A huge welcome to today’s guest, Linda Strachan!

• Tell us a little bit about yourself and your books.

I live in a pretty village in the south east of Scotland, not too far from Edinburgh. I started writing when my youngest of three children was at the top of primary school, and once I had discovered I could write and get my stories published it was like someone opened the floodgates; so many stories and so many ideas. So far I’ve had over 70 books published for a variety of ages.

There are 9 books and a few short stories in the series about my cuddly friend Hamish McHaggis; a loveable haggis with animal friends, a pine marten, a hedgehog and an osprey. They have adventures all over Scotland in their vehicle the Whirry Bang. What is lovely about the series is that so many families have taken it to heart, not just in Scotland but all over the world. Some have written to tell me they took their children to all the places in the Hamish books, and there are free teacher’s resources for the Hamish books and now many schools use the books for a wide range of topics. 

I’ve written educational books that are used in schools all over the world and a middle grade historical fact-fiction book – The Dangerous Lives of the Jacobites – which allowed me to spend time with the characters in 1745 as well as doing lots of research on the lives of people at that time.

For young adults I wrote three gritty crime novels, about stealing cars, knife crime and fire starting (Arson). I recall when the first of these, Spider, came out I was concerned whether I could write convincingly from the viewpoint of a teenage boy, so I was delighted when it won the Catalyst Book Award which was judged by the readers YA themselves, and it was also shortlisted for several others.

For adults: The Writers & Artists Guide to Writing for Children and YA came out at the end of 2019 and is a much revised and extended version of one I wrote in 2008. So much has changed in children’s publishing since then and the original had very little on writing YA, so I was delighted to have to opportunity to do a major rewrite and I am always delighted to hear that it is often on the recommended reading list for many creative writing courses..

I’ve been a published writer for over 20 years and I love inspiring people to read and to write. My writing has also given me the opportunity to travel widely here in the UK and abroad, presenting my books and running workshops at festivals. conferences, schools and libraries for adults and children. I even did a tour of New Zealand with the NZ Book Council

• You have written for all ages.  Do you have a favourite group to write for?

I love the flexibility in writing for children and YA that allows a writer to write for various age groups and in any genre. I don’t really have a particular favourite they are all challenging areas and readership, and so different.

 I think it really depends on the idea and the way I want to tell the story that shows me who it’s best suited to; whether it could be a picture book, MG or YA.

• What is the best part about being a writer?  What are the challenges?

I love writing. I never know where ideas come from but I don’t think I will ever have enough time to write all the stories I have ideas for and I love it when I get lost in a story, living with my characters.

One of the more difficult things is sending out a book I have worked on with characters I love, and waiting to see whether people love it too, and get as excited about it as I am.

I also love to challenge myself to see whether I can write in a different genre, or a different style of book or article. I enjoy the variety, looking at different ways to tell a story. I enjoy sharing my love of writing and my experience to help new writers.

As a children’s writer there is often an expectation to do lots of events, workshops and school visits, and although I do enjoy that side of things sometimes finding the time and space in my head to write is hard when there are so many writing commitments in the diary. They can take up so much time and energy. It is all about finding the right balance.

• What books or authors did you love as a child?

I loved adventure stories and I was a huge fan of Narnia when I was young; the idea that you could climb into a wardrobe and come out in another world was so exciting. I think that led to my love of fantasy and science fiction.

• What current children’s/YA books / authors would you recommend?  

That is difficult, there are so many wonderful writers. When I was researching the latest children’s and YA books for my W & A writing guide I read so many books for all ages, and it occurred to me that we can become obsessed by the very latest books coming out and some that have been out a year or two often slip through with not enough notice. I loved the Scarlett Thomas’ WorldQuake a middle grade fantasy series that starts with Dragon’s Green; Will Hill’s – After the Fire; Catherine Johnson’s Race To The Frozen North; Anthony McGowan’s Lark; Jo Cotterill’s Jelly;  Katherine Rundell’s Into the Jungle -Stories for Mogli;.Picture books The Rabbit The Dark and the Biscuit Tin by Nicola O’Byrne; Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival. I could go on and on, there are so many it’s difficult to choose.

• Did you always love to write? What was your favourite subject at school?

This year I’ll have been a published writer for 25 years and I’ve written over 70 books for all ages from picture books to Young adult novels and a guide to Writing for Children. When I was at school, if someone had told me I’d be writing that sentence I’d never have believed them. It had never occurred to me that it was something people did as a job. I’d never met a writer and no one I knew wrote at all, so it was not even on my radar as a possibility.

I had a teacher at age 7 who wrote on my school report that I ‘lacked imagination’ and I think I wore that as a badge for years – it had to be right, the teacher said so – But I loved art and music at school and I still like to draw and paint, and occasionally play the piano and guitar – but just for myself, to relax.

• How important do you think it is that children and young people develop a love of reading for pleasure?

I think it is incredibly important, in fact I’ve just been writing a blog for the CLA (Copyright Licensing Agency) about the Power of Story. https://blog.educationplatform.co.uk/2021/03/17/the-power-of-story/

Reading helps build empathy, it is wonderful escapism and gives us a window on the whole world, a chance to see other’s lives and opens us up to experiences and possibilities.

What could be more important than showing a child there is so much more out there than their own experience and opening up the idea that other people think differently and have different experiences, and that is not only okay but it’s wonderful and fascinating.

My website www.lindastrachan.com 

Twitter @strachanlinda   

YouTube channel: Linda Strachan Author: https://www.youtube.com/user/wordsmithshe/videos

Thank you for joining us for a great chat, Linda!

Welcome to today’s wonderful Bookworm Blethers with author Joan Haig.

• By way of an introduction, could you tell us a wee bit about yourself?

