P.G. Bell is the author of The Train to Impossible Places, a nonstop middle-grade fantasy adventure about a train that travels through impossible places, a boy trapped in a snow globe and a girl who’s about to go on the adventure of a lifetime. Here he answers our 10 questions about the festival.
1. What are you in Hay to talk about?
The boundless possibilities of imaginary worlds in stories, including the ones I created in my book, The Train To Impossible Places.
2. What do you want the audience to take away?
A sense of adventure and excitement, and the idea that a story can take you absolutely anywhere.
3. What’s the best question you’ve been asked in an event and how did you answer?
A child asked me, “How many books are you planning to write?” I told them I’d write as many as people wanted to read.
4. Which events, other than your own, have you seen and what stayed with you? OR Which events are you looking forward to seeing?
I saw Jonathan Meres (author of The World of Norm series) at Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival last year, and his energy and humour have definitely stayed with me.
5. If you could sum Hay Festival up in one word / a sentence, it would be…
Exciting!
6. What is so special about Hay-on-Wye?
I don’t know yet - I’ve never really been before, so I’m looking forward to discovering it.
7. What was the last book you read and loved?
The Lost Tide Warriors by Catherine Doyle.
8. What is the book you’ve most often given as a gift?
Probably Storm Hound by Claire Fayers. I made sure all my son’s friends in school got a copy on World Book Day.
9. Which book has most inspired you?
Every book I’ve ever read, including the bad ones!
10. Which piece of advice do you wish you could give your 16-year-old self?
Be patient, and spend a bit more time planning things before you start them.
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P. G. Bell talks What If...? Creating Fantasy Worlds at Hay Festival Wales on Thursday 30th May. Tickets here. Listen again on Hay Player shortly after here.