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OR [Contact L.J. Adlington]

How long have you been writing? I scribbled like a demon at primary school and always had a story or non-fiction 'book' on the go. As a teenager I loved making up silly stories with friends and at University I wrote when I ought to have been studying, and had my first short story published. I have bottomless caverns filled with novels not fit to be read (or published) and I always carry a notebook around so can jot ideas down as they come. What sort of books did you like as a child? Enid Blyton's books were my first favourites - the Famous Five series and the Magic Faraway Tree stories. I loved all the Narnia books too, and think it's very exciting they're being made into films. I liked other classics, such as Little Women and Anne of Green Gables, but as I got older I was greedy for war stories, science-fiction and fantasy... and (I admit it) the occasional teen romance. Two of my all-time favourite books are JRR Tolkein's Lord of the Rings, and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. What sort of books do you like reading now? Good sci-fi and sci-fantasy, murder mysteries, chunky spy thrillers and stacks of non-fiction books... especially ones about World War II. I love teen fiction too and have a sneaky liking for the Young James Bond series... How did you first get published? Luck... serendipity... fate...? Having gained a tidy collection of rejection slips I was fortunate to be introduced to an agent who loved Diary of Pelly D. She set up meetings with several publishers in the UK. I eventually chose Hodder Children's because of the great editorial staff, and because they offered mountains of chocolate biscuits when I visited. What does it feel like, seeing your book in print? Absolutely marvellous. It all becomes real when you hold your story in book form. I once passed a shop that had an entire window display for Diary of Pelly D and smiled. It's great to spot my novels in little bookshops as well as the big chains. (And who knows, one day it could be your name on the front cover of a new release... see how it feels then!) What advice do you have for aspiring writers? First of all: write! Try lots of different styles and subjects until you find your 'voice.' Next: read! Try a wide range of different genres and authors. This will give you a good idea of the sorts of styles, stories or poems you admire, and will probably influence your own writing for the better. It doesn't mean you're copying. Just think of it being like an apprentice, learning the skills of the trade. If you’re daunted at the thought of writing a novel, why not try your hand at crafting a short story? They’re not an ‘easy’ option in many ways, as you’ve got to keep the story tight and say a lot in a few words, but at least you won’t get bogged down in a hefty word count. There are all sorts of competitions for aspiring writers. You’ve nothing to lose by submitting a story or poem and seeing what happens… How long does it take to write a book? Ages. Or no time at all if you’re skimming along with a wonderful idea and no one interrupts. The truth is, writing a novel is a hefty undertaking. You need a lot of enthusiasm and endurance. Enthusiasm carries you through the initial excitement of entering a new world and meeting new characters. Endurance enables you to keep slogging along, chapter after chapter, even when you’re gnawed by self doubt and can’t believe you’ll ever reach the end. Finishing a book… that is a pleasure well worth the effort. You can’t beat the defiant triumph of writing the last line. When it’s all done, set it aside for a while, to mull your story over, and eventually take it out again for the really hard bit: editing. The first draft is only the beginning. After that you work to make a good book better. Where do you get your ideas from? I never have any trouble with ideas, unless it's having too many of them crowding my imagination. I love history and archaeology, two great sources of inspiration. Even the simplest object from the past can hold clues to a sensational story. Do you have to do a lot of research? Oh yes, and I love it. It’s great to read around a subject, discovering new facts and adding new images to your imagination. However, I have to be on my guard not to clog a story up with too much obvious research. I keep reminding myself that I’m telling a story, not writing a history book. Still, I look forward to particularly tricky questions at author events so I can talk about the topics that interest me. Did you have to do a lot of research for The Glittering Eye? Yes, and it was great fun. I spent a lot of time looking at Egyptian artefacts in local museums, at the British Museum in London and at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. I've been lucky enough to handle some original Ancient Egyptian objects, including several shabti figurines. Why are Diary of Pelly D and Cherry Heaven set on another planet? Both of these stories are inspired by actual people and diaries from World War II, but I didn't want the books to be historical, as if all the action was over. I wanted the characters and themes to seem fresh, immediate and relevant to now. Creating another planet gives you a clean page to write on, without all the prejudices and weighty details of the past. Why do the characters in Pelly D and Cherry Heaven have gills? It's partly a touch of sci-fantasy exotic, and partly because I'd love to be able to breath underwater myself. I did add a minor technical detail to explain how this happened to human colonists. Have you been to Egypt? Yes. I had a fantastic trip there one winter and loved every minute of it. I visited Cairo, went inside a pyramid, flew in a hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings, sailed on the Nile, held a baby crocodile and saw the sunrise for an annual spectacle at the temple of Abu Simbel. What are you writing next? Have a look at The Burning Mountain page for a sneak preview... [click here...] Do you have any pets? Two cats. Both featured in The Glittering Eye and both proud of their help with 'editing' this book (otherwise known as 'Walking On The Keyboard While I'm Trying To Type'). And just so you know... I'd kill for chocolate, adore champagne, play football (badly), aim to paddle in every ocean on the planet, hate prawn cocktail flavoured crisps and find ruined cities fascinating. Anything else you'd like to ask? [Contact L.J. Adlington]