on the red spot so most stories are from the past they’re things that have
the past they’re things that have
the past they’re things that have already happened and we like to tell
already happened and we like to tell
already happened and we like to tell them to one another because we enjoy
them to one another because we enjoy
them to one another because we enjoy them and they stay with us over time
them and they stay with us over time
them and they stay with us over time they help to define our sense of place
they help to define our sense of place
they help to define our sense of place in the world and the very best stories
in the world and the very best stories
in the world and the very best stories shed meaning on our very existence
shed meaning on our very existence
shed meaning on our very existence that’s what’s thinking a lot about that
that’s what’s thinking a lot about that
that’s what’s thinking a lot about that as I started to consider the idea that
as I started to consider the idea that
as I started to consider the idea that was going to write my first children’s
was going to write my first children’s
was going to write my first children’s story but I realized when I thought
story but I realized when I thought
story but I realized when I thought about my own children’s relationship to
about my own children’s relationship to
about my own children’s relationship to fiction that maybe things had changed a
fiction that maybe things had changed a
fiction that maybe things had changed a little bit and it wasn’t so much a
little bit and it wasn’t so much a
little bit and it wasn’t so much a concern about whether the stories would
concern about whether the stories would
concern about whether the stories would survive but would we and it made me
survive but would we and it made me
survive but would we and it made me think that perhaps I was very motivated
think that perhaps I was very motivated
think that perhaps I was very motivated to write about them about the future to
to write about them about the future to
to write about them about the future to write sci-fi because it enables you to
write sci-fi because it enables you to
write sci-fi because it enables you to ask those very tough questions those big
ask those very tough questions those big
ask those very tough questions those big what-if questions those big unknowns
what-if questions those big unknowns
what-if questions those big unknowns what if for example the whole world all
what if for example the whole world all
what if for example the whole world all of our environments all of our
of our environments all of our
of our environments all of our communities all of our climate all of
communities all of our climate all of
communities all of our climate all of our fears spiral out of control where
our fears spiral out of control where
our fears spiral out of control where does that leave us and what kind of
does that leave us and what kind of
does that leave us and what kind of potential is that for writing stories
potential is that for writing stories
potential is that for writing stories when I first started writing sea bean I
when I first started writing sea bean I
when I first started writing sea bean I was working in an office in Greenwich
was working in an office in Greenwich
was working in an office in Greenwich pretty much straddling the Greenwich
pretty much straddling the Greenwich
pretty much straddling the Greenwich meridian so I think that’s why I was
meridian so I think that’s why I was
meridian so I think that’s why I was thinking quite a lot about time at the
thinking quite a lot about time at the
thinking quite a lot about time at the time and I came across something called
time and I came across something called
time and I came across something called a sea bean and if you never heard of a
a sea bean and if you never heard of a
a sea bean and if you never heard of a sea bean before it’s something quite
sea bean before it’s something quite
sea bean before it’s something quite special I’ve got one here rather similar
special I’ve got one here rather similar
special I’ve got one here rather similar to the one in the slide it’s one of
to the one in the slide it’s one of
to the one in the slide it’s one of nature’s brilliant inventions it’s a
nature’s brilliant inventions it’s a
nature’s brilliant inventions it’s a robust little vessel waterproof it can
robust little vessel waterproof it can
robust little vessel waterproof it can travel thousands of miles it’s actually
travel thousands of miles it’s actually
travel thousands of miles it’s actually a seed or more specifically a drift seed
a seed or more specifically a drift seed
a seed or more specifically a drift seed and they grow on trees in the rain
and they grow on trees in the rain
and they grow on trees in the rain forest
forest
forest and when the pod on the tree ripens and
and when the pod on the tree ripens and
and when the pod on the tree ripens and splits open the seeds the sea beans fall
splits open the seeds the sea beans fall
splits open the seeds the sea beans fall into a water course and they flow out to
into a water course and they flow out to
into a water course and they flow out to sea and they can travel thousands of
sea and they can travel thousands of
sea and they can travel thousands of miles and many people hope to find one
miles and many people hope to find one
miles and many people hope to find one on a beach and they do often rush up on
on a beach and they do often rush up on
on a beach and they do often rush up on British beaches because of the Gulf
British beaches because of the Gulf
British beaches because of the Gulf Stream washing them across the Atlantic
Stream washing them across the Atlantic
Stream washing them across the Atlantic Ocean so this was something for me that
Ocean so this was something for me that
Ocean so this was something for me that got me got me thinking and in my case it
got me got me thinking and in my case it
got me got me thinking and in my case it germinated into something that was an
germinated into something that was an
germinated into something that was an idea for a story and I started to think
idea for a story and I started to think
idea for a story and I started to think about other things that maybe would wash
about other things that maybe would wash
about other things that maybe would wash up in our lives
up in our lives
up in our lives from even further away than a see beam
from even further away than a see beam
from even further away than a see beam something like this meteorite for
something like this meteorite for
something like this meteorite for instance which has a potential to tell
instance which has a potential to tell
instance which has a potential to tell us things not just about our own planet
us things not just about our own planet
