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How many Click on the Io is o moons Ju ne of Game Arcade piter’s does it moo A has a ns – Saturn for some serious fun. t leas Did you know that Io is t 16. have? unus Astronomers believe the beca ual use i Universe is constantly t has active expanding—growing volca D noe bigger and bigger and www.rotorualibrary.govt.nz s on i t. bigger all the time MARCH 2006 An Interview with JANEEN BRIAN What’s Around The Corner

What’s the best thing about being a writer? Creating with words and, thereby, creating images in peoples’ minds. “I love the malleability of words” and to be able to create endlessly with them. I en- April School Holiday Programme joy working with and re-working words that were created thousands of years ago to create different stories. “The joy of words is more than what they cre- @ the Library ate…I love the taste, smell, sound, and sight of words”.

When did you decide that you wanted to be a writer? ART CREATIONS What happened really, was that I bgan writing and kept writing – and being published. Now I consider myself a ‘wr-author’ – both a writer who works with words and an author who works with stories. I don’t recall making a con- Wearable and Recycled Art scious decision to become a ‘wr-author’. I never dreamed I would be. I start- ed writing at 30 and was very interested in looking at the other side of words Join us at the library to create your very own wearable art. Choose a design i.e. writing as opposed to reading. I was fortunate to be invited by an educa- that is uniquely Aotearoa and start thinking about how you can bring it together. tional publishing house to write a series of ‘Early Readers’ and my writing Or, if fashion isn’t your thing career has grown from there. Writing is very rewarding but you need determi- join us to make a model out of all your rubbish – create aircrafts, ships, nation and ‘stickability’. monsters, buildings—almost anything.

Which ever project you choose start collecting materials now – keep those Do you write everyday and is there a pattern to your writing day? weetbix packets, marmite labels, magazine cut outs, egg cartons, plastic bags I write everyday except weekends, though I often write one afternoon a – anything that you might need to create the best ever outfit or model. weekend depending on the weather, my mood, deadlines and flow of work. Though time-out from writing allows for a fuller more balanced life I often feel PLUS the computer drawing me back to it. A typical ‘work’ day for me involves an STORY QUIZ early morning walk then, to warm up, I conduct a brief writing workshop to returns for 2006 . Suitable for children aged 9 to 12 years this quiz help prompt the flow of ideas. I usually work from around 8.30 am to about 4 will challenge your knowledge on that fabulous book or 5 pm with several breaks in between and tend to do the creative side of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe writing in the morning and then research in the afternoons. by C.S. Lewis. Plus, be warned, we will throw in some wacky questions about other children’s books. Do you write notes through out the day of things/ideas that you think you Meet the challenge—register you team now! might one day write about? I have notebooks in which I record thoughts, snippets of conversations and observations. These entries give me ideas and inspiration for stories, charac- Visit the library or our new look website for programme and registration details ters, events etc. Even the smallest thing observed can lead to a new story. I for both ‘Art Creations’ and the Story Quiz. keep all my notebooks so I can revisit them at any time. NEW ZEALAND POST BOOK AWARDS: When writing do you use a computer or long hand? Does this help you in the CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULTS writing process? 2006 I use both - moving from one to another – but this can change from day to For more information check out the article in this issue of DownLoad day. I tend to find that typed work appears more finished even though it may not be. Writing directly onto the computer somehow reduces the story/detail/ Interview with Brian Falkner exploration of the story line, of characters. Long-hand produces more gems, more ideas – they seem to flow easier. I transfer written drafts on to the com- Check out DownLoad next month for an interview with puter to sharpen them up. I use single line spacing at this stage as double Brain Falkner, our visiting author for the line spacing gives more of a sense of completion. 2006 New Zealand Post Book Awards. Challenge those brain cells and Do you listen to music while you write? If so what? CHECK OUT YOUR LIT SKILLS No. I work in complete silence though I do have a phone in my work room. I like a solitary quiet environment to work in. 1. How many gems does the Belt of Deltora have? You have accomplished a lot in your career and have been involved in thea- 2. Who wrote the classic Black Beauty? tre, you’ve travelled extensively and you were a primary school teacher for 20 years. Did any one of these influence your writing more than the others or 3. What comic book character features in the books by the author Hergé? do you find you draw on your experiences from all three sources? Sadly I have used less of my overseas experiences than I perhaps may 4. Treasure Island is a fabulours adventure story. Who wrote it? have. Except, that is, for my year here in New Zealand. I found that my time here has been very inspirational for my work and have used, and will use, 5. Name one other title by this author? many of my experiences in stories. I like to draw on local events and charac- ters and work with situations that may help to clarify life for my readers. The

theatre group gave me the opportunity to write, particularly plays, and my 6. Can you name three New Zealand children’s authors and for each one teaching career has provided a myriad of observations of life being played can you name a book they have written? out. The school playground and the classroom gave me the opportunity to witness the dynamics of groups, of how people/children interact. This is inval- 7. What wonderful non-fiction series looking at history did Terry Deary uable to an author when developing characters and consequences of actions write? for a story. I developed empathy for children and an understanding of how important it is for children to believe in themselves. Again, this helps when 8. A super hero is created in a series of books by Dav Pilkey. What’s his writing for children as it assists in making characters more real, more believa- name? ble.