First of all, I am delighted to be here – thanks for having me! Let’s see… I live in the Scottish Borders with my family surrounded by rolling fields and ancient hill forts, but I was born and grew up in Zambia. When I was turning teen, my parents (both teachers) moved us to a paradise island in Vanuatu. From there, my sister and our trunks landed in a boarding school for girls in Scotland (quelle horreur!). I’ve since lived in India, Nigeria, back in Zambia, and for most of my grown-up life, Scotland. I’m a mum, a part-time academic, a rotten cook and I can’t sing in tune. And though I love racquet- and water-based sports, I’m still searching for a form of exercise at which I will excel.

• Your novel, Tiger Skin Rug, has had the most brilliant reception and reviews. Where did your inspiration for the story come from?

That’s kind of you to say, Kirsty. The idea for Tiger Skin Rug came from my aunt, who was the best storyteller this side of Jupiter. She had been privately plotting a book about a magical tiger-skin rug for a long time, but it was lost to dementia before she told it to us or wrote anything down. When I decided to scribble something for my own children, her idea – a flying carpet tiger! – felt like a gift to rewrap and pass on to them.

• You were the editor of the Stay at Home anthology that was published last year. It included the most wonderful selection of authors. How did that all come about?

It came from a shared desire to thank children for all their rainbows, soapsuds and sacrifices – and from a month of hard work! I woke up with the larks one morning and sent a rambling email of ideas for some sort of lockdown collection to Anne Glennie at Cranachan Publishing. By the end of that day, she had jollied it all into shape and we were contacting people for help. Lindsey Fraser – literary agent and consultant extraordinaire – was immensely supportive.

The first contributor we approached was the illustrator Darren Gate – his characters are a joy. Being green in the writing scene, I found names first through the Live Literature Database and also asked the Scottish BAME Network for help, and it snowballed from there. The response from writers was overwhelming. I remain in awe of those who whipped up words in such a short space of time, and I’m grateful for their trust in a newbie like me to pull it together. Its fabulousness is down to them, and to Anne who magicked our work into a beautiful, free, downloadable e-book. Author and retired teacher Lindsay Littleson has since created a learning pack to accompany the book – you can find it all on https://www.cranachanpublishing.co.uk/stay-at-home-2/

• Are you currently working on any exciting writing projects?

I’m co-writing a nonfiction book with Joan Lennon for Templar/Bonnier, illustrated by the clever (and exceedingly cool) André Ducci. It’s called Talking History: 150 Years of Speeches and I can’t wait until we can share it. I’m also working on my second middle-grade novel, pegged to come out next year, and I’m experimenting writing a science fiction novel for slightly older readers.

• What is the best part about being a writer?  What are the challenges?

The writing process can be anything from sublime and energising to gnarly and exhausting – there are lots of best and worst bits. Sometimes these are the same thing. For instance, reading is crucial for learning the craft and one of the best parts of the job. Conversely, reading is one of my biggest challenges – I don’t ooze self confidence so reading a good book can paralyse me. I’m lucky that writing is something I can do anywhere – I don’t need peace and quiet – but as a working mum it’s difficult for me to prioritise my writing.

• What books or authors did you love as a child?

We lived hundreds of miles from a bookshop or library so relied on books being posted to us from kind relatives overseas – they sent classics and Roald Dahl. I was read or told stories every day, though a late starter at reading for fun. Of the books I read to myself, Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien stands out. (Years later we named a family cat Nicodemus.) Howl’s Moving Castle and Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones marked a shift to more adolescent themes, and because I was late at coming to reading, I quickly moved on from children’s and teen fiction into the likes of Vikram Seth, Bessie Head and Graham Greene. I also loved – and still love – reading poetry, plays and picture books. An all-time favourite picture book is The Big Orange Splot by Daniel M. Pinkwater.

• What current children’s books / authors would you recommend?

I find blanket recommendations tricky, because what we each want and get from any given book is so different. It’s also easy to end up reading what’s most visible in the market (therefore adding to the visibility of some books over others), particularly in a virtual environment. For this reason, I miss browsing. My first recommendation to any young person would be to browse the library or bookshop shelves to see what pops out for them – in my experience, it’s often unfamiliar titles and lesser-spotted beauties. My own children read critically and often groan at books that I’ve selected for lyricism or emotional gravity, so I tend to pass them stories that are more plot driven, faster paced or have elements of humour. Children’s authors who’ve books I’ve read and enjoyed this month include Chen Jiantong, Mitali Perkins and Tamsin Mori.

• Did you always love to write? What was your favourite subject at school?

Yes – lots of diaries, occasional poems, and always letters. For a while, I existed through letters. My favourite subjects at school depended on the teachers, particular topics, and how close in the timetable they were to lunch. For a while, my top class was agriculture because we got to use the pangas (machete knives) that were part of our school uniform list, to slash grass and harvest pineapples. My final exam choices were in English, Drama, Chemistry and Maths. English was divided into Literature and Language. I loved learning the mechanics of the English language and while many authors are sceptical of its benefits, I treasure that knowledge.

• As a writer, how important do you think it is that children and young people develop a love of reading for pleasure?

From my perspective, the important thing is that children develop a love of stories. Stories reach people in lots of ways and print culture, or print capitalism, means that in some cultures books are the dominant form. I do firmly believe children deserve access to reading skills, safe spaces for reading and a wide range of books; evidence points to better lifelong opportunities for children who have access to those things.

I was at secondary school before I enjoyed reading to myself – before that I preferred climbing trees and making paper dolls. But I was lucky: the cultures I grew up in were rich in storytelling, my parents had always read to me, and the option to read for myself – comics, novels, nonfiction – had always been there.