us things not just about our own planet the future of our own planet but tell us
the future of our own planet but tell us
the future of our own planet but tell us stories about the future of our universe
stories about the future of our universe
stories about the future of our universe so I was thinking ok these are kind of
so I was thinking ok these are kind of
so I was thinking ok these are kind of key ingredients maybe that I was working
key ingredients maybe that I was working
key ingredients maybe that I was working with at the time to build up a sense of
with at the time to build up a sense of
with at the time to build up a sense of what my story was going to be what if he
what my story was going to be what if he
what my story was going to be what if he takes something that’s kind of a cross
takes something that’s kind of a cross
takes something that’s kind of a cross between a sea bean and a meteorite a
between a sea bean and a meteorite a
between a sea bean and a meteorite a sort of time travel device maybe and let
sort of time travel device maybe and let
sort of time travel device maybe and let them come barging into somebody’s life
them come barging into somebody’s life
them come barging into somebody’s life for somebody’s otherwise everyday
for somebody’s otherwise everyday
for somebody’s otherwise everyday existence
existence
existence what sort of impetus would that be for a
what sort of impetus would that be for a
what sort of impetus would that be for a story and you can tell already that this
story and you can tell already that this
story and you can tell already that this sea bean device in my story was pretty
sea bean device in my story was pretty
sea bean device in my story was pretty much the main character and what if that
much the main character and what if that
much the main character and what if that device that sea bean device had strange
device that sea bean device had strange
device that sea bean device had strange kind of chimerical qualities
kind of chimerical qualities
kind of chimerical qualities color-changing abilities it had encoded
color-changing abilities it had encoded
color-changing abilities it had encoded within it some secret information that
within it some secret information that
within it some secret information that could only be activated by a highly
could only be activated by a highly
could only be activated by a highly eventful process of trial and error and
eventful process of trial and error and
eventful process of trial and error and that would be the key driver for my
that would be the key driver for my
that would be the key driver for my story and then of course I had to think
story and then of course I had to think
story and then of course I had to think about well where on earth was this sea
about well where on earth was this sea
about well where on earth was this sea beam gonna wash up in my story
beam gonna wash up in my story
beam gonna wash up in my story what kind of Beach was it going to
what kind of Beach was it going to
what kind of Beach was it going to arrive on somewhere preferably very
arrive on somewhere preferably very
arrive on somewhere preferably very remote very desolate very wild somewhere
remote very desolate very wild somewhere
remote very desolate very wild somewhere perhaps like st. kilda which is an
perhaps like st. kilda which is an
perhaps like st. kilda which is an archipelago it’s actually the remotest
archipelago it’s actually the remotest
archipelago it’s actually the remotest part of the UK we have ever wanted a
part of the UK we have ever wanted a
part of the UK we have ever wanted a little factoid like that it’s a remotest
little factoid like that it’s a remotest
little factoid like that it’s a remotest part of the UK it’s a world heritage
part of the UK it’s a world heritage
part of the UK it’s a world heritage site twice over so it’s quite a special
site twice over so it’s quite a special
site twice over so it’s quite a special place which is what I was after is a
place which is what I was after is a
place which is what I was after is a real place which was also something that
real place which was also something that
real place which was also something that I was wanting to write about and it’s an
I was wanting to write about and it’s an
I was wanting to write about and it’s an island and we all love stories that are
island and we all love stories that are
island and we all love stories that are set on Islands and then because I was
set on Islands and then because I was
set on Islands and then because I was writing a children’s adventure story I
writing a children’s adventure story I
writing a children’s adventure story I needed one smart eleven-year-old who was
needed one smart eleven-year-old who was
needed one smart eleven-year-old who was going to discover my sea bean when it
going to discover my sea bean when it
going to discover my sea bean when it arrived on the beach one day on her
arrived on the beach one day on her
arrived on the beach one day on her Island on st. kilda the thing I need to
Island on st. kilda the thing I need to
Island on st. kilda the thing I need to tell you perhaps about st. kilda is that
tell you perhaps about st. kilda is that
tell you perhaps about st. kilda is that it’s so wild and so remote and so
it’s so wild and so remote and so
it’s so wild and so remote and so desolate that the last people who
desolate that the last people who
desolate that the last people who actually lived there begged to leave in
actually lived there begged to leave in
actually lived there begged to leave in 1930
1930
1930 so Alice and the small community that
so Alice and the small community that
so Alice and the small community that have gone to live there in the very near
have gone to live there in the very near
have gone to live there in the very near future my story sets very near now it’s
future my story sets very near now it’s
future my story sets very near now it’s set in 2018 so in two years time I’m
set in 2018 so in two years time I’m
set in 2018 so in two years time I’m gonna have trouble explaining things but
gonna have trouble explaining things but
gonna have trouble explaining things but I needed somebody like Alice who had a
I needed somebody like Alice who had a
I needed somebody like Alice who had a warm hat warm hands a warm heart and was
warm hat warm hands a warm heart and was
warm hat warm hands a warm heart and was capable of handling a little bit of
capable of handling a little bit of
capable of handling a little bit of weirdness was curious enough to figure
weirdness was curious enough to figure
weirdness was curious enough to figure out why the sea bean changes color when
out why the sea bean changes color when
out why the sea bean changes color when she touches it and how to get inside it
she touches it and how to get inside it
she touches it and how to get inside it because of course there’s no obvious
