![]() ![]() I am working on a historical novel based in the 1900s in the goldfields. I would also say to read it aloud: it doesn’t need to rhyme, but it needs to have a pleasing rhythm.Ĭan you share a bit about what you’re working on next? The most important thing is to put a child or children (or a non-human character!) at the centre of the story. The first line came to me when I was walking, and I came home and scribbled it in a notebook, along with the words, ‘torches, car, astronaut, reaching out’.įor the rest, I approached this the way I (and many other writers!) approach most stories – what is the problem, and how are the characters going to fix it?ĭo you have a tip for young writers who’d like to write a picture book? After all, if she didn’t like it, neither of us would be worse off. The first thing I said to the publisher at Wild Dog Books when she approached me was, ‘But I don’t write picture books.’ She replied, ‘I think you’ll be able to write this one.’ We agreed I would try, and I was happy to give it a go. You’re the author of many novels for children and teenagers and this is your first picture book! Can you tell us about your experience of sitting down to write a picture book after writing so many novels? Heather has also illustrated the work of Western Australian luminaries like Sally Murphy and Dianne Wolfer, so I would call her an honorary Western Australian! Heather and Mark are a husband and wife team, and I have not yet met them, though I hope to one day. The illustrators were chosen by the publisher. How did the book come to have two illustrators – Heather Potter and Mark Jackson? ![]() I can’t believe it hasn’t been written about before, as it is such a great story of hope and optimism in the middle of the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States. The event even made it into the Hollywood blockbuster film in 1983, called The Right Stuff. Jenny Gregory’s book City of Light was also a helpful source of information. And I talked to people like my stepmother, who was twelve at the time and remembers it vividly. The West Australian also had a helpful article online. I went to the State Library and looked at the old microfiche with The West Australian from that time. The first place I looked was the WA Museum, which had this very comprehensive information. I knew absolutely nothing about this story before I began. How did you go about gathering information before you began writing? We will see a tiny light and we’ll knowĬity of Light is a story based on a real historical event. Today we’re chatting to Julia about her book City of Light, illustrated by Heather Potter and Mark Jackson.Īn astronaut from the other side of the world will fly over She loves dogs, oceans, and sunsets, and still likes to gaze at the night sky, just in case. She grew up in the outer suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, not long after the first moon landing. Julia Lawrinson has written more than a dozen books for children and teenagers, many of them award-winning. Happy reading! Tagged humour, middle grade, short stories Leave a comment authors, interviews Julie Lawrinson on City of Light This is Hannah’s first review for Alphabet Soup! To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Take a look inside this book on the publisher’s website. I’d recommend this book to people who like books that make you laugh and ‘myths and legends as you’ve never read them before’. The prequel to Astonishingly Good Stories – Shockingly Good Stories – was equally good and I suggest you read both of them. I am surprised by this because I thought Friday Barnes was too old for me and I didn’t understand the plot of other Friday Barnes stories, but I did understand the plot of this story and it was really good. I like a lot of the stories but I actually liked the Friday Barnes one best. ![]() For Friday Barnes fans there is a short Friday Barnes story based on Christmas. The stories include Fractured Fairytales and stories of Nanny Piggins’ stunningly beautiful relatives (aunts and grandmothers). Astonishingly Good Stories is a very funny, heart-warming collection of short stories including characters from RA Spratt’s other book series. ![]()
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