I don’t think we should pressurise children into reading for pleasure, or make them feel they’re missing out if they haven’t yet found the book that sings to them. We have to bring down social barriers that prevent children developing a love of stories and reading, but we also need to avoid creating new hierarchies or insecurities based on our particular cultural values or the age at which a person’s love of reading begins.

Tiger Skin Rug is a Finalist in The People’s Book Prize 2020/21 – Every vote counts! Votes are open until 30 April 2021. You can cast yours here: https://peoplesbookprize.com/winter-2020/tiger-skin-rug/

Website: www.joanhaigbooks.com

Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: @joanhaigbooks

Thank you so much for joining us for a fantastic Bookworm Blethers, Joan!

A very warm welcome to today’s Bookworm Blethers guest, poet Brian Moses.

How did you get into writing and poetry?

I got into poetry through song lyrics and then when I discovered the Mersey Poets in 1967. Have been writing ever since. I was a teacher for 13 years and then became a professional writer in 1988. Been fortunate to have made a living from writing and from poetry performances ever since. I’ve published over 200 books to date with publishers such as Macmillan, Hachette, Penguin and lately Troike & OtterBarry Books.

What is the best part of being a writer? What are the challenges?

Best part about being a writer is that it’s never felt like I’ve been doing a proper job!Am fortunate to be doing what I love doing and making a living from it. Most challenging aspects are meeting book deadlines and worrying, during dry periods, whether I will ever write another poem again! Fortunately when the stars have realigned themselves and everything is in order, I seem to start writing again.

What did you love to read as a child and what authors do you love to read now?

As a child I was constantly adventuring with the Famous Five, Secret Seven and anything by Blyton. She established the reading habit with me and I’ve read and read ever since.
There are a lot of fine younger voices in children’s poetry at the moment and it is encouraging to see how well they are doing.Not going to mention names but many of them are featured as guest poets on my blog  brian-moses.blogspot.com

What subjects did you love at school?

I wasn’t good at English at school, but somehow I scraped through. But I did write from an early age – home-made war comics,superheroesadventures etc  Tried to write songs and play the guitar but was pretty hopeless, then the songs turned into poetry.

Do you think it is important for children to develop a love of reading for pleasure?

It is hugely important for young children to develop the reading habit. I promoted it endlessly as a teacher and still promote reading when I visit schools and talk to children. I promote it on my blog and on social media. A love of reading is the best gift that parents andeducators can give to children.

Thank you for the fantastic chat, Brian! You can find out more here:

www.brianmoses.co.uk

brian-moses.blogspot.com

Twitter: @moses_brian
YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/user/bmredsea

I am very honoured to welcome today’s Bookworm Blethers guest, the wonderful blogger and author Kate Heap. Thank you so much for taking part, Kate. I love your blog and your teaching resource books look brilliant! Follow Kate on Twitter at @KateHeap1.

• Tell us a little bit about your blog, Scope for Imagination, and why you started it. http://www.scopeforimagination.co.uk

I launched Scope for Imagination in October 2019. After over twenty years of teaching in both Canada and the UK, I had just left my school position to begin a new challenge as a freelance Primary English Consultant and author of reading comprehension books. This change meant I had a lot more time to share the wonderful children’s books I had been using with my classes, promoting to school staff and sharing with my own children. I love supporting with publishers and authors and introducing teachers and parents to fantastic new books.

It can be easy for teachers to stick to a text they have used for years. My blog encourages them to try something new and broaden their offer to children. I focus on the key messages and themes of the books I am sharing – how they will inspire young readers and how teachers can use them in class. Through social media, I try to share specific recommendations that match a teacher’s or parent’s needs.

Blogging is also a great way to share the brilliant online events that are happening each week. Literary festivals, author talks and book launches have become more accessible since life moved online in 2020. Promoting these means many more children, families and schools can access the wider world of books.

My blog was inspired by one of my favourite books, Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery.

“It’s such an interesting world. It wouldn’t be half so interesting if we knew all about everything, would it? There’d be no scope for imagination then, would there?”

• What do you enjoy most about blogging?  What are the challenges?

I really enjoy writing my blog and, of course, all of the reading that goes with it. Children’s books have been a wonderful escape from all of the challenges of everyday life. Connecting with authors and publishers more regularly has brought so many amazing books into our home which I have been able to share with my own children (ages 13, 11 & 11). We have so many rich discussions about what we read.

Writing my blog gives me a chance to really think about all the ingredients of a great book. I write my posts from the point of view of a parent and a teacher, recommending books that would suit a particular age, year group, curriculum topic or interest. I love it when I’m chatting with a friend or colleague about reading and suddenly think of just the right book for their child or class.

I also love the relationships I have developed through my blog. Writing and sharing has given me the opportunity to get to know authors, publishers and educators who share my passion for books. The children’s book community on Twitter is incredibly friendly and encouraging, always ready to chat about reading.

The biggest challenge I find with blogging is time. Life can get very busy and it doesn’t take much for my reading list to get out of control! There are so many brilliant books I want to read and I simply can’t fit them all in. With three children, writing deadlines and other consultancy work, I have to make sure I prioritise some reading time each day to keep my blog up-to-date and my reading list at a manageable size.

• You are also an author of some teacher resource books. Tell us a little bit about this.

While teaching, I found there was a gap in the reading resources available for Key Stage Two (KS2) when it came to Classic Literature and Classic Poetry. In recent years, we have seen several changes to the KS2 English Curriculum, the KS2 Reading Test Framework, and overall expectations. A focus on higher-level vocabulary and increased use of more classic-style texts and language has challenged both teachers and children. I wanted to write books that would show teachers how to approach these texts with confidence.

I teamed up with Brilliant Publications to create Developing Reading Comprehension Skills – a series of eight reading comprehension books for children, focusing on high-quality literature and the full range of content domain question types which are assessed in the KS2 SATs. The series gives children opportunities to tackle more complex vocabulary, explore how authors use language to impact their readers, and develop endurance for longer passages.  To support the adults using the books, each begins with guidance and strategies for teaching the eight different question types, plus suggestions for embedding these texts in the wider English curriculum.