because of course there’s no obvious
because of course there’s no obvious ways in when it first arrives and she
ways in when it first arrives and she
ways in when it first arrives and she would then obviously leave my story into
would then obviously leave my story into
would then obviously leave my story into the full sequence of C B so I was
the full sequence of C B so I was
the full sequence of C B so I was immersing myself in lots of information
immersing myself in lots of information
immersing myself in lots of information about st. kilda I had accumulated quite
about st. kilda I had accumulated quite
about st. kilda I had accumulated quite a library by then I was working with a
a library by then I was working with a
a library by then I was working with a map not unlike this one above my desk
map not unlike this one above my desk
map not unlike this one above my desk where I was where I was writing and the
where I was where I was writing and the
where I was where I was writing and the whole story got told at that point
whole story got told at that point
whole story got told at that point nobody knew I was writing fiction I was
nobody knew I was writing fiction I was
nobody knew I was writing fiction I was doing it almost for my own amusement but
doing it almost for my own amusement but
doing it almost for my own amusement but the book got finished in February 2009
the book got finished in February 2009
the book got finished in February 2009 and like most debut authors I had
and like most debut authors I had
and like most debut authors I had absolutely no idea what to do next so I
absolutely no idea what to do next so I
absolutely no idea what to do next so I stuck it in Bulldog clips in a drawer
stuck it in Bulldog clips in a drawer
stuck it in Bulldog clips in a drawer and it stayed there for three years
and it stayed there for three years
and it stayed there for three years until 2012 when I pulled it out again
until 2012 when I pulled it out again
until 2012 when I pulled it out again for some reason and reread it and I
for some reason and reread it and I
for some reason and reread it and I realized then that the reason I hadn’t
realized then that the reason I hadn’t
realized then that the reason I hadn’t known what to do with it was because the
known what to do with it was because the
known what to do with it was because the story was only 1/3 told and that there
story was only 1/3 told and that there
story was only 1/3 told and that there were these two other amazing segments of
were these two other amazing segments of
were these two other amazing segments of the story that would make it into a
the story that would make it into a
the story that would make it into a trilogy so I got quite excited at that
trilogy so I got quite excited at that
trilogy so I got quite excited at that point and I thought right I need to quit
point and I thought right I need to quit
point and I thought right I need to quit my job so I stopped working in Greenwich
my job so I stopped working in Greenwich
my job so I stopped working in Greenwich and I started working in Surbiton from
and I started working in Surbiton from
and I started working in Surbiton from Mike from my desk at home and I started
Mike from my desk at home and I started
Mike from my desk at home and I started to think quite a lot about the next
to think quite a lot about the next
to think quite a lot about the next story the second installment because my
story the second installment because my
story the second installment because my story had barely gotten out of second
story had barely gotten out of second
story had barely gotten out of second gear I needed to think about what the
gear I needed to think about what the
gear I needed to think about what the middle story was going to be and of
middle story was going to be and of
middle story was going to be and of course the sink Hilda has a very rich
course the sink Hilda has a very rich
course the sink Hilda has a very rich history it goes back to Stone Age times
history it goes back to Stone Age times
history it goes back to Stone Age times it’s been lived on continuously until
it’s been lived on continuously until
it’s been lived on continuously until 1930 and there are a lot of rich things
1930 and there are a lot of rich things
1930 and there are a lot of rich things in the past that I thought would be
in the past that I thought would be
in the past that I thought would be fantastic in a time travel story to have
fantastic in a time travel story to have
fantastic in a time travel story to have my characters travel back in time and
my characters travel back in time and
my characters travel back in time and not realize at first that that’s what
not realize at first that that’s what
not realize at first that that’s what had happened because at the end of C
had happened because at the end of C
had happened because at the end of C beam the device is broken and they have
beam the device is broken and they have
beam the device is broken and they have to do a factory reset and what they
to do a factory reset and what they
to do a factory reset and what they don’t realize is it’s it’s kind of reset
don’t realize is it’s it’s kind of reset
don’t realize is it’s it’s kind of reset the clock a little bit too much so Alice
the clock a little bit too much so Alice
the clock a little bit too much so Alice gets to meet all these characters from a
gets to meet all these characters from a
gets to meet all these characters from a hundred years ago and I got to imagine
hundred years ago and I got to imagine
hundred years ago and I got to imagine what would have happened for example if
what would have happened for example if
what would have happened for example if they turned up in a strange time-travel
they turned up in a strange time-travel
they turned up in a strange time-travel device in 1918 in May 1918 when actually
device in 1918 in May 1918 when actually
device in 1918 in May 1918 when actually st. kilda came under attack by a real
st. kilda came under attack by a real
st. kilda came under attack by a real German submarine or what if Alice went
German submarine or what if Alice went
German submarine or what if Alice went even further back in time to the 1700s
even further back in time to the 1700s
even further back in time to the 1700s when a certain lady Grange was
when a certain lady Grange was
when a certain lady Grange was imprisoned on st. kilda against her will
imprisoned on st. kilda against her will
imprisoned on st. kilda against her will in a stone client rather like this one
in a stone client rather like this one
in a stone client rather like this one and what happens if Alice rescued her
and what happens if Alice rescued her
and what happens if Alice rescued her and brought her back to the present time
and brought her back to the present time
