Tag Archives: Stories

1 December: Philip Womack

Introducing our Author Christmas Calendar, featuring a fantastic author every day throughout December!

: Photo Credit: Tatiana von Preussen

Philip Womack has been described as one of the “best contemporary writers of children’s fantasy.” Philip is the author of six books for children. He teaches Children’s and YA Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, and is the Patron of Reading at the John Roan School. His latest book, ‘The King’s Revenge’ is the concluding episode of The Darkening Path Trilogy, a series which has won him comparison to Alan Garner and J K Rowling. I’m so pleased that Philip has participated in our festive Q & A and is the first of many great authors on our Christmas calendar!

Name three things on your Christmas list this year! There’s a really nice old edition of The Iliad on sale at my favourite shop, Henry Sotherans, but I’m very
unlikely to be given it. Otherwise, it’s usually shirts, jumpers and socks.

Christmas is a time of family traditions – what are your best (or worst!) family traditions? My favourite family tradition was opening the stockings in my parents’ bedroom, and then having breakfast which (when we were older) was salmon, eggs and champagne.

What is your favourite story to read at Christmas? I used to re-read Lord of the Rings at Christmas time – such an amazing story. Revisiting old favourites is always something I do – E Nesbit or C S Lewis or any of the stories I loved as a child.

(I totally agree; Christmas is definitely the time for nostalgia!).

If you could have Christmas dinner with anyone (alive today or person from history) who would it be? I think it would have to be someone with a huge family – so maybe Queen Victoria, as she and her husband helped to create the idea of Christmas that we have today.

In The Darkening Path Trilogy, Simon and Flora find their way through amazing magical realms. If you could travel to any magical realm and spend Christmas there where would it be and why? I’d love to travel to Lyra’s Oxford, in Northern Lights by Philip Pullman. I can imagine that a Christmas feast at one of the colleges there would be spiffing.

In an article for the Guardian, you talk about writing fantasy novels and in particular making a fantasy world tangible to the senses. For you, what tastes, smells, sights and sounds are most synonymous with Christmas? Tastes: hot mince pies, sometimes so hot they burn your mouth; bread sauce (my favourite) and stuffing. Smells: the smell of woodsmoke and of whatever’s roasting in the oven. Sights: the guttering of candles in a church, and the bright flashing of the Christmas tree. Sounds: carols, played all day.

(Conjures up a perfect festive scene!)

Reader’s question from children at the Inkpots Writers’ Hut, West Sussex: who is your greatest critic? My greatest critic is myself. I think that’s probably true for most writers. You never think a work is good enough or ready enough and often you need the help of editors to see strengths as well as weaknesses.

Turkey or goose? Goose.
Real or fake tree? Real.
Mince pies or Christmas pudding? Christmas pudding.
Stockings – end of the bed or over the fireplace? End of the bed.
Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve? Christmas Eve.

Thank you for taking the time to participate and have a very Happy Christmas!

Find out more about Philip Womack and his fantastic books at http://philipwomack.blogspot.co.uk/ Follow him on Twitter @WomackPhilip.

You can also read his article for The Guardian on writing fantasy here. For a review of The King’s Revenge visit the Bookshelf.

Non-fiction: why is it so important for children’s reading?

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You may have noticed that November has been National Non Fiction Month. With so many days and occasions to celebrate reading, the focus is often on fiction. This of course, is wonderful and absolutely as it should be. But it’s also wonderful and as it should be that we celebrate the plethora of amazing non-fiction books out there for children. And that’s just what the Federation of Children’s Book Groups does through National Non Fiction month.

So why is non- fiction so important for children’s reading? Well, one might say, it teaches them about the world and helps their education perhaps supporting whatever current topic they’re working on. And of course this is true; knowledge is empowering at any age. But it’s more than that. Because for some children, reading stories just isn’t something they want to do or perhaps it’s something that they can’t do. So non-fiction opens a door to reading ensuring they too can experience the wonder of words.