The Developing Reading Comprehension Skills series is suitable for new and recently qualified teachers, as well as the more experienced looking to expand the range of texts they use. These books are useful in the classroom, for home learning, and long-term home education. Although aimed at Key Stage Two, they would also be appropriate in Key Stage Three for supporting children who have not yet reached the expected Year 6 standard.

The first two books in the series, Years 5-6: Classic Literature and Years 5-6: Classic Poetry, are now available from Brilliant Publications, Waterstones and Amazon (print and electronic versions). Future books in the series are Years 3-4: Classic Literature, Years 3-4: Classic Poetry, Years 5-6: Contemporary Fiction, Years 3-4: Contemporary Fiction, Years 5-6: Non-fiction and Years 3-4: Non-fiction.

• What books or authors did you love as a child?

As a child growing up in Canada, I was always reading! My dad would take me to the library every Tuesday evening and I would sign out as many books as possible. When I was very small, my favourites were picture books like Madeline and Curious George.  I loved their mischievous adventures!

When I got a little older, I was so excited to move onto “chapter books”, meet new characters and explore new worlds. I was inspired by strong girls who stood up for themselves and had brilliant adventures. I loved Nancy Drew mysteries and books by Beverley Cleary (the Ramona Quimby stories) and Judy Blume. My absolute favourite books are the Anne of Green Gables series. Anne is a true kindred spirit and embodies so many of the values I hold in my own life.

• I know you will have many, so which current children’s /YA books do you think everyone needs to read?

We are spoilt for choice when it comes to new children’s books. Every month, more wonderful books appear. Here are my top three recommendations.

Brightstorm/Darkwhispers by Vashti Hardy

https://scopeforimagination.co.uk/2019/11/03/brightstorm-and-the-power-of-boy-girl-twins/

https://scopeforimagination.co.uk/2020/01/30/darkwhispers-into-the-unknown/

The Brightstorm series is a celebration of the powerful relationship between boy/girl twins in an incredible fantasy adventure. These stories are full of fascinating technology, imaginative worlds and a brilliant family mystery. Vashti dedicated Darkwhispers to my own twins, Tom & Lucy. This has meant so much to them and has made this already wonderful series even more special to us.

Adventures on Trains series by MG Leonard and Sam Sedgmen

The Adventures on Trains series is the perfect blend of intriguing mystery and exciting train journeys. Starting with The Highland Falcon Thief, readers are whisked away on adventure as they try to solve the crime along with Hal and his Uncle Nat.

The Last Bear by Hannah Gold

The Last Bear is a heartfelt story of the connection between humans and the natural world. When April moves to a remote island in Norway, she befriends a wild polar bear. Together they reveal very real effects of the climate change crisis and develop the most beautiful relationship built on trust and strength.

• Did you always want to be involved with books and writing? What was your favourite subject at school?

I’ve always loved reading and writing and my favourite lessons at school were English and History. I went through a period when I was obsessed with historical fiction and would read anything set in a time gone by. I was delighted when I discovered Emma Carroll and Karen McCombie with their brilliant historical stories.

I wanted to be a teacher from when I was very young. One of my favourite things about teaching is how it allows me to share my love of literature with children and help even the most reluctant reader to find their reading spark – that one book that launches them into life as a reader.

• How important do you think it is that children and young people develop a love of reading for pleasure?

Reading widely and developing reading for pleasure is so important for everyone. It allows us to learn things beyond our immediate experiences and takes us to places we may never otherwise be able to go. Not everyone finds their reading spark right away but I believe it is possible for every child. Reading opens the door to dreams and ambitions. It raises aspirations and helps us to understand who we are (or who we want to become). Inside a book, a child can escape, be someone else, or be the truest version of themselves. Parents, teachers and librarians have the great privilege of guiding children as they embark on this journey of discovery.

Thanks so much for joining Bookworm Blethers, Kate! Follow the links to purchase Kate’s books.

Brilliant Publications – Classic Children’s Literature

https://brilliantpublications.co.uk/developing-reading-comprehension-skills-years-5-6-classic-children-s-literature.html

Brilliant Publications – Classic Poetry

https://brilliantpublications.co.uk/developing-reading-comprehension-skills-years-5-6-classic-poetry.html

Amazon – Classic Children’s Literature

Amazon – Classic Poetry

A very warm welcome to today’s Bookworm Blethers guest, Kieran Fanning. Thank you for joining us Kieran!

• Tell us a little bit about yourself and your books.

I am a primary school teacher and author of fiction for children. My first four books were a series of CODECRACKERS. These were interactive stories, in which the reader earned the next page by solving puzzles, cracking codes and finding clues. THE BLACK LOTUS is a Middle Grade action/adventure about time-travelling trainee ninjas on a quest to retrieve a stolen sword with magical properties. IRISH FAIRY TALES, MYTHS AND LEGENDS is my most recent book. It was published by Scholastic and is a collection of retellings of some of Ireland’s oldest stories, some familiar, and some, more unknown.

• Where do you get your inspiration from for your stories?

My inspiration comes from lots of different places: my childhood, books I’ve read, TV and movies I’ve watched, or often, something online. Sometimes it can be as simple as line from a book or movie, or an image or news story online. Most of my stories begin as ideas – the characters come later.

• What is the best part about being a writer?  What are the most challenging aspects?

The best part about being a writer is sometimes the actual writing itself. Coming up with new ideas, characters and worlds is hugely exciting, and every new project comes with the hopes that this is going to be the big one, the book that is successful, the one that sells. Other good parts are: seeing your book cover for the first time, seeing your book in a shop and of course, hearing from children who’ve enjoyed it. Good reviews are nice, too. The most challenging aspects, for me, are the act of getting the book published – the months of waiting for replies, and the rejections. That part is hard. 