and brought her back to the present time so at that point I was fortunate enough
so at that point I was fortunate enough
so at that point I was fortunate enough to have been approached by a publisher
to have been approached by a publisher
to have been approached by a publisher who offered me a three-book deal she
who offered me a three-book deal she
who offered me a three-book deal she hadn’t even seen sight or sound of the
hadn’t even seen sight or sound of the
hadn’t even seen sight or sound of the third one yet but I’d signed the
third one yet but I’d signed the
third one yet but I’d signed the contract and I thought it was maybe
contract and I thought it was maybe
contract and I thought it was maybe about time I actually went to st. kilda
about time I actually went to st. kilda
about time I actually went to st. kilda myself because there’s only so much that
myself because there’s only so much that
myself because there’s only so much that you can find out on the internet and so
you can find out on the internet and so
you can find out on the internet and so I went off one epic day to see the
I went off one epic day to see the
I went off one epic day to see the magical place itself it was a 12 hour
magical place itself it was a 12 hour
magical place itself it was a 12 hour journey and it looks like quite a choppy
journey and it looks like quite a choppy
journey and it looks like quite a choppy sea apparently this was quite a calm day
sea apparently this was quite a calm day
sea apparently this was quite a calm day Takota st. Kilda and it was every bit as
Takota st. Kilda and it was every bit as
Takota st. Kilda and it was every bit as magical as I was hoping for but also
magical as I was hoping for but also
magical as I was hoping for but also quite strange because I think I’d gone
quite strange because I think I’d gone
quite strange because I think I’d gone there thinking I was doing a
there thinking I was doing a
there thinking I was doing a fact-checking mission maybe take some
fact-checking mission maybe take some
fact-checking mission maybe take some promotional photographs and adjust a few
promotional photographs and adjust a few
promotional photographs and adjust a few things in my story if I hadn’t got the
things in my story if I hadn’t got the
things in my story if I hadn’t got the distances quite right or whatever but
distances quite right or whatever but
distances quite right or whatever but what I wasn’t expecting was it would
what I wasn’t expecting was it would
what I wasn’t expecting was it would feel like I was arriving into a very
feel like I was arriving into a very
feel like I was arriving into a very elaborate full-sized film set that
elaborate full-sized film set that
elaborate full-sized film set that somebody had built for me from my
somebody had built for me from my
somebody had built for me from my imagination it was quite extraordinary
imagination it was quite extraordinary
imagination it was quite extraordinary so happy that seat sits and killed her
so happy that seat sits and killed her
so happy that seat sits and killed her and see being all kind of stacked up we
and see being all kind of stacked up we
and see being all kind of stacked up we we went to press with the book we had a
we went to press with the book we had a
we went to press with the book we had a fantastic book launch at foils in China
fantastic book launch at foils in China
fantastic book launch at foils in China crossroad and my friend made this
crossroad and my friend made this
crossroad and my friend made this fabulous cake that has all the
fabulous cake that has all the
fabulous cake that has all the topography of st. kilda you could ever
topography of st. kilda you could ever
topography of st. kilda you could ever wish for and a large sea bean parked on
wish for and a large sea bean parked on
wish for and a large sea bean parked on the top there and my story c.b.c war
the top there and my story c.b.c war
the top there and my story c.b.c war then was finished a few months later and
then was finished a few months later and
then was finished a few months later and we launched that on a route master bus
we launched that on a route master bus
we launched that on a route master bus going around London and giving out
going around London and giving out
going around London and giving out copies of the book to various children’s
copies of the book to various children’s
copies of the book to various children’s libraries around around London and then
libraries around around London and then
libraries around around London and then I came to write sea rice and really
I came to write sea rice and really
I came to write sea rice and really that’s what I want to sort of focus on a
that’s what I want to sort of focus on a
that’s what I want to sort of focus on a little bit more today because writing
little bit more today because writing
little bit more today because writing sea rise children often ask me when I go
sea rise children often ask me when I go
sea rise children often ask me when I go into schools which one’s your favorite
into schools which one’s your favorite
into schools which one’s your favorite and I think sea rice was the most
and I think sea rice was the most
and I think sea rice was the most unexpected kind of experience for me
unexpected kind of experience for me
unexpected kind of experience for me because at the end of sea war the
because at the end of sea war the
because at the end of sea war the children know far too much about this
children know far too much about this
children know far too much about this sea bean
sea bean
sea bean whoever it is that’s provided it has got
whoever it is that’s provided it has got
whoever it is that’s provided it has got a bit suspicious and has recalled it and
a bit suspicious and has recalled it and
a bit suspicious and has recalled it and in the process of recalling it the
in the process of recalling it the
in the process of recalling it the children somehow get abducted inside the
children somehow get abducted inside the
children somehow get abducted inside the sea being it keeps them prisoner and
sea being it keeps them prisoner and
sea being it keeps them prisoner and they find that they’ve been taken a
they find that they’ve been taken a
they find that they’ve been taken a hundred years into the future to 2118 so
hundred years into the future to 2118 so
hundred years into the future to 2118 so what I had to do with my third book was
what I had to do with my third book was
what I had to do with my third book was imagine what sin killed would be like a
imagine what sin killed would be like a
imagine what sin killed would be like a hundred years into the future
hundred years into the future
hundred years into the future a rather inundated and ravaged version
a rather inundated and ravaged version
