1st Edition
Talking Books Children's Authors Talk About the Craft, Creativity and Process of Writing
Talking Books sets out to show how some of the leading children's authors of the day respond to these and other similar questions. The authors featured are Neil Ardley, Ian Beck, Helen Cresswell, Gillian Cross, Terry Deary, Berlie Doherty, Alan Durant, Brian Moses, Philip Pullman, Celia Rees, Norman Silver, Jacqueline Wilson, and Benjamin Zephaniah.
They discuss with great enthusiasm:
*their childhood reading habits
*how they came to be published
*how they write on a daily basis
*how a particular book came together
*a type of writing that they are especially known for.
Through in-depth interviews, they each reveal their approach to their craft. Much is know and spoken of the product that is the children's book, but it is rare that writers are given the opportunity to talk at length about the process of writing for children. Talking Books redresses the balance by presenting a wide selection of authors (of fiction, non-fiction and poetry) reflecting upon the joys and challenges of the craft, creativity and process of writing for children.
Biography
James Carter
'Unfailingly interesting, sometimes unintentionally revealing, Talking Books can only be as good as the writers interviewed . . . Their interviews make compulsive reading.' - Linda Hall, The Use of English
'There is a neat balance between personal information, ideas on writing, and the practical business of publishing, and an illuminating range of genres: novels, poetry, non-fiction and series. Highly recommended, not only for primary and secondary teachers of children's books (for whom it will provide fascinating and stimulating background material) but also for secondary teachers of literature, media studies and creative writing, and the general reader.' I- Professor Peter Hunt, Cardiff University