• What books or authors did you love as a child?

Lots. I loved Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Seven series, as well as Mary Norton’s The Borrowers series. I remember with great fondness being read The Iron Man and Charlotte’s Web in school. I was also a fan of Choose Your Own Adventures and Game Books. I loved Watership Down and some Irish books like Bike Hunt and Tom McCaughren’s series about foxes.

• What current children’s books / authors would you recommend?

Frank Cottrell Boyce is one of my favourite children’s authors, and my favourite book of his is Framed. I think Holes by Louis Sachar is possibly one of the greatest books ever written for children. I also love Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl, Roddy Doyle’s The Giggler Treatment, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo.  

• Did you always love to write? What was your favourite subject at school?

Yes, I always loved to write. I still have the books I wrote as a child. English was one of my favourite subjects in school, and art. I really wanted to be an artist or illustrator, but I was always a little bit better at English than art, so I ended up being a writer instead. Making pictures with words is a close second best to making pictures with paint.

• As a teacher and a writer how important do you think it is for children to develop a love of reading for pleasure?

I think it is hugely important, which is why I put an emphasis on it in the classroom. I also think reading stories aloud to children is important. A major project I do with my class every year is a book writing project, at the end of which, each child publishes their own book. We then review each other’s books in class.

Thanks so much for joining us, Kieran!

Find out more by visiting Kieran’s website or following him on Twitter.

Website: www.kieranfanning.com

Twitter: @KieranJFanning

I am delighted to welcome Neil Davies to today’s Bookworm Blethers who tells us a bit about his books about Harry the Hound.

• Tell us a little bit about where the idea for Harry the Hound’s stories came from.

The idea for Harry the Hound came from thinking about some of the situations that children and young people would find difficult about the lockdown and being out of school for a prolonged period of time. The first book was about how children and young people may be feeling anxious about returning to school and the second book was about the difficult transition from Primary to Secondary school. Due to lockdown I had some free time in the evenings and weekends so I wanted to do something productive. Plus anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m always on the go and not really a fan of doing nothing.

• Harry’s latest story is all about the importance of being kind and 50p from every sale is going to MIND, the mental health charity.  In these times, more than ever, why is kindness so important?

I think that now more than ever, especially with everyone having their own difficulties through Covid, it is important to share the message about the importance of just being kind to others. A kind word, gesture or act could make a significant difference to how somebody is feeling and you may just make their day. The opportunity to raise some money for a fantastic cause was also a bonus.

• What has been your journey to becoming a writer?

I have worked with children and young people since the age of 16 and in a variety of settings, over the past 29 years. In my current role as a Wellbeing Practitioner, I see first-hand how mental ill health can have a debilitating impact on a person and I believe the earlier we can intervene, the better. I think this is why I set the books at primary age. I also feel the format of the books, in the sense that they are part storybook and part workbook, mean that parents can connect with their child through the books and do some of the activities together. Let’s have conversations about emotions and how to manage them effectively.

My motivation comes from the desire to help children and young people to be able to manage the big emotions such as fear and anxiety, so that they are able to reach their full potential and enjoy their time at school. Having my brother Kyle involved in the books is also fantastic.

• What books or authors did you love as a child?

As a child I enjoyed the classic children’s authors such as Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton. My favourite childhood books though were Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and Stig of the Dump by Clive King.

• What current children’s/YA books / authors would you recommend?  

In terms of modern children’s authors, I would say that you can’t go far wrong with the fantastic books written by David Walliams, Jacqueline Wilson and of course J.K.Rowling. Being a football fan I really like the series of books by Matt and Tom Oldfield called Ultimate Football Heroes. The classics should also never be discounted and I loved reading the books that I loved as a child, to my two children. My daughter Caitlin in particular still enjoys being an avid reader and will always buy at least three books at the airport when going on holiday. My son Lucas needs a bit more encouragement as he just wants to play sport.

• Did you always love to write? What was your favourite subject at school?

Not really if I am being honest, although I did enjoy writing poetry. I was more interested in the physical activities at school such as PE and woodwork. In the other subjects, I had a tendency to just do the bare minimum to get by. I think my love of reading and writing grew as I got older.

• How important do you think it is that children and young people develop a love of reading for pleasure?

Reading has a multitude of benefits for children and young people, such as having a positive impact on their frame of mind, improved vocabulary and the development of imagination. I think it is also a fantastic avenue for escapism, which we all need from time to time.

A massive thank you to Neil for joining us today. You can find out more about Harry the Hound below.

Twitter: @HarryTheHound

UKFacebook: Harry the Hound

If anyone wanted to check out the Harry the Hound series on Amazon, the links are as follows:

Harry the Hound Returns to School:

Harry the Hound Goes to Secondary School:

Harry the Hound’s Book of Kindness: See Amazon

A huge Bookworm Blethers welcome to today’s guest – author of the Wee Granny’s Magic Bag series, Elizabeth McKay. Put the kettle on, get the feet up and have a wee read at her brilliant blether.

• Tell us a little bit about yourself and your books.

I still live in the small town in North Ayrshire where I grew up. I’d love to say I enjoy cooking, gardening and sewing but it wouldn’t be true. I’d much rather read a book. I’ve always loved reading and was a regular visitor to the local library when I was growing up and it’s still one of my favourite places. It gives me a real thrill to think that my own books are now on library shelves. There are three books in the Wee Granny’s Magic Bag series and although they are essentially Scottish, they’ve travelled all over the world. I’ve heard of children reading them in Australia, USA, France, Italy, Spain and even Vietnam, amongst other places. I suppose wee grannies are much the same, wherever you are. One of the best things about being a children’s author is visiting schools and meeting the children, but you have to have a thick skin. Under 7s are incredibly honest! During lockdown I’ve been leading a Zoom group for an organisation which supports vulnerable adults in the community. It has been a pure joy. Everyone is so enthusiastic and there are some very talented writers amongst them.

