Elen Caldecott’s debut novel, How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant, was shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Children’s Prize and longlisted for the 2010 Carnegie Award. When you start to write a book, do you know how it will end? Yes, to a certain extent. I like to have an idea for a finale, and to know…
Marcia Williams, the well known children’s author and illustrator of many books, including lively retellings of myths and legends, arranged for the following interview with Anthony Browne. The questions were put to him by girls in the Book Group at St. Marylebone School. At what age did you start being an illustrator? I started illustrating…
Martin Brown is probably best known for his illustrations of the best-selling Horrible Histories series. He was born and brought up in Australia before moving to London. He eventually landed a job with Hippo books to illustrate Peter Corey’s book, Coping With Parents. That started a long and happy relationship with Scholastic and the rest, as…
Andy Briggs is the author of the HERO.COM series and the VILLAIN.NET anti-series for Young Adults. He’s a screenwriter – working on numerous movies and TV shows both in the US and around the world. Now he’s moving to the other side of the table and is tackling the new role as a producer with…
Chris Bradford is the author of the award-winning Young Samurai series Where does your inspiration come from? Inspiration comes from my own life and my travels to different countries around the world. Many of the scenes in Young Samurai have an element of truth in them, whether it be a lesson learnt, a place visited or a…
Tim Bowler has written twenty books for teenagers and won fifteen awards, including the prestigious Carnegie Medal. He has been described by the Sunday Telegraph as ‘the master of the psychological thriller’ and by the Independent as ‘one of the truly individual voices in British teenage fiction’. Where do you get your ideas? Sometimes you…
Terence Blacker is one of a small number of authors who write for both adults and children. His many popular children’s novels include the best-selling Ms Wiz series. Where does your inspiration come from? I don’t think there’s anything mysterious about this. It comes from all around – things that happen to me, that I…
Julie was born in Ayrshire and grew up near Glasgow, where she now lives with her family. After a degree in English Language and Literature, she was the editor of a small magazine, a teacher and a freelance journalist. Julie has written many critically-acclaimed, award-winning novels for teenagers and younger readers. She speaks in schools,…
Sue Bentley has written over 70 books for children and adults. Her books have been published in many countries and in excess of 20 languages. Sue is best known for her successful Magic Kitten series, followed by Magic Puppy, Magic Pony and Magic Bunny, all published by Puffin. When you start to write a book,…