Not On A School Night

Discover new children’s books written in Cambridge by the latest crop of authors and illustrators

Helen Moss

Blyton for the 21st century

Mother of two teenage boys, Helen Moss, 47, has lived in Cambridge for over 20 years and previously worked in neuropsychology at the university. Her series of Adventure Island books (published by Orion and aimed at 7-12-year-olds) contain all the magic of Enid Blyton but set in the modern day – think mobile phones and less obedient children. First in the series, The Mystery Of The Whistling Caves, was published in the summer along with five other stories and four more books are due to be published this year.

Rebecca Patterson

Q: How did you become an author?

A: ‘I took a creative writing course at Homerton College. On New Year’s Day 2007 I made a resolution to write a book and within days my youngest son had told everyone we knew, so I had to do it! I spent a year writing a book called The Sea Cucumber’s Revenge, a detective story set in Cambridge. I wanted to write something for girls with maths and science. It’s yet to be published but it got me noticed by an editor.

Q: What work do you do with local schools?

A Boy And A Bear In A Boat

A: ‘I work with children in schools aged 7 – 11-years-old and talk with them about how to write stories and think about characters or I do a class on descriptive writing – It’s a real treat for me.’

Q: Where do you write?

A: ‘When I’m busy I have my laptop with me all the time so that I can work wherever I am, even in the car while my sons are playing football. I like writing in The Michael House Café in Cambridge and the City Library. For the initial plotting it is good to be quiet in my office but later on I like to be where things are happening.

The Mystery of the Whistling Caves

Q: What advice would you give aspiring writers?

A: ‘Get a dog! My dogs make me get out of the house and walking helps me think, even if I do end up talking to myself. The Society of Children’s Book Writers and illustrators is a good for support and advice. Also, don’t be afraid of writing for a pre-existing series – I wrote for the Superstar High series and it was a brilliant first step because of the enormous amount of guidance you get.

Dave Shelton

Helen Moss will take part in the Children’s Book Festival in Linton in May. Adventureislandbooks.com

Picture books for active toddlers

Rebecca Patterson, 43, was inspired by her two children Anna, now 9 and Paul, now 12, watching them do things like leaping off their bunk bed and jumping into the swimming pool with their classmates at Chesterton Sports centre. The Deep End was published last year and Not On A School Night came out last month (hardback £10.99, Macmillan).

Q: How did you become an author-illustrator?

A: ‘I did a foundation art course at what is now Anglia Ruskin over 20 years ago. I worked in fashion design for a while and other jobs including waitressing in Madingley but I was rubbish and used to spill soup down people’s backs. I would send manuscripts to publishers in my spare time. I recommend the children’s book illustration MA at Anglia Ruskin because that’s what really launched my career. I went back as a mature student after having my children - it’s a fantastic course and they have a big show at the end of it that publishers come to.’

Q: What’s next?

A: ‘My third book, The Pirate House, is coming out this summer. The scenes are modelled on the layout of Sleaford Street and York Terrace in Cambridge and I’ve dedicated it to the children of Akeman Street where I walk my dog and children still play outside.‘

panmacmillan.com/book/rebeccapatterson/notonaschoolnight

For comic book fans

Dave Shelton came to Cambridge to study illustration at Anglia Ruskin and never left. His first book, A Boy And A Bear In A Boat, written and illustrated by him, was launched at Heffers in January (£10.99, David Fickling Books).

Q: How did you become an author?

A: ‘I started as an illustrator with a love of comics and drew the Good Dog Bad Dog comic which was collected into a book by David Fickling Books. Boy And A Bear In A Boat came from some doodles in my sketch book that I thought looked interesting so I started thinking about who they could be and what might happen to them. From showing that initial sketch to the publisher to finishing the book took about 18 months.

Q: Where do you write and draw?

A: ‘I can write anywhere but I draw in the studio in our front room that I share it with my partner (the illustrator Pam Smy). Some of my book was written laying on the bed in our house in Cambridge.

Dave Shelton is currently working on Good Dog Bad Dog 2. daveshelton.co.uk

WIN!

Eight children’s books by these Cambridge authors! To be in with a chance of winning 6 different Adventure Island books signed by Helen Moss, A Boy And A Bear In A Boat by Dave Shelton and Not On A School Night by Rebecca Patterson just click on the link at the top right of this screen and answer this question:

What city do all these authors live in?

Closing date for entries 23 February 2012