a rather inundated and ravaged version of it and we’re seeing a lot of science
of it and we’re seeing a lot of science
of it and we’re seeing a lot of science even in the news today about what it was
even in the news today about what it was
even in the news today about what it was going to be the effects of these
going to be the effects of these
going to be the effects of these disrupted weather patterns these strange
disrupted weather patterns these strange
disrupted weather patterns these strange solar storms that are happening we’re
solar storms that are happening we’re
solar storms that are happening we’re starting to see the Northern Lights in
starting to see the Northern Lights in
starting to see the Northern Lights in much less northerly latitudes and in
much less northerly latitudes and in
much less northerly latitudes and in Alex’s case she’s struggling to come to
Alex’s case she’s struggling to come to
Alex’s case she’s struggling to come to terms with being on this island
terms with being on this island
terms with being on this island wondering how they’re ever going to get
wondering how they’re ever going to get
wondering how they’re ever going to get back to their present and how it has
back to their present and how it has
back to their present and how it has come to be that some rather questionable
come to be that some rather questionable
come to be that some rather questionable characters of driven technology
characters of driven technology
characters of driven technology including the sea beam itself she finds
including the sea beam itself she finds
including the sea beam itself she finds out beyond its ethical limits and that’s
out beyond its ethical limits and that’s
out beyond its ethical limits and that’s when I realized that I’d got to the core
when I realized that I’d got to the core
when I realized that I’d got to the core of what maybe want to write in the first
of what maybe want to write in the first
of what maybe want to write in the first place it wasn’t just to tell a really
place it wasn’t just to tell a really
place it wasn’t just to tell a really good story
good story
good story although obviously that’s a key part of
although obviously that’s a key part of
although obviously that’s a key part of it it was to travel to a place in your
it it was to travel to a place in your
it it was to travel to a place in your imagination where you can no longer
imagination where you can no longer
imagination where you can no longer avoid the issue where you feel compelled
avoid the issue where you feel compelled
avoid the issue where you feel compelled to do something to to change what’s
to do something to to change what’s
to do something to to change what’s happening in the world today and that
happening in the world today and that
happening in the world today and that was what I hoped would be the take-home
was what I hoped would be the take-home
was what I hoped would be the take-home message of my trilogy so when it came to
message of my trilogy so when it came to
message of my trilogy so when it came to designing the covers for the books I
designing the covers for the books I
designing the covers for the books I realized that I needed to make them a
realized that I needed to make them a
realized that I needed to make them a little bit more arresting a little bit
little bit more arresting a little bit
little bit more arresting a little bit more special and this is a rather
more special and this is a rather
more special and this is a rather inadequate way that they are represented
inadequate way that they are represented
inadequate way that they are represented if you go and look on the Internet
if you go and look on the Internet
if you go and look on the Internet but what I wanted was something that had
but what I wanted was something that had
but what I wanted was something that had something of the Equality of the sea
something of the Equality of the sea
something of the Equality of the sea beam that maybe when you interacted with
beam that maybe when you interacted with
beam that maybe when you interacted with it it did something a bit different so I
it it did something a bit different so I
it it did something a bit different so I said to my publisher it would be really
said to my publisher it would be really
said to my publisher it would be really great wouldn’t it if when we published
great wouldn’t it if when we published
great wouldn’t it if when we published the book it changed color and I thought
the book it changed color and I thought
the book it changed color and I thought she’d just laugh and say get out of here
she’d just laugh and say get out of here
she’d just laugh and say get out of here you know but I done some homework at
you know but I done some homework at
you know but I done some homework at that point and I’d found a company in
that point and I’d found a company in
that point and I’d found a company in Cheshire that could print this special
Cheshire that could print this special
Cheshire that could print this special thermochromic ink onto the surface of
thermochromic ink onto the surface of
thermochromic ink onto the surface of the books so they literally would do
the books so they literally would do
the books so they literally would do that they would literally change color
that they would literally change color
that they would literally change color so here you can see my publishers hand
so here you can see my publishers hand
so here you can see my publishers hand demonstrating you think we haven’t got
demonstrating you think we haven’t got
demonstrating you think we haven’t got time for the ordinance participation but
time for the ordinance participation but
time for the ordinance participation but you can all have a go later
you can all have a go later
you can all have a go later so she went for it and of course what’s
so she went for it and of course what’s
so she went for it and of course what’s what’s what’s not to like about that you
what’s what’s not to like about that you
what’s what’s not to like about that you go into schools and children just want
go into schools and children just want
go into schools and children just want to handle your books that you actually
to handle your books that you actually
to handle your books that you actually get a collective gasp when you do it
get a collective gasp when you do it
get a collective gasp when you do it when you do an assembly and you have
when you do an assembly and you have
when you do an assembly and you have somebody with nice hot hands in the
somebody with nice hot hands in the
somebody with nice hot hands in the front row come and actually make the
front row come and actually make the
front row come and actually make the covers of the book but what I haven’t
covers of the book but what I haven’t
covers of the book but what I haven’t realized at that time was I had this
