Katherine Woodfine is an acclaimed writer from the UK, part of our Aarhus 39 selection of the best emerging writers from across Europe. Katherine will be appearing at the inaugural International Children’s Literature Hay Festival Aarhus 2017 later this month. Here she talks about her new story for Quest, our new anthology of stories for children, inspired by journeys.
Tell us about your story...
My story Between the trees is set in the 1600s, during the English Civil War. It’s about the meeting of two girls, Isabella and Meg, who come from very different backgrounds, but are thrown together by the circumstances of their turbulent times.
Why did you pick that theme?
Most of my writing has a historical setting and I often get ideas from snippets of real-life history. For this story, I was intrigued by the idea of writing something set during the English Civil War, which is not a period we see represented in contemporary children’s books very often (though I remember being completely fascinated by the classic The Children of the New Forest as a child). That’s particularly interesting given that it’s a moment in history that had a huge impact on British identity and culture. In the wake of the EU Referendum and the furious debates about Brexit, it seemed an especially apt historical moment to think about - a tumultuous time where national identity was in flux. Also, I always love writing about friendship - and in this story, I particularly wanted to explore how two very different characters could make a connection. Here, the grisly task of skinning and gutting a rabbit becomes the moment that sparks off Isabella and Meg’s unlikely friendship.
When did you decide to become an author?
I’ve always loved writing and have wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember. I recently found a little story that I wrote when I was probably about six: it was called The Robber Who Stole the Crown Jewels and told the story of how the queen’s priceless jewels were stolen from the Tower of London by a gang of thieves. It really made me smile because over 20 years later, my first published book The Clockwork Sparrow, was also about the mysterious theft of some priceless jewels.
When did you publish your first book?
My first book The Clockwork Sparrow came out in 2015. It’s the first in the Sinclair’s Mysteries series which is set in a glamorous new department store in 1900s London and follows young detective duo Sophie and Lil and their friends. The other titles in the series so far are The Jewelled Moth and The Painted Dragon.
What is special about writing for children?
Books are often the first ‘works of art’ we encounter as children - and what we read during childhood has a huge part to play in shaping our view of the world, helping us to understand others, and enabling our imaginations to grow and flourish. It can also impact on how we feel about books and reading for the rest of our lives.
What’s more, children are tough critics - they really challenge you as a storyteller. They’re always honest about what they think, and for that reason, there’s nothing better than a young reader telling you that your book is their all-time favourite.
What does it mean to you to be part of the anthology and the Hay Festival?
I’m thrilled to be part of the anthology and this project. I love having the chance to collaborate with other authors, and this is a wonderful opportunity to work alongside brilliant children’s writers from all over Europe. Making international connections seems to me to be more important than ever.
Do you have a favourite spot where you write? Where is that and why is it your favourite spot?
I write in a lot of different places - at my desk at home in London, in cafes, in libraries, on trains… I think it’s important to be able to write anywhere and everywhere! But I do always enjoy writing cosily at home, and the British Library is another favourite place to work. I like being surrounded by other writers, and it’s a brilliant place to do research.
How do you get inspired?
Lots of my ideas come from history: often a small real-life incident, a particular place or a historical character will spark my imagination. In addition, I always find lots of inspiration from reading - both children’s and adult books, fiction and non-fiction. I’m also quite a visual person and I find art and design inspiring. Looking at visual images always helps me find ideas - whether that’s going to an art gallery to see a new exhibition, researching 17th century fashion, or looking at old photographs from the 1900s.