Appearing
North Tyneside (10th), Hartlepool(11th), Gateshead (12th)
Author Website
www.alandurant.co.uk
Publisher
Walker Books
My first books were about teenage life and came from my own experiences and concerns – I was fourteen when I discovered the immense and liberating power of writing and it was my main stay during my largely unhappy teenage years. Now I write to entertain my children and their friends.
I write lots of different styles of books and for a wide age-range – from teenage thrillers to picture books. I also write poetry for children and adults. I’ve written spooky books, science-fiction, school stories, funny stories, horror (but not much because it scares me!), thrillers, football… Writing different styles of story about all sorts of different subjects keeps me on my toes and helps to entertain me. That's the first rule of being a writer: you have to entertain yourself - otherwise how can you hope to entertain anyone else?
My work was featured in the BBC series English Express, which won a Children’s Bafta Award. I also appeared in two programmes in the award-winning Let’s Write A Story series. I am a National Reading Campaign Reading Champion and a frequent visitor to schools, libraries and festivals around the UK and abroad where I give talks and readings and run writing workshops. I am a member of NAWE and The Society of Authors.
In 2007 I won the Portsmouth Children’s Picture Book Award for Burger Boy and the Stockport Children’s Book Award (Key Stage 1) for Football Fever. My books have also been shortlisted for the Red House Children’s Book Award (Dear Tooth Fairy), the Kate Greenaway Medal (Always and Forever), and the Nottingham Children’s Book Award (Gameboy). I’ve twice won the Kingston Borough/Waterstone’s Poetry Prize.
I usually work on several books at the same time – mainly in my garden shed!
Recommended Reads
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Diary of a Tooth Fairy Walker Books 978-1406302554 Join Pip on her mission to become a Tooth Fairy!Pip has always wanted to be a tooth fairy and now she's going to training school to learn the tricks of the tooth fairy trade. There's a lot to get to grips with - spells, map-reading and dentricals are just some of the skills she'll need. But it's fun too, and only when the exams are looming does Pip begin to get nervous. Luckily she passes her test with flying colours to become a fully-qualified Tooth Fairy (First Class). |
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Dear Father Christmas Walker Books 978-1406309782 After Holly meets Father Christmas in the big store, she decides to write him a letter. "Dear Father Christmas - is it snowing in Lapland? Please answer. Love Holly." And so begins the start of a touching penpal friendship with Father Christmas himself, in which Holly learns about the magic of elves, reindeer and life in Lapland, as well as receiving some very special Christmas surprises. This miniature gift book comes with real detachable letters and gifts, including a calendar, tree decoration, joke book and a shimmery lenticular surprise! |
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Dear Mermaid Walker Books 978-1844280643 It is the summer holiday and Holly finds a mermaid's purse on the beach near her cottage. Thinking a mermaid must have lost it, Holly writes a letter to see if she'd like it back. Princess Kora replies, and they soon become holiday friends. Holly learns all about life under the sea, as well as getting some very special holiday presents! |