What’s your background, what compelled you to start writing?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I used to write a lot of short stories in primary and secondary school. Then moved on to writing plays and short films when I went to college (twice!). I’m not sure what compels me. I just get an idea and have to write it down in whatever form it comes out. With Strings, I remember it began as a writing competition entry with set guidelines on what to write. I liked what I wrote and ended up expanding it into a book.
What book from your childhood do you remember the best? Why?
This is going to sound weird but the one that sticks out the most was ‘Jurassic Park’ the junior novelisation. I was obsessed with the movie. It was interesting how it translated the sense of adventure and danger of the movie into something a child could read. It wasn’t the first book I read, but it’s the one that sticks in my head when I remember my childhood. That and a Beetlejuice annual.
Does writing energize you, or exhaust you?
The idea of writing and the act itself energizes me, but by the time I finish I feel exhausted so it’s a bit of both!
What’s your writing Kryptonite?
Self doubt, like I think a lot of authors have. It’s reading back on something and thinking ‘that’s only okay’. Sometimes that can make me stop writing at all.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Don’t be lazy, write more, write often, share more and help others more.
What does literary success look like to you?
Seeing someone recommending something I’ve written to someone else. Having someone saying ‘this is good, you should try it.’ That would be the best thing ever.
Did you always want to be a Children’s author/illustrator?
I just wanted to be an author. I love all kinds of books, so I write all kinds of stories. STRINGS is a children’s book because that is the nature of that story. A novel I’m working on is aimed at YA readers because that story feels it needs to be told that way. So I suppose I would be an author who writes children’s books instead of a children’s book author.
Were you an avid reader while you were growing up?
Oh yes, there was a small library in the school I used to take books from and any money I got, which most of my friends used to buy sweets, I’d save up and buy books.
What advice can you give to young readers looking to share their own stories in books or graphic novels?
Be brave and share it. Share it with friends and family. Enter competitions. Sharing is scary but the more you do it, the more confident you’ll become. The fear never truly goes away, but be brave. Always.
| Strings – Written by Christopher Glavin | |
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Strings is available for pre-order on Amazon. |
Is there a particular message that you hope readers will take from Strings?
I think the main message is, that loneliness can hit anyone, that it’s okay to feel lonely, but that it can be overcome. And that friendships can stem from the most unlikeliest of places.
Did you base any of the characters on people you know?
Mary definitely has traits that I had as a kid (except for the imaginary friend).
What’s brewing? What projects are you working on?
I’m working on a YA novel, a collection of short stories and a horror novel. They are all at different stages of development.
You can follow Christopher Galvin here;
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chrisgalvinblog.wordpress.com |
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