PHOTO: Colin van Dongen: Celebrated storyteller and creative visionary, capturing hearts with his enchanting tales alongside his daughter Mia.
A Beloved Father-Daughter Duo Inspiring Young Minds Through Captivating Adventures
Colin and Mia van Dongen discuss their creative journey, sharing insights on storytelling, collaboration, and the joys of their beloved Winston the Titan Terrier series.
Colin van Dongen stands as a testament to the power of creativity and connection, weaving together the realms of storytelling and innovation in a manner that captivates audiences of all ages. An award-winning storyteller and visionary, he has navigated a rich tapestry of careers, from oceanography to the vibrant world of animation and advertising. However, it is his unique partnership with his daughter, Mia, that has truly redefined his creative journey. Together, they have embarked on an extraordinary adventure, co-authoring the beloved Winston the Titan Terrier series. What began as a playful collaboration has blossomed into a profound exploration of storytelling, igniting imaginations and enriching their lives in ways that extend far beyond the written word.
Mia van Dongen, an award-winning young storyteller in her own right, brings a spark of joy and authenticity to their collaborative works. Despite her tender age, she demonstrates an impressive command of narrative and creativity, inviting young readers into a world filled with adventure and heart. The stories of Winston, a brave Boston Terrier guided by a celestial guardian, resonate deeply with children, encouraging them to explore their own imaginations while embracing valuable lessons about friendship and resilience.
As they prepare to release the next installment in their series, Winston the Titan Terrier: Adventures in Ancient Egypt, Colin and Mia reflect on their creative synergy and the profound impact that unplugging from digital distractions has had on their lives. Their insights, shared in this exclusive interview, reveal not only the joys and challenges of co-authoring as a parent and child but also their commitment to fostering a love of reading and learning in young minds. Readers will find inspiration in their journey, as well as practical wisdom for nurturing creativity in their own families.
Join us as we delve into the hearts and minds of Colin and Mia van Dongen, celebrating their remarkable achievements and the magic they continue to create together through the power of storytelling.
What inspired you both to start writing the Winston The Titan Terrier series together, and how did the idea first come about?
Mia (7): When my mom went out shopping and I was watching TV at home, my dad said to me, “Let’s write a book together?” The idea of it sounded really exciting! Since the book came out, I feel more confident and have made some great friends. Sometimes, kids I don’t even know come up to me and tell me how much they love it, and want to talk about their favourite character in the book which has been really cool! I have had so much fun creating these books with my dad.
Colin : I saw my parents collaborating on a children’s book together when I was young which was a factor. However, one of the main influences that initiated this project was a quote I saw from an author, Glennon Doyle, who inspired us to take a more balanced approach to technology in our home.
“I find myself worrying most that when we hand our children phones, we steal their boredom from them. As a result, we are raising a generation of writers who will never start writing, artists who will never start doodling, chefs who will never make a mess in the kitchen, athletes who will never kick a ball against a wall, musicians who will never pick up their aunt’s guitar and start strumming.”
Mia, as such a young author when you started this project as a 5 year old, what has been the most exciting part of creating stories with your dad?
I loved seeing all the pictures being made by my dad, and seeing the story unfold from the book’s first storyboards. One of the most exciting moments was finding out we won a Gold Literary Titan Award in America and being the first person at my school to get the “Agent of Change” badge from my principal for students who are making a positive impact in our world!
Colin, how has collaborating with Mia on these books influenced your perspective on storytelling and creativity?
Collaborating with Mia on these books has been both humbling and inspiring. Watching her imagination flourish from ages five to seven as she brought these worlds to life has been a privilege. Over time, I realised that her ideas were often far better than mine, and I had to step outside my own box to fully embrace the imaginative world she was creating and join in on the ride.
Completing Winston the Titan Terrier: The Cosmic Bone broke many barriers for us, proving that anything is possible as authors. We’re thrilled to announce that the next installment in the series, Winston the Titan Terrier: Adventures in Ancient Egypt, will be released in June 2025. This will push the envelope even further in terms of the plot and the illustrations.
Mia and many friends have encouraged me to publish a memoir called “9 Lives”, which will detail my adventures and many near death experiences as an extreme sports enthusiast and professional surf videographer. While navigating the unpredictable rollercoaster ride as an insulin-dependent diabetic.
The Winston series blends adventure, problem solving, and fun characters. What message do you hope young readers take away from these stories?
The series echoes the message of never giving up and the power of friendship. Through Winston’s journeys, young readers learn that even the biggest challenges can be overcome with determination, looking for solutions, and the support of friends and family.
Beyond writing, you’ve also developed WinstonBooks.com. How does this platform enhance the reading experience for children and families?
One of the greatest rewards of working with Mia was quality time away from screens. To promote this, we created WinstonBooks.com, offering educational toys, activities, and books, including our future books and those by other authors.
Mia, do you have a favourite moment or character in The Cosmic Bone, and what makes it special to you? My favourite character is Winston because he is based on my real dog! He is really adorable, super cute and I just really love him so much! I have had him as my dog since I was a baby. His personality closely matches the character as he has a love for sports, adventure, and all kinds of food and snacks!
My favourite scene in the Cosmic Bone is when Winston uses his Bubblegum Cannon to stop Smokestrike in the tunnels under the Bone Shop. I love rainbows, so I imagined colourful bubblegum balls that could be fired and trap the naughty Ninja Cat!
Colin, your background spans multiple creative industries. How have these experiences shaped your approach to children’s literature? One of the scenes features a monstrous wave that was deployed by Smokestrike that was about to crash on Winston. This was drawn from my own experiences as a water cameraman, where I’ve often found myself in many similar positions to capture wave riders in dangerous conditions. The intensity and the danger of those moments influenced the tension of that particular scene.In terms of production, I was lucky enough to apply over 25 years of design and animation experience to this project, using both classic 3D modelling and new emerging technology to build dynamic compositions that brought Mia’s story to life.
What advice would you give to other authors, especially those looking to collaborate with young writers on storytelling projects?
Embrace flexibility and creativity. Start with quick, rough storyboarding to capture ideas quickly without interrupting the flow of imagination of a younger storyteller. It’s important to establish clear boundaries to ensure a logical progression from beginning to end. Take the time to explore different possibilities for plot themes and character development, and don’t rush the process. Seek out negative feedback and suggestions from trusted sources, those comments are gold.
Role-playing sparked a wave of creativity in our 2nd book when we transformed Mia’s grumpy toy octopus into a future villain, known as SadFace. This toy character brought endless laughs and inspired fresh ideas for our next installment. Winston the Titan Terrier: Adventures in Ancient Egypt, where SadFace uses a time twister device to unleash chaos by teleporting gigantic prehistoric dinosaurs into Queen Cleopatra’s timeline, while Winston tries to save Egypt and the universe…