• What was your journey to becoming a children’s author?  Have you always enjoyed writing?

I was pretty average in most subjects at school, apart from Maths and English. I was rubbish at Maths (still am) but I was good at English. I was in my element when the teacher set us a ‘composition’ as homework. I won a prize in a national writing competition in primary school, and I had a poem printed in the children’s section of a Sunday newspaper, so I suppose you could say I was a published writer at an early age! When I went to secondary I took Secretarial Studies as a subject and when I left I went into office work. Having a background in administration has been a real benefit. I know some writers who struggle to type with two fingers, but typing and presentation of manuscripts has been easier for me. I always made up stories in my head but never wrote them down – people like me didn’t become authors. But sometimes I would read a story in a magazine and think, ‘I could do that.’ And one day I did. I sent a story into a magazine and it was published. I went on to have several hundred stories published in magazines and I still write for this market, although it’s diminishing rapidly. I attend the Scottish Association of Writers Conference every year and they run competitions in all genres of writing. I entered Wee Granny’s Magic Bag for the Under 7s competition and it won first prize. I was delighted but never did anything with the story for a few years as my experience was all magazine related and there weren’t any magazines that would be suitable. Then I came across it one day and thought why not send it out as a picture book. So I did. And it was returned many times until I sent it to Floris/Kelpies in Edinburgh. They took what was a very rough version of the story and worked with me to make it into the book it became.

• Where does your inspiration for your stories come from?

My mother took credit for inspiring Wee Granny (I didn’t dare argue with her). Like many Scottish grannies she usually carried a shopping bag and when visiting her grandchildren she would ask them to fetch her bag. Then she’d produce something – maybe some baking she’d bought at a coffee morning, or a wee gift from a trip she’d been on. To the best of my recollection though, she never had a telephone box in her bag! Other ideas come from simple observation. I remember sitting on a bench watching some seagulls and thinking how ‘gallus’ they are, which sparked an idea for a picture book. I confess I also eavesdrop on other people’s conversations in cafes and trains. Anything can provide inspiration.

• With picture books, I’m always interested in the collaboration between the author and the illustrator.  Do you have an idea about how you want the books to look or does the imagery come mainly from the illustrator?  You must have to have a good relationship with each other?

I had no input into the choice of illustrator as the team at Floris was responsible for that side of things. Maria Bogade, who illustrates the Wee Granny books lives in Germany so we’ve never met. When my editor sent me a sample of Maria’s illustration of Wee Granny to see if I was happy with it, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Maria had drawn Wee Granny just as I imagined her. And it was Maria who realised Wee Granny had a dog. I never wrote a dog into the story but when the illustrations came back there was a wee dog on every page. Now he’s such an integral part of the Wee Granny books, although he’s never actually mentioned in the text. He doesn’t even have a name and sometimes when I visit schools, I ask the children what they think he might be called. Reviews of the books often comment on how beautiful the illustrations are, and that’s all down to Maria.

• What books or authors did you love as a child?

My earliest recollections are of reading the Ladybird Fairy-tale collections. I remember they had large, clear print on one side of the page and bold, colourful pictures on the other side. They were probably the first books I was able to read by myself. I went on to read Enid Blyton. I was more Team Secret Seven than Famous Five, but I read them all. I loved the boarding school stories – Malory Towers and St Clare’s. I also read many of the Chalet School books by Elinor Brent-Dyer and thought the girls there were really posh. Then it was the classics – Little Women, What Katy Did, Heidi etc. Does the Bunty count? I used to get it every Monday. Confession time – sometimes I used to ‘borrow’ the characters and plots, and write them into my school stories. I think it’s a shame that there are so few comics available now as they could be an important stepping stone for children who might need a little encouragement with reading before moving on to other books.

• What current children’s books / authors would you recommend?

I’d recommend anything by Julia Donaldson. She’s introduced us to some wonderful characters. She’s a great ambassador for children’s books and an inspiration for writers. Whenever I see clips of her in front of a group of children she always looks as if she’s having as much fun as they are and not just going through the motions of performing. Another of my favourites is the ‘Oi Frog’ series by Kes Gray and Jim Field. They seem quite simple which I suspect means they are actually very difficult to write, and they are just so much fun to read. There are so many good children’s writers at the moment and I think it’s important that children should be encouraged to read what they enjoy and not forced to read something just because it’s for their age group or what adults think they should be reading. Children will grow into the right books for them.

• As a writer, how important do you think it is that children and young people develop a love of reading for pleasure?

I think it’s so important that children are introduced to books at an early age – even if they just chew the pages of a board book when they’re teething! Children who grow up with books and stories have so many advantages – their concentration, vocabulary and imaginations will be enhanced, as well as their own writing skills. They are picking up information all the time without even knowing it. That’s why I believe it’s so important that we do everything we can to make sure every child has access to books, whether it be through school or public libraries or other ways. No child should be denied the joy of reading because of their background or personal circumstances. Books shouldn’t be seen as a privilege for some children but a right for every child.

I post on Facebook as Elizabeth McKay and Twitter as @elizlmckay

Scottish Association of Writers: https://www.scottishassociationofwriters.com/

Thank you so much for joining us, Elizabeth! I loved reading this. I’d love to see some more comics out there and I agree that libraries are so important and need to be treated as such!

Good morning and welcome to today’s Bookworm Blethers with children’s author, Donna David. Thanks so much for joining us Donna!

