Katherine Rundell is an award winning 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 is about a girl who discovers that, when the wind blows her coat a certain way, she can fly. She lives on a mountain with her grandfather, until one day her grandfather grows ill and she has to face the malicious birds who live up the mountain side, who know each person’s darkest fears. It’s about love, and bravery: and flying.
Why did you pick that theme?
I love the idea of being able to fly only when the whim of the weather lets you; it would be at once so glorious, and so frustrating. But the main theme is fear; about the way that, if we face them head on, we sometimes discover our worst fears are half imaginary, and far thinner and weaker than we thought.
When did you decide to become an author?
I can’t remember not wanting to be a writer – I wrote my first book before I was ten. It was called Sally’s Surprise: the surprise was that there was no plot, at all.
When did you publish your first book?
I wrote my first book, which was called The Girl Savage, when I was 21, and it came out the year after that.
What is special about writing for children?
The books I read when I was 9 and 10 and 11 and 12 are the books that have stayed with me throughout my life; they’re the ones that shaped my imagination – so for me, writing for children is a huge privilege – you get to offer stories to minds that are still being shaped. There’s a line in my second book, Rooftoppers – ‘books crowbar the world open for you’ – that’s how I feel about children’s books.
What does it mean to you to be a part of the anthology and the Hay Festival?
I’m so very honored, and so excited, to be part of the anthology - it’s astonishing, to be in such formidable company. And, given the dustbin fire of world politics at the moment, I couldn’t be more delighted to be included in an anthology of European writers.
Do you have a favorite spot where you write?
I do! I have many – a desk at the British Library, coffee shops – but my favourite of all is at the desk on the veranda in my parents’ house in Zimbabwe, where I go once a year, to see my mother and father and grandmother and to write.
And why is that your favorite spot?
There are no distractions at all – just the beauty of the green garden, and the occasional stork or guinea fowl or firefinch – firefinches are bright red birds the size of sparrows: nature’s fireworks.
How do you get inspired?
I get inspiration from so many places: from books and poetry, from snippets of conversation, from paintings; and most of all, if I get stuck, I go for a long walk. By the time I have blisters on both feet, I will usually be un-stuck.