realized at that time was I had this
realized at that time was I had this brilliant brilliant set of books with
brilliant brilliant set of books with
brilliant brilliant set of books with these brilliant sort of marketing
these brilliant sort of marketing
these brilliant sort of marketing gimmick to them was that actually my
gimmick to them was that actually my
gimmick to them was that actually my books fell into this entirely new
books fell into this entirely new
books fell into this entirely new literary genre that I’d never heard
literary genre that I’d never heard
literary genre that I’d never heard about it was a bit embarrassing because
about it was a bit embarrassing because
about it was a bit embarrassing because obviously I only found out about it
obviously I only found out about it
obviously I only found out about it couple of weeks after the book came out
couple of weeks after the book came out
couple of weeks after the book came out and I was in a bookshop in London and I
and I was in a bookshop in London and I
and I was in a bookshop in London and I felt drawn to this table which had this
felt drawn to this table which had this
felt drawn to this table which had this sort of sign on it saying this word
sort of sign on it saying this word
sort of sign on it saying this word Clive by that I’d never heard of before
Clive by that I’d never heard of before
Clive by that I’d never heard of before but notice that went over and had a look
but notice that went over and had a look
but notice that went over and had a look and I thought all these books all have
and I thought all these books all have
and I thought all these books all have to do with climate change and I realised
to do with climate change and I realised
to do with climate change and I realised that I hadn’t written a piece of sci-fi
that I hadn’t written a piece of sci-fi
that I hadn’t written a piece of sci-fi at all I i’d written clive i my books
at all I i’d written clive i my books
at all I i’d written clive i my books belonged here on this table with these
belonged here on this table with these
belonged here on this table with these other ones so i was a little bit sort of
other ones so i was a little bit sort of
other ones so i was a little bit sort of taken aback about this and i thought
taken aback about this and i thought
taken aback about this and i thought well okay it’s just part and parcel of
well okay it’s just part and parcel of
well okay it’s just part and parcel of the whole process of writing stories
the whole process of writing stories
the whole process of writing stories from the future you know i’m gonna have
from the future you know i’m gonna have
from the future you know i’m gonna have to roll with it so i went home and i did
to roll with it so i went home and i did
to roll with it so i went home and i did some research and i found out that the
some research and i found out that the
some research and i found out that the guy who coined the term is this guy here
guy who coined the term is this guy here
guy who coined the term is this guy here dan bloom is American living in Taiwan
dan bloom is American living in Taiwan
dan bloom is American living in Taiwan and he’s very passionate and evangelical
and he’s very passionate and evangelical
and he’s very passionate and evangelical about it and over the next few months I
about it and over the next few months I
about it and over the next few months I came across a whole bunch of other
came across a whole bunch of other
came across a whole bunch of other authors who were writing both for
authors who were writing both for
authors who were writing both for children and adults in the genre of of
children and adults in the genre of of
children and adults in the genre of of life I in fact if you go on Goodreads
life I in fact if you go on Goodreads
life I in fact if you go on Goodreads now today there’s a whole page dedicated
now today there’s a whole page dedicated
now today there’s a whole page dedicated to clarify titles and it was a weird
to clarify titles and it was a weird
to clarify titles and it was a weird sort of zeitgeist kind of a moment
sort of zeitgeist kind of a moment
sort of zeitgeist kind of a moment really
really
really journalists were keen to interviewers
journalists were keen to interviewers
journalists were keen to interviewers Hollywood were trying to jump on the the
Hollywood were trying to jump on the the
Hollywood were trying to jump on the the Clyde bandwagon people were even going
Clyde bandwagon people were even going
Clyde bandwagon people were even going on climate change marches carrying Clyde
on climate change marches carrying Clyde
on climate change marches carrying Clyde banners and somewhere in the middle of
banners and somewhere in the middle of
banners and somewhere in the middle of all of that the editor of the children’s
all of that the editor of the children’s
all of that the editor of the children’s book cent section of The Guardian
book cent section of The Guardian
book cent section of The Guardian newspaper asked me if I’d write a piece
newspaper asked me if I’d write a piece
newspaper asked me if I’d write a piece about why I write Clive by now I’ve
about why I write Clive by now I’ve
about why I write Clive by now I’ve written a lot of things over the last 20
written a lot of things over the last 20
written a lot of things over the last 20 odd years both fiction and nonfiction
odd years both fiction and nonfiction
odd years both fiction and nonfiction and I have to say this was one of the
and I have to say this was one of the
and I have to say this was one of the hardest assignments I’ve every wonder
hardest assignments I’ve every wonder
hardest assignments I’ve every wonder taken and there were lots of tunes and
taken and there were lots of tunes and
taken and there were lots of tunes and frames you know lots of draw
frames you know lots of draw
frames you know lots of draw handed back and forth between myself and
handed back and forth between myself and
handed back and forth between myself and the editor and she’d say things like oh
the editor and she’d say things like oh
the editor and she’d say things like oh well you know I want to know more about
well you know I want to know more about
well you know I want to know more about your motivation as a writer I want to
your motivation as a writer I want to
your motivation as a writer I want to know more about you or I want to know
know more about you or I want to know
know more about you or I want to know what you think about other children’s
what you think about other children’s
what you think about other children’s literature and although it was quite a
literature and although it was quite a
literature and although it was quite a frustrating process I realized that it
frustrating process I realized that it
frustrating process I realized that it was also the most illuminating one I got
