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?
Clever, but very lazy, which I've come to realise was not a good thing as my life goes on.
Q: What did you want to be when you were a child?
A surgeon, when I went into hospital aged 6 (but I later realised that I really don't like the sight of blood) so then it was an actor, which I later became.
Q: Which three words describe you best?
Positive, smiley, encouraging
Q: What is your favourite word?
Yes!
Q: What makes you cringe?
Seeing embarassing scenes in movies or TV shows and wanting the people not to do them... I always seem to shout out NO, which is really embarassing!
Q: What are you afraid of?
falling and being hit by flying objects
Q: When did you last have a really good laugh?
Probably earlier today... I love laughing and do it as much as I can.
Q: What is your most treasured possession?
That's a very difficult question to answer, as friends and family are not possessions, so I'll have to get back to you on that one, not being terribly materialistic.
Q: What do you do as a hobby?
I enter competitions (and win occasionally too).
Q: What strange habits do you have?
I keep my watch 24 minutes fast - it's great brain training to subtract 24 minutes off the time when somebody asks you what time it is.
Q: What’s your favourite food?
A good roast with crispy potatoes.
Q: What do you day dream about?
achieving more than I do.
Q: What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve done?
Pretended to be someone else (it's a long story!)
Q: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
A professional lottery winner!... or should that be a daydream?!
Q: Do you feel younger or older than your current age?
Far younger!
Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
Charlie Chaplin, to hear him talk.
Q: What quality do you most admire in a person?
Honesty.
Q: What is the most interesting place you have ever visited?
Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam. It inspired me to read her book.
Q: What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Never take advice!
Q: What would you most like to change about yourself?
My success on the Lottery!
Q: What has life taught you?
To be true to yourself and do unto others as you would be done by.
Q: How long have you been a writer?
On and off for over 20 years.
Q: Was there a specific moment in your life when you decide to become a writer?
No, I felt inspired to write, so I did it.
Q: Where do you do your writing?
In my office at my desk.
Q: What are the best and worst things about being an author?
The best is seeing your book on the shelves in a shop (or being read by somebody, though I've not yet done this) and the worst is having an idea but not being able to express it into words on paper.
Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?
Life experience.
Q: Which of your own characters do you most identify with?
Being a factual writer, I don't write characters, so I'd have to say myself!
Q: What do you do to combat “writers’ block”?
I either walk around the block or take a shower... both free my mind to think and I can usually solve any problems doing either.
Q: What was your favourite book as a child?
Charlie and the Chocolate Fsctory by Roald Dahl... I longed for a golden ticket to meet Willy Wonka and checked every chocolate bar I unwrapped for many years after reading it!
Q: What book do you wish you had written?
The Harry Potter series - I wish I had that imagination.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
I wrote a book to prove to myself that I could do it. I could and I did, and if I can, you can too - GO FOR IT!
Auditions: A Practical Guide
ISBN
978-0-415-47035-3
Published By
Routledge
Status
In Print