add how obvious that was, considering that Chair’s stumpy little legs couldn’t possibly hold a pencil (without using sticky-tape or glue).
Frankie wondered if Danny also had made the painting of the galaxy that hung in his room.
He explained that his mom had painted that one. Before. When they lived in their old house. But Danny left that last part out. He didn’t want to talk about the before-times.
While Frankie’s presence wasn’t immediately threatening, Danny couldn’t shake his guarded feelings toward her. After all, she had stolen that hammer in school. He feared her visit wasn’t merely a friendly one. Would she try to steal anything from him? Perhaps the painting? Is that why she asked about it?
“You know what I miss in here?” Frankie asked, nodding at the sketchbook. “An amazingly cool, butt-whoopin’, space-cruisin’, blaster-slingin’, one liner-bustin’—”
“Yes, yes, get on with it,” Chair said.
“— beam-blastin’ girl!”
“A girl?!” Chair blurted out. “Someone get me a drink to spit out!”
Danny shifted on the railing where he sat. “Well, it’s sort of only about Captain Redtail and Sir Winchester.”
“Those are the only two true space pirates,” Chair quickly filled in. “Hence the name, The Adventures of Captain Redtail and Sir Winchester!”
Frankie shrugged. “I’m just saying,” naturally just answering Danny’s comment. She kept flipping through the pages. “So how are you gonna end it?”
Danny looked at Chair. He’d never thought about ending any of the stories before. “We kind of just keep the adventures going. We don’t really end them.”
“Exactly,” Chair added. “Endings aren’t our thing. We’re not really fans of letting things go.”
Frankie drew her eyebrows together. “But you’re gonna end it eventually, aren’t you? What’s the point of telling a story if it doesn’t have an ending?”
“Because it’s fun,” Chair said. “What’s the fun in endings?”
Danny nodded in agreement. “What he said.”
Frankie couldn’t help but smile. “You’re a strange one, aren’t you.” She jumped down onto the garden. “Now, can I show you something cool?”
Danny squinted at her, skeptical about being shown anything by someone he didn’t yet know if he could trust.
Oh that’s brilliant Johan.
Thanks for reading, I hope it sparked some interest!
I’m intrigued though, why isn’t the book called Danny & Chair?
Ah yes, while I have this chance to explain my intentions with the book, some might wonder why I didn’t call the book Danny & Chair.
I decided on Frankie & Chair because these two characters play a central role in Danny’s journey of coping with his loss. Chair represents Danny’s struggle to accept it, while Frankie initiates his process of confronting it.
That makes sense. Thanks so much for staying in with me to chat about Frankie & Chair. It sounds such an important book.
Thank you for this chance to talk about my book, it’s been wonderful. Sending all the best from Sweden! Happy reading, writing, and all the other fun things you’re up to!
Thanks Johan.
Frankie & Chair
Nine-year-old Danny has an unusual best friend: Chair, an armchair. Together, they write The Adventures of Captain Redtail & Sir Winchester, a comic about a squirrel space pirate and his faithful companion, a robot cupboard. Content with life as it is, Danny dislikes any sort of change. He’s already had to endure the hardest change of all: the loss of his father.
But things take a turn when he starts at a new school and meets Frankie, a bold skateboarder whose friendship takes him by surprise. Frankie battles with a looming tragedy of her own, stirring emotions in Danny that he struggles to understand. And with Chair stubbornly opposing Frankie’s presence, the rising tensions set off a series of events that none of them could have imagined.
It’s a rocky journey toward new friendship and an understanding of grief, all mirrored in Danny’s comic world—a place where he explores the emotions he’s still learning to process.
Published on 28th November 2024, Frankie & Chair is available for purchase here.
About Johan Ingler
Born and raised in Sweden, Johan started his adult life as a musician: teaching and performing. To pursue writing, he studied screenwriting at UCLA Extension, where he won first place at the school’s feature film screenwriting competition, while working at an LA-based production and management company. After returning to Europe to work at an animation studio in Rotterdam, Johan is now back in his native Stockholm. Johan currently writes and develops projects for film and TV, and of course he’s working on his next novel.
For further information, find Johan on Instagram.
