Appearing:
Lit & Phil, Gala Day
Author Website
www.walkingwithwitches.co.uk
www.lynnhugginscooper.co.uk
Publisher
Tyne Bridge Publishing
I live on an organic smallholding near Durham with my husband and youngest daughter Eleanor. My two older children have homes nearby. Eleanor is home educated, and we spend a lot of our time writing together. She even has her own writing group called Stormwriters – so look out for her books soon!
What is the best thing about being an author?
Earning my living with my imagination! Getting to pore over lots of wonderful old books at the Literary and Philosophical Society and the Society of Antiquaries for fun and calling it ‘research.’ Getting up and only having to walk downstairs to start work. Being able to eat cake at my desk whenever I feel like it, and being able to take the cat to work.
Where do you get your ideas from?
The idea for Walking with Witches (Tyne Bridge Publishing) came from a newspaper article about the discovery of some bones in St. Andrew’s churchyard, Newcastle upon Tyne. They turned out to be from a 17th Century witch trial. My husband threw the paper to me and said, ‘Here’s your next book.’ He was right!
I got the idea for One Boy’s War (Frances Lincoln) when I heard about my husband’s great uncle Sydney, who died in the First World War when he was just seventeen years old. I went to the war memorial in Burnhope, County Durham and saw his name. That gave me the idea to write a story about him so people would remember the millions of people who died in WW1. Last year we went on a trip to France and Belgium, and visited Sydney’s grave. It was in a tiny cemetery on farmland. It was a peaceful place, and my daughter planted flowers on his grave.
What made you start writing?
Genes? My dad and sister are keen writers too. I grew up in a house filled with books. I spent all of my pocket money in Lanes second hand bookshop in Hove – I still have lots of the books I bought then. Ray Bradbury was my favourite author when I was young, and is still my favourite today. The stories had so many layers that they grew with me, and I find something new every time I read them. I think ‘The Halloween Tree’ is my favourite – maybe because my birthday is at Halloween!
What do you do when you are not writing?
Lots of gardening – we have 14 acres and grow organic food as well as keeping animals. I also run writing courses (www.writetime.org.uk) and tutor on the Writing for Children course for the London School of Journalism. I love to make crafts and I run craft courses (www.celebratetheseasons.co.uk) with my friend Nigel, who is also a writer and illustrator. He drew the wonderful artwork for Walking with Witches.
The thing is, hobbies and pastimes tend to turn into books! Having children led me to write books for adults about parenting , and living on a smallholding led me to write books about self sufficiency (Downshift to the Good Life and Organic Living, both for Infinite Ideas publishing). Enjoying crafts led me to write articles and books about craft too (Play, Laugh and Learn: Celebrate the Seasons for Carroll and Brown).
How many books have you written?
Over 230! I have written many ‘home learning’ books for publishers such as Letts – that’s where I started. I was a teacher, then a PGCE lecturer, and I answered an advertisement in the Times Educational Supplement for teachers to write books for Letts. Little did I know how many I’d end up writing! I even ended up with a column for new teachers in the Times Ed. itself.
Have you always been a writer?
Well, apart from being a writer, teacher and lecturer I have had lots of jobs. I have worked as a wildlife warden at a lighthouse, a barmaid, in a bail hostel and with young offenders. I like this job best though!
Recommended Reads
 | Walking with Witches Tyne Bridge Publishing 9781857951288 Eleanor and her friends are on a trip to Newcastle, visiting the Literary and Philosophical Society. They see odd shadows and hear ghostly whispering voices – and an ancient book in a glass display case leafs open as they watch. Pages stop fluttering and the girls enter the world of a witch hanged on the town moor in 1650. After finding a witch's treasure, the girls find themselves pulled into a dangerous adventure, threatened by a dark and timeless evil. They follow the trail that the accused witches took around Newcastle, following clues and unravelling an ancient mystery. Read more at www.walkingwithwitches.co.uk |
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One Boy's War Frances Lincoln 9781845075286 Sixteen-year-old Sydney is overwhelmed by the excitement of the 1914 recruitment campaigns and the bravado of men leaving for the Great War. Bursting with enthusiasm, he runs away to join up, but soon finds himself a long way from home in a frontline trench where reality - and the rats - begin to bite. Told through Sydney's optimistic letters home and his more realistic journal, this is his honest portrayal of the disillusionment and degradation of life and death in the trenches of World War I. Sydney was a real young man who lived in Burnhope, County Durham. You can read more about him at www.oneboyswar.co.uk |
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Play, Laugh & Learn - Celebrate the Seasons Carroll & Brown 978-1903258682 Our memories of childhood follow the rhythms of the seasons - colouring hard-boiled eggs at Easter time, shell collecting and rock-pooling in the summer, carving fleshy pumpkins for Hallowe'en, and making glitter-spangled cards for Christmas. This book offers you a chance to build those memories with your own children. The essence of the passing seasons is savoured and captured with a variety of fun-filled indoor and outdoor projects - most created out of non-specialist and readily available materials. The activities have been designed to keep pace with your growing child's abilities and some will even provide precious mementoes of childhood that you will want to keep forever. All promote knowledge and a sense of discovery, whether of the natural world or a child's artistic and academic talents. These exercises also develop and extend fine motor skills and an aesthetic appreciation. Each activity is photographed step-by-step to help you achieve a pleasing and successful result every time. Find out more at: www.celebratetheseasons.co.uk |