Royal Mail Award Nominees - Younger Readers

This month’s interview features the authors and illustrators who are nominated for the 2008 Royal Mail Awards talking about their shortlisted books as well as discussing other aspects of their writing, drawing, career, childhood and their reading. here you can read about the Younger Readers Category or if you want to read about the Early Years or the Older Readers category click on the links.
You can find out more about each author and illustrator by clicking on their name or by clicking on the book title.

Younger Readers 8-11

Annemarie Allan


Can you tell us a little about the Hox gene?
Hox genes are part of a group of genes that control body development – it is because of the action of the hox gene in humans that we have hands, rather than flippers or wings.  The existence of hox genes in so many living creatures is proof that the similarities between different forms of life are far greater than their differences.
I’ve always disliked the idea that humans are somehow superior.  Other mammals have skills that humans lack - the ability to read the weather, for example, or travel long distances without any maps to guide them.  When I came across an article about recreating ancient forms of the hox gene, I began to wonder what humans might have lost in the course of their evolutionary development.  And that’s where the story came from.
This is your first book and already it has won the Kelpies prize and has been shortlisted for the Royal Mail Awards, how does that make you feel?
A combination of delighted and bewildered.  I’ve been writing for many years and never succeeded in closing the gap between being a writer and a published author, then suddenly I’m up for not one prize, but two!  It has certainly given me more confidence as a writer, but the most wonderful thing of all is that thanks to the Kelpie and the Royal Mail Awards, lots of people are reading my book!
What inspired you to become a writer?
My mother was a great storyteller.  I suppose it was thanks to her that I knew stories were told by real people.  Once I learned to read, she made sure I knew how to use the library and then left me to do it for myself.  The librarian was a very scary woman - she used to make us line up with our hands out.  If they weren’t clean enough she would send you away and refuse to let you back in.  I was usually a slightly grubby little girl, but I always made sure my hands were clean before I went to the library! All those wonderful books made me realise that there was nothing better in the world than losing yourself inside a gripping story - both as a reader and as a writer

Vivian French


Who is your favourite character in The Robe of Skulls?
That's a really difficult question; it's a bit like asking who's my favourite daughter! I had a lot of fun with Marlon the bat, and his daughter Millie ... but Gubble was fun to write about as well. (I'm sorry if this sounds boastful, but I was pleased with the bit in the story where Gubble's head falls off.) Marcus is like my nephew (especially the tufty hair), so I'm very fond of him, and the three Ancient Crones are based on friends of mine - oh dear. Who to choose? I think .... I think I'll go for Marlon.
What are the benefits of working with an illustrator like Ross Collins?
Ross and I worked together on a book called Write Around the World, and I was hugely impressed by the way he takes an idea and makes it far more interesting. He's got a fantastic imagination (you only have to look at his picture books to see that) and I also love his style. When I was asked who I'd like to illustrate Robe I said it absolutely HAD to be Ross, because he'd know what the characters looked like. I don't. I know how they talk, and how they move, and what they're thinking about, but not how they look. I think Ross is a genius. Have you read his book Medusa Jones? It's FAB!
What was your favourite book as a child?
I never know quite what to say when I'm asked this question, because I read everything I could get my hands on, and my favourites changed from day to day. My dad used to go to the library every Friday and bring back books for me and my brothers, and also I used to glue myself to the radio to listen to a programme called Children's Hour (that'll tell you how old I am!) There was a wonderful guy called David Davis who read a story at the end of the hour; I particularly remember him reading The Little Grey Men, by BB. It was about a group of gnomes (Dodder, Sneezewort and Baldmoney) who had to leave their house and search for their companion, Cloudberry, who went exploring, but didn't come back. It was David Davis' voice that made it so magical, I think. There's something very special about having heard a story read out loud ...

DA Nelson


Can you tell us a little bit about Dark Isle’s plot?
DarkIsle (released Sept '07) is about a young girl Morag who befriends a dodo and a rat, and joins them on a dangerous quest to free a dragon and save the world.
When Morag starts on her journey, she has no idea that joining the dodo and rat on their mission will take her into a world more dangerous that the one she is leaving behind...An ancient stone, used to protect their mysterious northern homeland from human invaders, has been stolen by a renegade on intent on harnessing its powers. With Morag's help, the rat and dodo have a chance to rescue it by freeing the only guide - a dragon turned to stone 30 years ago - who knows the way to an island beyond the horizon and unknown to man.
Morag's journey is perilous and dark forces are already afoot to stop her. Along the way are clues not only to the stone's whereabouts, but also to the disappearance of her parents, urging Morag onwards to fulfill a destiny that seems inextricably linked to her own...
www.darkislethebook.co.uk  or www.danelson.co.uk
Where do you find the time to write a novel along with doing a full-time job and having a family?
I make the time. My children are aged three and nine months, so life is always busy. I also work 25 hours a week for the Health Service. Then there's running a house, doing the ironing and all the other things mums have to do, so I don't have a lot of free time to myself. However, I love writing, it's a big part of my life, so I make sure that I make time for it at least five out of the seven days a week. It's not easy...sometimes I find that I can't be bothered, but I know that once I have made myself switch on the computer, I will get on with it and within minutes, I back to loving it again. I write for about an hour at a time.
When I'm at work (I work my hours over three days), I use the little time I have at lunchtime to plan my next book or to write up even a little bit of a chapter. I can usually get at least 500 words down in half an hour, so it's time well spent. At the moment, I work close to the Mitchell Library in Glasgow and I'm a member of Glasgow Libraries, so I use their public computers. It's great because I love the Mitchell Library and find just being there very inspiring. Plus I love the cakes the cafe sells and sometimes treat myself when I'm doing some book planning!
Who’s your favourite author?
I don't have one favourite author. I have hundreds. For children's books, the people who have had the biggest influence on me are Roald Dahl, E Nesbit, C S Lewis, P L Travers, Susan Coolidge, Lloyd Alexander, Dodie Smith, Enid Blyton, A A Milne and Beatrix Potter.
My favourite adult authors include Joanne Harris, Christopher Brookmyre, Sir Walter Scott, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Daphne Du Maurier, Janet Evanovich and Terry Pratchett. As you can see, I also love reading!