• Tell us a little bit about yourself and your books.

I am a children’s author and a freelance writer based in the West Midlands.  I love writing for children of all ages!  I’ve written picture books for very young children and I’ve written for teenagers too.  My first book was published in 2018 and I’ve had four books published so far with another six on the way!

• Where do you get your inspiration from for your stories?

I get my inspiration from everywhere!  I get it from watching people in the street or on TV.  I get it from listening to my children talk to their friends.  I get it from the books that I read and the things that I see.  My imagination is always going off on adventures of its own, perhaps even more so when this last 12 months have been spent very much at home.

• Are you working on anything exciting at the moment?

I’m currently working on several projects at once!  I’ve got an exciting new picture book series coming out next year and I can’t wait to tell you more about it.  I’m working on an audiobook for young children and a historical non-fiction text which should be out next year.  I love having so many projects on the go but I do have to be super organised!

• What is the best part about being a writer?  What are the challenges?

The best part about being a writer is seeing a child enjoying your book.  I never tire of hearing from readers (or parents of readers).  One of my niece’s first words was ‘Bobo’ as she loves the picture book that Laura Watkins and I created together (‘Oh No, Bobo!’) and that was one of the highlights of my career so far!

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of being a writer is how much time you spend on your own.  I’m so easily distracted so I spend a lot of time searching the internet.  I might pick up a book to find a favourite quote and, three hours later, I’ll still be reading the book.  Sometimes I think it would be cool to work in an office with other writers so they can shout at me to focus on my work!

• What books or authors did you love as a child?

I remember flying through Stig of the Dump and The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler.  I’m scared to read them again as an adult in case they haven’t stood the test of time but maybe I should?

• What current children’s books / authors would you recommend?  

Oh, so many!  For picture books, I love all of Lucy Rowland’s texts.  I love so many of Joanna Nadin’s books – I find the gritty realism in Joe All Alone so gripping and heart breaking.  I read THUG by Angie Thomas a few years ago and I still think about it a lot.  Blood Moon by Lucy Cuthew is incredible.  Pamela Butchart always makes me laugh out loud and I adore the Anisha series by Serena Patel.  My whole house are big fans of the Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton books and we all love the Sam Wu books by Katie and Kevin Tsang. 

• Did you always love to write? What was your favourite subject at school?

My favourite subjects at school were English and PE.  I dreamt of being an Olympic athlete or of playing netball for England.  Unfortunately, I was lacking in two very important things you need to make it as a professional athlete: skill and the motivation to train every single day.  I still love playing netball and running but I like to do them on my own terms!  I’m the same with writing.  I have to plan to have time off so that it never feels like a chore.  I love writing and I adore reading but they both have to be done at my own pace (except when I have a deadline)!

• You have written a couple of books aimed at reluctant or struggling teen readers. As a writer, how important do you think it is that children and young people develop a love of reading for pleasure?

Oh, it’s so important!  I guess it doesn’t have to be reading but I think it’s essential that we all learn to love stories.  It’s how we learn about the past and how we can predict what might happen in the future.  These stories can come from books, magazines, TV shows and movies.  They are all forms of story telling and they are all so important to help us navigate the world.  Stories open our minds up to the world and they help us think beyond our tiny space on this planet.  Stories help us to empathise and understand and, most importantly, to be better people. 

‘Oh No, Bobo!’ was published by Quarto in 2020.  It is a gentle introduction to the theme of consent, beautifully illustrated by Laura Watkins.

‘Farmer Llama’ is a hilarious, rhyming text about a rather hapless farmer!  The illustrations by Fred Blunt are laugh out loud funny.  ‘Farmer Llama’ will be published in spring 2022.

Find out more about Donna and her books by checking out her website or following her on Twitter.

Twitter: @donnaMdavid

Website: https://www.donnadavidauthor.com/

Welcome to Monday’s Bookworm Blethers with the wonderful and very lovely picture book author, Coo Clayton.

I love your stories about Maggie. For anyone that isn’t familiar can you tell us a wee bit about them.

The Maggie books – now a trilogy, are all Scottish themed and aimed at children aged 2-7. They are beautifully illustrated picture books featuring an adventurous wee Maggie and her Mum. They love to explore their own country and each book takes them on an adventure around Scotland looking at the wildlife, places of interest and different ways to travel.

What was your journey to becoming a children’s author? Have you always enjoyed writing?

I haven’t always enjoyed writing but I have always loved telling and listening to stories. I have fond memories of spending hours on my Dads knee listening to picture books before bed and requesting ‘just one more.’

I found myself writing down ideas and rough manuscripts of picture books when my own children were very young, so about 11 years ago. I was reading what felt like hundreds of picture books every day and I think I was enjoying that as much as my 2 toddlers were at the time. I didn’t do anything with these scribblings until several years later when I joined a writing group. It was a friendly and supportive group to go along to and share and critique each others writing. One of the members encouraged me to send some of my work off to a publisher and the rest is history. I was very lucky to be picked up quickly.

Where does your inspiration for your stories come from?

I suppose ideas pop into my head without warning. I do however find I feel more creative and inspired when I’m on holiday especially in the car as a passenger just watching the world go by. Possibly because I can’t do anything else other than sit and think. Life at home is so busy and noisy that it’s hard to sometimes get a creative or peaceful environment to write in.

With picture books, I’m always interested in the collaboration between the author and the illustrator. You’ve worked with Alison Soye on all 3 of your books and the illustrations are just beautiful. How does thatauthor/illustrator relationship work?

