“It was quite funny when Alan approached me (about illustrating), because I’m actually very allergic to agapanthus,” she said.

“Alan has been a friend for many years and he sent me a poem he’d written to see if I’d do the cover art – I said, ‘It’s not a poem, it’s a children’s book’.

“Suddenly I was working on the whole book and we’ve already started talking about the next project.”

This is the first time Berran, who wrote the Freaky series, has illustrated another author’s work – she is launching her 11th book soon.

Bowater, of Albury, announced at the launch he hopes to get into his own illustrating.

“I’ve had eight books published, and I think it’s good to have goals,” he said.

“I think this book would have to be my favourite so far … ‘agapanthus’ is an opposing word and if you don’t know what it is, you might believe it’s all sorts of things.

“I think we might do a follow-up.” 

Beware the Agapanthus is available at Dymocks Albury.