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?
In primary school I spent far too much time outside the classroom door after talking too much in class. I calmed down a bit in secondary school though.
Q: What did you want to be when you were a child?
An archaeologist
Q: Which three words describe you best?
Chatty, lazy, erm...
Q: What is your favourite word?
Machynlleth
Q: What are you afraid of?
House spiders
Q: What do you do as a hobby?
gardening, creating music
Q: What’s your favourite food?
Cheese
Q: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
I nearly became a teacher last year but decided I prefered my free time too much
Q: Do you feel younger or older than your current age?
Younger
Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
The author Robert Westall
Q: What quality do you most admire in a person?
Honesty
Q: How long have you been a writer?
25 years
Q: Was there a specific moment in your life when you decide to become a writer?
Not really, I sort of accidentally drifted into from doing book illustration
Q: Where do you do your writing?
In my son Rhydian's ex-bedroom. He pinched my studio (a barn on the side of the house) for his bedroom as it was bigger and I got evicted!
Q: What are the best and worst things about being an author?
Best things: Free time, visiting schools and libraries all around the UK and Europe, fan letters. Worst things:Rejection letters, lack of secure income.
Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?
Everywhere, there's no specific source.
Q: Which of your own characters do you most identify with?
Trevor the Turtle. He's as untidy as me.
Q: What do you do to combat “writers’ block”?
I play music
Q: What was your favourite book as a child?
Stag Boy by William Rayner
Q: What book do you wish you had written?
Any book by Robert Westall but particularly The Wheatstone Pond
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Read, read, read, read, then write.