Non-fiction books help children unlock the world around them, but also enable them to participate in reading, tapping into their varied interests and engaging them in a way that stories sometimes can’t. If a child has a learning need, they can struggle with understanding the often inferred narratives in a story – with non-fiction they don’t have to worry about this, they can just read the facts off the page! Would you believe that many children I have worked with say they don’t want to read because they don’t like stories? Of course I explain to them that this is simply not true, they haven’t found the right book yet. But if they are adamant and don’t want to read a ‘story-book’, I will establish what their interests are and recommend a wonderful non-fiction book as a starting point that fits the bill; whatever the topic there’s bound to be something they will enjoy. As it’s not a ‘story’ and it fits in with their interests, they start to read. And whilst they read they are still benefiting from language, vocabulary and expression through the information presented in front of them. This is amazing sight to see, when you’ve had a student roll their eyes on being asked to read – and a little while later they’re busy enjoying a book!

There are some simply gorgeous and amazing non-fiction books produced today for all ages with beautiful illustrations bringing the information to life. The FCBG have put together an amazing list of 100 children’s non-fiction books; plenty of ideas to choose from!

And there’s always what are viewed as the more ‘commercial’ non-fiction books; the Guinness Book of Records, Lego, Minecraft……a bone of contention for some; ‘It’s not reading’. Well actually, yes it is. It’s a start. And for those young people who are so switched off from reading they’d rather stare at the wall, it’s the perfect combination of words, pictures and fantastic facts. Without even realising it they become engrossed in a book, through something that interests them. It’s a step on the road to reading – it’s fun and above all we want children and young people to associate their reading experiences with fun. Once they find the joy of books, they are far more likely to develop a reading habit. Sadly not all have had a positive start to their reading journeys, not all have homes with books in and many have a complete lack of input as they get older. So if we can find something that hooks them, non-fiction or fiction, little by little they will discover reading for pleasure.

Christmas is coming!

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This Christmas to celebrate the wonder of writing, we’ve made our very own Author Christmas Calendar!

Featuring fun and festive Q & As with a whole host of brilliant children’s authors, every day throughout December. There are questions from young readers and budding writers, including some from children who go to the Inkpots Writer’s Hut and some who attend Warden Park Academy.

We’ll be finding out, amongst other things, what stories our authors enjoy at Christmas, what their Christmas traditions are and most importantly – mince pies or Christmas pud?!!

Authors participating include Michelle Magorian, Paul Gamble, Gwyneth Rees, Chris Priestly and Abi Elphinstone to name a few. We’ll also be running a BUMPER Christmas giveaway with an incredible prize for ONE lucky winner! So watch this space because Christmas is definitely coming!

How to get teens to #LoveToRead.

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Waking up at 5am with a horrible cold, I got up and sat with my lemsip, flicking through the somewhat weird and wonderful world of early morning TV. I remembered I’d yet to watch ‘The School that Got Teens Reading’. This is just one of the programmes scheduled for the BBC’s #LoveToRead campaign, so I settled down, between sneezes, to see what it was like.

I’d never heard of the exuberant Javone Prince before. He admitted to being somewhat nervous having no experience of schools other than his own schooling – I don’t blame him! I remember my first ever library lesson about ten years ago – I was absolutely terrified. But what he lacked in experience he made up for with enthusiasm; it was great to hear how much he loves reading and wanted to share that passion with the students.

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Through the mirror door….with Sarah Baker

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YA Shot is a Young Adult and Middle Grade festival run by authors, raising money and resources to run a year-long programme pairing libraries and schools for free author events. The aim is to foster a love of reading, inspire a passion for writing, and encourage aspirations to careers in the Arts. I’m really pleased to have been invited to host this stop on the tour featuring debut author Sarah Baker! AND.. if you check out my Twitter account (@bookactivist1) you’ll see there’s a fantastic giveaway to win one of FIVE signed copies of Sarah’s debut novel, Through the Mirror Door. Simply follow and RT to win! (UK only). Thank you to Catnip/Bounce for supporting this giveaway. Continue reading →