was also the most illuminating one I got
was also the most illuminating one I got a lot of insights into what it meant to
a lot of insights into what it meant to
a lot of insights into what it meant to be a Clio author I had to really think
be a Clio author I had to really think
be a Clio author I had to really think long and hard about it and I realized
long and hard about it and I realized
long and hard about it and I realized that in going out and and reading my
that in going out and and reading my
that in going out and and reading my books in libraries and book shops and
books in libraries and book shops and
books in libraries and book shops and whatnot I didn’t just want to do that to
whatnot I didn’t just want to do that to
whatnot I didn’t just want to do that to sell more books which is what a lot of
sell more books which is what a lot of
sell more books which is what a lot of authors seem to want to do they want to
authors seem to want to do they want to
authors seem to want to do they want to reach their audience don’t they I
reach their audience don’t they I
reach their audience don’t they I realized I needed to do some something
realized I needed to do some something
realized I needed to do some something more than that and at that point I’d
more than that and at that point I’d
more than that and at that point I’d maybe gone and spoken in about 50
maybe gone and spoken in about 50
maybe gone and spoken in about 50 different schools around Kingston and
different schools around Kingston and
different schools around Kingston and across sorry
across sorry
across sorry I’ve been on the radio a few times and I
I’ve been on the radio a few times and I
I’ve been on the radio a few times and I don’t even done a couple of literary
don’t even done a couple of literary
don’t even done a couple of literary festivals but I realized I haven’t
festivals but I realized I haven’t
festivals but I realized I haven’t developed a sort of real sense of
developed a sort of real sense of
developed a sort of real sense of purpose about what I was doing
purpose about what I was doing
purpose about what I was doing and going out there and talking about my
and going out there and talking about my
and going out there and talking about my books so I realized that the first thing
books so I realized that the first thing
books so I realized that the first thing I needed to do was to get the children
I needed to do was to get the children
I needed to do was to get the children out of the classroom that would that
out of the classroom that would that
out of the classroom that would that would be a good start I was like I
would be a good start I was like I
would be a good start I was like I wanted them to feel a little bit like
wanted them to feel a little bit like
wanted them to feel a little bit like Alice does when they’re transported to
Alice does when they’re transported to
Alice does when they’re transported to the Amazon rainforest and they find a
the Amazon rainforest and they find a
the Amazon rainforest and they find a golden nugget in CB and there’s this
golden nugget in CB and there’s this
golden nugget in CB and there’s this moment where they find this amazing
moment where they find this amazing
moment where they find this amazing object and it’s something that’s going
object and it’s something that’s going
object and it’s something that’s going to solve a lot of problems for them in
to solve a lot of problems for them in
to solve a lot of problems for them in the future so they take it home with
the future so they take it home with
the future so they take it home with them and it becomes a sort of talisman
them and it becomes a sort of talisman
them and it becomes a sort of talisman and it enables them to unlock their
and it enables them to unlock their
and it enables them to unlock their story from the future so I started to
story from the future so I started to
story from the future so I started to make these boxes there were like baby
make these boxes there were like baby
make these boxes there were like baby sea beans and you take them into
sea beans and you take them into
sea beans and you take them into classrooms they’d have a few clues in
classrooms they’d have a few clues in
classrooms they’d have a few clues in them a bit of treasure and the children
them a bit of treasure and the children
them a bit of treasure and the children would use them as inspiration it didn’t
would use them as inspiration it didn’t
would use them as inspiration it didn’t really matter what was in the box in the
really matter what was in the box in the
really matter what was in the box in the end because it was about getting them to
end because it was about getting them to
end because it was about getting them to focus with a sense of urgency and awe on
focus with a sense of urgency and awe on
focus with a sense of urgency and awe on a future moment here’s a child writing a
a future moment here’s a child writing a
a future moment here’s a child writing a story set in 2114 it made this the
story set in 2114 it made this the
story set in 2114 it made this the teachers quite nervous when I push away
teachers quite nervous when I push away
teachers quite nervous when I push away the desks and let them write on the
the desks and let them write on the
the desks and let them write on the floor and talk passionately and loudly
floor and talk passionately and loudly
floor and talk passionately and loudly about what would happen if their
about what would happen if their
about what would happen if their community was substituted by water or
community was substituted by water or
community was substituted by water or suddenly had a power-down moment or was
suddenly had a power-down moment or was
suddenly had a power-down moment or was invaded by displaced people from
invaded by displaced people from
invaded by displaced people from somewhere else but it was that thinking
somewhere else but it was that thinking
somewhere else but it was that thinking outside of the box even though I was
outside of the box even though I was
outside of the box even though I was giving them a box that really mattered
giving them a box that really mattered
giving them a box that really mattered to me it was taking climate change out
to me it was taking climate change out
to me it was taking climate change out the science curriculum and into a sort
the science curriculum and into a sort
the science curriculum and into a sort of openly creative participatory
of openly creative participatory
of openly creative participatory environment that collide fight afforded
environment that collide fight afforded
environment that collide fight afforded me and then I realized that it wasn’t
me and then I realized that it wasn’t
me and then I realized that it wasn’t enough to give them the treasure and the
