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 were you like at school?
A terrible day dreamer so missed a lot of important points!
Q: What did you want to be when you were a child?
A vet
Q: Which three words describe you best?
optimistic, quirky sense of humour
Q: What is your favourite word?
Pookie, because its the name of my terrier and when I say it she comes wagging her tail, and just to look at her (she looks like a bad hair day!) makes me laugh
Q: What makes you cringe?
cruelty
Q: What are you afraid of?
being under water
Q: When did you last have a really good laugh?
this morning when Pookie marched around with a long chew looking as though she was smoking a cigar
Q: What is your most treasured possession?
my father's SAS cap badge from World War Two
Q: What do you do as a hobby?
Paint, look after ducks, geese, silkie hens, horse and at present two kune kune pigs
Q: What strange habits do you have?
I'm obsessional about removing the horse droppings from the field!
Q: What’s your favourite food?
Breakfast of raw oats, weetabix, grape, nuts raisins,, fresh fruit and honey all in one bowl
Q: What do you day dream about?
people enjoying my attempts to create
Q: What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve done?
jumped out of an aeroplane (with a parachute)
Q: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
an actor
Q: Do you feel younger or older than your current age?
hugely younger ...perhaps its a second childhood
Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
My grandparents..I didn't have any
Q: What quality do you most admire in a person?
honesty and determination
Q: What is the most interesting place you have ever visited?
Iran
Q: What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
My father said aim at the stars and you might hit a haystack
Q: What would you most like to change about yourself?
I'd like to be more organised and have a greater attention span
Q: What has life taught you?
To live for every second...and not waste a moment
Q: How long have you been a writer?
since I could do joined up writing
Q: Was there a specific moment in your life when you decide to become a writer?
no
Q: Where do you do your writing?
somewhere comfortable...on a sofa with a view.
Q: What are the best and worst things about being an author?
best thing is being on a journey...and having a wonderful adventure. The worst thing is trying to get someone else to appreciate your efforts
Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?
they appear in the night, often in dreams... the sort of dreams when you're just between sleep and wakefullness
Q: What do you do to combat “writers’ block”?
Drop off to sleep, or go out for a walk both refresh the brain
Q: What was your favourite book as a child?
the Biggles books
Q: What book do you wish you had written?
The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Don't try too hard...just let your mind go into all the different corners. And observe life around you - Listen Observe and Feel