I’ve been so lucky being teamed up with Alison Soye. She was fresh out of Art College when the publishers snapped her up and although she was from Northern Island she studied in Dundee and was living in Edinburgh. That made meeting up in person possible. This was her first book project and mine too. Neither of us really knew what to expect working alongside each other.  Often it’s the way that the illustrator is given the text and there is very little interaction between author and illustrator but because we instantly got on so well as friends and lived in the same city we spent a lot of time talking and sketching ideas down, showing her photos and even visiting locations of the book together. I really enjoyed chatting through what the various scenes, front cover and end pages should look like.  As the 2^nd and 3^rd book developed we found we didn’t need to spend the same amount of time doing that because we now knew how the other thought and it was easier. Alison moved to London whilst illustrating the 3^rd book but with the help of email and zoom we still managed to communicate and bring it all together.

What books or authors did you love as a child?

I’ve got so many childhood favourites, The Topsy and Tim books by Jean and Gareth Adamson, any of Shirley Hughes books especially the Alfie collection. I loved stories about naughty children!  I recently recalled the Wild Washerwoman book by John Yeoman. When looking back at it after 30 odd years I still remembered all the characters names and the illustrations by Quentin Blake were hilarious as ever. Isn’t it amazing how a picture book can stay in our long term memory.

Are there any children’s contemporary books / authors that you would recommend?

I love Morag Hood and Corrina Campbell for the early years. My older children love Lindsay Littleson and we’ve also recently discovered Onjali Rauf and are really enjoying reading The Night Bus together.

As a teacher and writer, how important do you think it is that children and young people develop a love of reading for pleasure?

It’s so important. But I also know what its’s like to have a reluctant reader. One of my children really didn’t enjoy reading independently for a few years. I spent a lot of time finding different ways of sparking his interest. I took him to book launches which are generally free to go to. We had a family rule that when shopping in charity shops there’s no limit to how many books you’d like to bring home. We were lucky enough to have a little library near us and we’d make more visits to that. I encouraged relatives to gift book vouchers so we’d take trips to book shops more often too. What I didn’t do was ever pressurise him into reading for pleasure because that’s something he needs to choose to do himself. He still doesn’t read during the day for pleasure but he reads for 30 mins every night before bed. We often make little book challenges up. Our current one is to read 2 books a month and on completion he gets to repaint his room!

Thank so much for joining us, Coo! To find out more you can follow Coo on social media and check out her website.

Facebook – @cooclaytonwriter
Insta – @cooclayton
Twitter  – @cooclayton
www.cooclayton.co.uk

I am over the moon to welcome debut author, Hannah Gold, to today’s Bookworm Blethers. Enjoy!

Your debut novel, The Last Bear, has just been published and has been getting some fabulous reviews. Tell us a little bit about it.

I had always longed to write a children’s book and THE LAST BEAR was born out of a desire to write about everything I loved most in the world which just had to include animals, but especially the instinctive, almost magical bond that children share with them. At heart, it’s an adventure story of friendship, love even between a lonely 11-year-old girl and a wild polar bear – but scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find a powerful environmental message woven into the narrative. Fundamentally, the book is my own personal quest to make a difference.

What has been your journey to becoming an author?

In terms of THE LAST BEAR – it’s been remarkably swift! I started in February 2019, signed with my agent nine months later, and within the month had landed a publishing deal with HarperCollins Children’s Books. So, from first page to publication – exactly two years. Although if you’re talking my publishing journey as a whole – it’s taken about twenty years to get to this point!

What is the best part of being a writer?

I’m still so early on in my career so am sure there are many wonderful highlights to come, but so far the best bit has been actually seeing the reaction to the book and hearing how it’s inspiring young readers (and grown-ups) to live in a more environmentally friendly way and, no matter how small, do their bit to save the polar bears!

Many authors have had books published during the pandemic and have missed out on face to face events and book launches.   How has the online experience been for you?

It’s not the dream to publish in a pandemic but in fact, having an online book launch mean I had family and friends from all over the world able to attend. Also, the outpouring of support from the book community has been so generous to authors debuting in lockdown. Saying all of that, I can’t wait until the bookshops actually open and I finally get to see my Bear in the wild!

Are you working on a writing project at the moment?

I am on a 2-book deal with HarperCollins so am currently editing my second book. I can’t reveal too much about it other than it features another very large wild animal.

What books or authors did you love as a child?

Any books which featured animals at the heart of them! So, The Animals of Farthing Wood, Mrs Frisby & The Rats of NIMH, Charlotte’s Web and Narnia – who didn’t want to be best friends with Aslan?!

What current children’s authors would you recommend?  

Michael Morpurgo is my total author hero and the person I want to be when I grow up! We share very similar themes in our books so having his name on the front of THE LAST BEAR is a dream come true and I am so deeply grateful to him for his support. Other MG authors I love are Katherine Rundell, Nicola Skinner and Nizrana Farook.

What was your favourite subject at school?  Did you always love to write?

English was the one subject I always enjoyed the most and I think when you enjoy something, you tend to see better results because of the effort you put into it. I was terrible at things like maths and science so whilst I got bad grades in those subjects, I did well in creative writing. I actually can’t remember wanting to be anything different than a writer – except for a brief spell wanting to be a vet. But since I couldn’t bear the thought of having to put animals down, I decided to write about them instead – which is far less traumatic.

How important do you think it is that children and young people develop a love of reading for pleasure?

I am a huge advocate for reading and writing for pleasure – so children can throw off the shackles of grammar and trying to get it ‘right’ and instead just enjoy the artistry and imagination of creativity. Books can help with inclusivity, confidence and helps us create a kinder world for humans and animals alike.

Thank you so much, Hannah. I loved reading your responses. The Last Bear, written by Hannah Gold, illustrated by Levi Pinfold and out now with HarperCollins Children’s Books.

Find out more about Hannah and her work by checking out her social media links and having a wee look at her website.

Twitter: @hgold_author

IG: @hannahgold_author

FB: hannahgold – Author

Website: www.hannahgold.world