Marcus Sedgwick Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson I think this is one of those books that people underestimate, either because they’ve forgotten they’ve read it, or never have. Maybe there’s too much Disney in people’s memories of it. The original book is powerful, dark, compelling and sinister and I love it. In the Night Kitchen by…
Margaret Mallett last interviewed Marcia for an article entitled ‘Marcia Williams’ books for children: classic retellings and innovative information picturebooks’ published in English 4-11 Number 33, Summer 2008. Marcia’s books cover a particularly rich range of subjects and genres and are greatly valued by teachers and children. This interview is to catch up with Marcia’s…
A former teacher, Ian Whybrow has been publishing children’s books since 1989. When you start to write a book, do you know how it will end? Seldom – though sometimes I start from the end. Do you base your characters on real people? Not always, though it’s useful to be able to hook certain characteristics…
Beth Webb is an author and performance storyteller who has published over a dozen books for children and teenagers. She has been teaching writing to young people since 1990 and has some invaluable advice for writers on her website. Where does your inspiration come from? Everything and anything. In ‘The Dragons of Kilve,’ I was…
Ruth Walton is the author of the Let’s Find Out series – an original and innovative series of illustrated non-fiction books that introduces children to the world that surrounds them from the starting point of very familiar activity. The books feature a quirky style of illustration and design, which combines photographic textures and collage effects and…
Jean Ure’s first book was published when she was sixteen and still at school. Since then she has published over 170 books for children. She has become very popular with female teenage readers around Britain with novels such as Shrinking Violet, Family Fan Club and Passion Flower. Where does your inspiration come from? Short answer: anywhere and everywhere!…
Ann Turnbull is the author of over 30 books for children and young people. Her first novel, The Frightened Forest, was published in 1974. When you start to write a book, do you know how it will end? Yes, more or less. Even if I don’t know exactly, I know what sort of thing will…
Theresa Tomlinson spent her early childhood in various places in the north of England. She attended Hull College of Art and later trained as a teacher at Hull College of Education. Over the years she has acquired an outstanding reputation for her historical novels, particularly those set on the north-east coast of England. Theresa has…
G.P. Taylor is a New York Times best selling author. His works include Shadowmancer, Wormwood, Tersias, The Curse of Salamander Street and The Tizzle Sisters. He lives on the banks of a river in the midst of a dark wood, an arrow’s flight from the Prince Regent Hotel near the ‘town at the end of the line’. He spends his…