enough to give them the treasure and the
enough to give them the treasure and the clues I needed to let them out to find
clues I needed to let them out to find
clues I needed to let them out to find their own clues and look for their own
their own clues and look for their own
their own clues and look for their own evidence so we ran workshops on beaches
evidence so we ran workshops on beaches
evidence so we ran workshops on beaches weed buckets and in fields with
weed buckets and in fields with
weed buckets and in fields with magnifying glasses and it wasn’t so much
magnifying glasses and it wasn’t so much
magnifying glasses and it wasn’t so much about them capturing samples from nature
about them capturing samples from nature
about them capturing samples from nature specimens from nature is about capturing
specimens from nature is about capturing
specimens from nature is about capturing their imagination I was trying to get
their imagination I was trying to get
their imagination I was trying to get them to look at those beaches and those
them to look at those beaches and those
them to look at those beaches and those fields in an entirely different way and
fields in an entirely different way and
fields in an entirely different way and they bring the findings back to the
they bring the findings back to the
they bring the findings back to the classroom and they start talking about
classroom and they start talking about
classroom and they start talking about it if I’m honest not everybody got out
it if I’m honest not everybody got out
it if I’m honest not everybody got out the starting blocks some children found
the starting blocks some children found
the starting blocks some children found it just too daunting to be asked to
it just too daunting to be asked to
it just too daunting to be asked to write a story from the future
write a story from the future
write a story from the future others went off and quietly in 20
others went off and quietly in 20
others went off and quietly in 20 minutes came up with an absolutely
minutes came up with an absolutely
minutes came up with an absolutely heart-stopping story the best workshops
heart-stopping story the best workshops
heart-stopping story the best workshops were where I realized that I’d even
were where I realized that I’d even
were where I realized that I’d even captured the teachers imagination enough
captured the teachers imagination enough
captured the teachers imagination enough for them to want to let the children
for them to want to let the children
for them to want to let the children carry on after I’d gone and do something
carry on after I’d gone and do something
carry on after I’d gone and do something that they could all be really proud of
that they could all be really proud of
that they could all be really proud of like these children who won a regional
like these children who won a regional
like these children who won a regional Clio writing competition that I went
Clio writing competition that I went
Clio writing competition that I went that I ran or the children at Hinch Lee
that I ran or the children at Hinch Lee
that I ran or the children at Hinch Lee woods school where I ran at a writers
woods school where I ran at a writers
woods school where I ran at a writers club over the course of the whole year
club over the course of the whole year
club over the course of the whole year and they built up a collection of Clyde
and they built up a collection of Clyde
and they built up a collection of Clyde by stories that we published in an
by stories that we published in an
by stories that we published in an anthology all these children from ride
anthology all these children from ride
anthology all these children from ride school in the Isle of Wight who created
school in the Isle of Wight who created
school in the Isle of Wight who created sort of nonlinear stories on these big
sort of nonlinear stories on these big
sort of nonlinear stories on these big black boxes that look a little bit like
black boxes that look a little bit like
black boxes that look a little bit like sea beans as well he wanted he was so
sea beans as well he wanted he was so
sea beans as well he wanted he was so proud of them they wanted to display
proud of them they wanted to display
proud of them they wanted to display them in the school entrance way
them in the school entrance way
them in the school entrance way afterwards or one child who even went
afterwards or one child who even went
afterwards or one child who even went home after my workshop and built the
home after my workshop and built the
home after my workshop and built the whole of st. kilda and sea bean in in
whole of st. kilda and sea bean in in
whole of st. kilda and sea bean in in Minecraft because they wanted to go on
Minecraft because they wanted to go on
Minecraft because they wanted to go on their own time travel adventures but at
their own time travel adventures but at
their own time travel adventures but at the end it doesn’t really matter what
the end it doesn’t really matter what
the end it doesn’t really matter what the output is what the physical output
the output is what the physical output
the output is what the physical output is what really mattered to me was that
is what really mattered to me was that
is what really mattered to me was that in getting children to engage with
in getting children to engage with
in getting children to engage with stories from the future their story from
stories from the future their story from
stories from the future their story from the future to dream up their story from
the future to dream up their story from
the future to dream up their story from the future that even if their own
the future that even if their own
the future that even if their own parents and the adults around them were
parents and the adults around them were
parents and the adults around them were still in some sort of weird denial about
still in some sort of weird denial about
still in some sort of weird denial about whether it was even happening in the
whether it was even happening in the
whether it was even happening in the first place that when the time comes
first place that when the time comes
first place that when the time comes when they are faced with climate change
when they are faced with climate change
when they are faced with climate change in their own lives and it’s starting to
in their own lives and it’s starting to
in their own lives and it’s starting to really affect their own existence it
really affect their own existence it
really affect their own existence it will be in their power to do something
will be in their power to do something
will be in their power to do something about it thank you very much
about it thank you very much
about it thank you very much you
you
you [Applause]
”
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