All through October, Alphabet Soup is celebrating turning three. We have heaps of writers and illustrators stopping by to answer THREE QUICK QUESTIONS and today’s visitor is author Sheryl Gwyther—her most recent book is Charlie and the Red Hot Chilli Pepper.
1. Where do you like to write?
I have a study to write in, but I can write anywhere (if I’m in the writing mood). Funny thing, though, the place where I write a first draft reminds me of that time whenever I go there—like on our back deck, where I wrote the first draft of Singing the Wires and the words poured out of my head. Luckily, it’s all good memories.
2. Can you name a book you’d recommend to our readers?
Just finished John Heffernan’s book Battle Boy—Spying on the Past, written under the name of Charlie Carter. It’s the first in a series of exciting, short adventure books for young readers. Easy to read, gripping and cleverly bringing the past alive when a young boy—Napoleon Augustus Smythe—hurtles back through time and into … the big battles of the past. Lots of techo stuff (and illustrations) to intrigue kids.
3. Can you offer a word or phrase that kids could use for inspiration if they have writer’s block?
Rather than one word or phrase, I use my ‘Double Trouble Game’—think of two words that are ‘bad roommates’, put them together and ask, ‘What If? I used this method to get the ideas flowing for my story Princess Clown. Also for my work-in-progress, Fangus Fearbottom (fang and banana—yes, bad room mates!)
Find out more about Sheryl Gwyther and her books—visit her website and check out her 4Kids blog, too.
Sheryl’s most recent book, Charlie and the Red Hot Chilli Pepper is available from Pearson Australia.
© October 2011 “Three Quick Questions with Sheryl Gwyther” by Rebecca Newman (Alphabet Soup magazine)
(Psst … see you back here tomorrow, when author Aleesah Darlison answers our Three Quick Questions.)
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