The Author Hotline
is
being developed by CW4K, or Creative Writing 4 Kids. They are the company behind a website that enables children to create and publish their own stories online. In its first year it has signed up over 2000 members and has been enthusiastically received by children, parents and teachers. In fact the response has been so encouraging that they are planning a huge expansion of its services. Embedding The Author Hotline into the site is part of that expansion...
For more information on CW4K CLICK HERE
Q: What did you want to be when you were a child?
a ballerina
Q: Which three words describe you best?
vibrant I'm told!
Q: What are you afraid of?
Wasps. And on a much deeper level of fear, losing a member of my family or a close friend.
Q: When did you last have a really good laugh?
earlier today
Q: What do you do as a hobby?
Reading, theatre, cinema, gym, swimming, walking, cycling
Q: What’s your favourite food?
I love the 'offee' part of banoffee pie. It's basically boiled consensed milk which ends up like the most delicious caramel. But my second favourite food is green vegetables, so that balances it out!
Q: What do you day dream about?
roller blading round Amsterdam
Q: Do you feel younger or older than your current age?
Definitely younger! Everyone does!
Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
Paul Merton
Q: What quality do you most admire in a person?
Awareness
Q: What is the most interesting place you have ever visited?
Kenya
Q: What were you like at school?
My primary school days were happy-go-lucky. I have one vivid memory of being told off by Mrs Brown for losing my temper with another child in the playground, and then Mrs Brown apologising to me the next day because she'd realised I'd only been defending my little brother. I went to an all-girls grammar school where I was anxious to fit in, and always obeyed every rule for the first 2 years. After that I relaxed and realised I could be more autonomous and didn't absolutely have to toe the line. I was basically hard working however.
Q: What makes you cringe?
The sound of people raising their voices at the end of sentences.
Q: What is your most treasured possession?
My bag of special birthday cards, thankyou cards and other cards and messages that I've recieved over the years.
Q: How long have you been a writer?
Published for 20 years
Q: Where do you do your writing?
In my office at home. It's bright and warm and has a great view of the busy, buzzing High Street.
Q: What are the best and worst things about being an author?
The worst thing is the pain barrier you have to go through when you first start a new book - that, and the feeling of deflation you get when you have to admit to yourself several thousand words in that it's not working. The best is when the book is writing itself because your characters have taken over - that, and meeting children in schools etc who are really engaging with what you have to say.
Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?
The Ideas Factory - obviously.
Q: What do you do to combat “writers’ block”?
I don't believe in writers' block any more than I believe in cleaning-out-the-goldfish block
Q: What was your favourite book as a child?
Anne of Green Gables. I read it 17 times.
Q: What book do you wish you had written?
Season of Secrets by Sally Nicholls
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Check with yourself honestly that it's the writing that's driving you and not just the 'being an author'.
Q: Which of your own characters do you most identify with?
When I was a child I would have identified with Jaimini from my Ballerina Dreams series.
First Term at Silver Spires
ISBN
9780746072240
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Drama at Silver Spires
ISBN
9780746072257
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Rivalry at Silver Spires
ISBN
9780746072264
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Princess at Silver Spires
ISBN
9780746089576
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Secrets at Silver Spires
ISBN
9780746089583
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Star at Silver Spires
ISBN
9780746089590
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Billie and the Parent Plan
ISBN
9780794517212
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Poppy's Secret Wish
ISBN
0746060246
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Jasmine's Lucky Star
ISBN
0746060254
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Rose's Big Decision
ISBN
0746060262
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Dancing Princess
ISBN
9780794512972
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Dancing with the Stars
ISBN
0746064349
Published By
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Status
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Dancing For Ever
ISBN
0746464357
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
One Mum's Enough
ISBN
9781899392360
Published By
Coach House Publications
Status
In Print
Girls Mean Trouble
ISBN
9781899392377
Published By
Coach House Publications
Status
In Print
She's No Angel
ISBN
9781899392384
Published By
Coach House Publications
Status
In Print
Little Miss Perfect
ISBN
9781899392391
Published By
Coach House Publications
Status
In Print
Get Me Out
ISBN
9781899392544
Published By
Coach House Publications
Status
In Print
Losing my Identity
ISBN
9781899392551
Published By
Coach House Publications
Status
In Print
The Incredible Spinning Wheel
ISBN
9781843283997
Published By
Faber Music
Status
In Print
Wasp Alert in Minibug Bonanzaland
ISBN
9781843283980
Published By
Faber Music
Status
In Print
The Crazy Alien Ball
ISBN
9781843285410
Published By
Faber Music
Status
In Print
Jupiter Cove
ISBN
9781843295434
Published By
Faber Music
Status
In Print
Billy Briggs, Big on Skates
ISBN
9781843285427
Published By
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Status
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The Dragon's Tale
ISBN
9780956096906
Published By
Ann Bryant
Status
In Print
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ISBN
9780749661342
Published By
Franklin Watts
Status
In Print
The Super Trolley Ride
ISBN
9780749668105
Published By
Franklin Watts
Status
In Print
Let's Dance
ISBN
9780749679613
Published By
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Status
In Print
Who's at the Zoo
ISBN
9780749665685
Published By
Franklin Watts
Status
In Print
Raindrop Bill
ISBN
9780749679538
Published By
Franklin Watts
Status
In Print
Tag!
ISBN
9780749679750
Published By
Franklin Watts
Status
In Print
Bad Cat, Ned!
ISBN
9780749673093
Published By
Franklin Watts
Status
In Print
Jack the Pet Duck
ISBN
9780749673123
Published By
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Status
In Print
But, Mum!
ISBN
9780749665951
Published By
Franklin Watts
Status
In Print
Ruth Tells the Truth
ISBN
9780749691851
Published By
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Status
In Print
Dancer at Silver Spires
ISBN
9780746098653
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Party at Silver Spires
ISBN
9780746098646
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Dreams at Silver Spires
ISBN
978074698660
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Magic at Silver Spires
ISBN
9780746098677
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Success at Silver Spires
ISBN
9780746098684
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Mystery at Silver Spires
ISBN
9780746098691
Published By
Usborne
Status
In Print
Jump, Toad, Jump!
ISBN
9780749691707
Published By
Franklin Watts
Status
In Print
The Lost Broomstick
ISBN
9780749693817
Published By
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Status
In Print