Nichola McDonald

Visit Michola McDonald on
table number 30
at the summer
Oxford Indie Book Fair
on 13-July 2025

See home page for details, map and more.

I didn’t set out to be a writer—I set out to tell a story I couldn’t stop thinking about. This applies to both my adult drama and children’s books, the two genres I write in. A story that made me laugh, cringe and reflect on what it really means to be “too cool for school,” as explored in my latest children’s graphic novel. That story became Slacker Nerd Jerome: Jerome’s Dilemma – Too Cool for School. What started as a fun mental-break side project during the dark days of the COVID-19 lockdown turned into a mission to connect with reluctant readers—especially boys who think traditional school and books aren’t for them.

Writing for children has been unexpectedly transformative. It’s not just about crafting dialogue or dreamt-up disasters (of which Jerome has many). It’s about looking back at my own school days and asking, “What would I tell my younger self if I could?” Through Jerome, I get to answer that—and invite young readers to laugh, learn and grow with him.

I write wherever I can—on trains, in planes, or tucked in a corner with a strong cup of coffee. I don’t have a special hut like Roald Dahl, but I do have a MacBook, iPad and a mobile phone full of scribbled ideas and half-baked punchlines. My favourite writing ritual? Reading scenes aloud in different character voices (yes, even the embarrassing ones).

My latest release, Slacker Nerd Jerome: Colouring, Scribble & Solve, brings the same characters into a world of creativity. It’s more than a book—it’s an invitation for kids to colour inside the lines and dive deeper into Jerome’s chaotic charm.

Being a writer has given me the chance to spark joy, provoke thought and—if I’m lucky—help a young reader see a bit of themselves in a nerdy kid with a big imagination and a knack for mischief. That’s more than I ever hoped for—and exactly why I keep writing.

📘 Slacker Nerd Jerome: Jerome’s Dilemma – Too Cool for School


🎨 Slacker Nerd Jerome: Colouring, Scribble & Solve Activity Book