9. Which author was the overall winner in last year’s New Zealand Post One of your books, ‘Dog Star’ was based on the antics of your own dog Nell. Book Awards and what was the title of the book? Does a little bit of your own life and experiences settle in most of your work or do you usually write about things that you observe about other people?

This is where my notebooks are invaluable. I use ideas from observing my 10. Can you name four books written by the Australian children’s author own family, people in general, witnessing events, seeing things on my walks Janeen Brian? and even from reading about something – my new book for young readers aged 11-14 titled Cross Currents was inspired by a newspaper article. I note Answers to January’s Quiz: down anything that has a potential for a story. 1. The Lillies of Life; 2. A wolf; 3. Frances Hodgson Burnett; 4.. The Trolls; 5.It protects from the terrors of the night; 6.A wolf; 7. Jenny Nimmo; 8. Her Do you re-write as you go or do you revisit your work at a certain point? Wand; 9. They had three legs; 10. New Zealand Post Book Awards: Children I find that reworking my writing too much to begin with can stall the writing & Teens; 11. David Hill; 12. The Belt of Deltora process. However, I do need to get a sense of voice and tone of the book before I can move on. At the beginning of my working day I revisit what I have written the previous day often rewriting parts of it before I begin writing The Rotorua Public Library would like to any new work. thank The Friends of the Library for their commitment and generous sponsorship of You write both fiction and non-fiction. Do you find one easier to write than the the Fletcher Tuatara Club. Their support has other? I do tend to write more fiction but enjoy writing non-fiction about subjects that made this very exciting and dynamic pro- interest me. I was originally asked by an educational publisher to write non- gramme possible. fiction books and he wondered if I would be interested in writing about ‘natural disasters’. I jokingly replied – “Why? Is that how you see me – a nat- ural disaster?” I found writing Hoosh! Camels in Australia , the hardest, New Books to Check Out @ Your Library most challenging yet most rewarding book I have ever worked on. I was in- volved in collecting and collating all the maps, photos, and information – this FICTION material alone filled 30 folders. Total accuracy is required. The research for Willow Run by Patricia Reilly Giff (also available in CD) non-fiction books is immense yet fascinating. The Magician’s Boy by Susan Cooper How do you relax? “Having my feet up above my head!” Besides that I love to read, walk, listen The Black Canary by Jane Louise Curry to music, work with mosaics, word puzzles, knitting and needle craft, garden- Raven’s Gate by Anthony Horowitz ing and yoga. I visit museums, art galleries and the theatre. Pure Dead Trouble by Debi Gliori Were there any teachers you particularly remember? My Year 7 teacher, Miss Wiese taught us songs and poems and, thereby, Griffin’s Castle by Jenny Nimmo opened up previously starved areas of language for me – see the attached Ingo by Helen Dunmore poem by Walter de la Mare as an example of the poems that touched me during that time. In High School, there was an Irish teacher, Mr Luke, who, though gave no overt praise, had a teaching style that stimulated/motivated NON-FICTION the whole class. Mrs Holden obviously loved English and I enjoyed writing in her class. Arthur Spiderwicks Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You

Mummies: The Newest, Coolest & Creepiest From Around the World

Is there any one book – either children’s or adult – that has had the greatest How Dinosaurs Took Flight National Geographic influence on you? Yes ‘The Story About Ping’ by Marjorie Flack had a profound effect on me. I What’s the Big Idea? An at-a-glance guide to the key discoveries, remember my mother reading it to me when I was about 4 or 5. I cried after- inventions, and ideas that have shaped our world. wards and looking back now realise the tears were for a number of reasons. I cried not only because of the story, but also for myself. I felt this overwhelm- Prehistoric Actual Size—an “actual size” look at the prehistoric world ing grief because I was afraid that my mother may never read me another story – I feared that I would never again be privy to such a joyous, rapturous A Brief History of Pants by Kjartan Poskitt By taking a close look at the experience. In addition, it was the first story I recall gaining a sense of story subject of pants - peculiar, mythical, pioneering or otherwise- Poskitt from. introduces us to history in an hilarious and unique way. You’ll have a heap of fun deciphering fact from fiction. Which of your books do you personally like the most? If I had to choose one it would be Where Does Thursday Go? This story res- onates with the mystery of life. And has a satisfying resolution for the charac- Highly Recommended Talking Books ter as the latter develops its own perception, its own answer about things we don’t understand. It conveys the joyous inevitability of the rising sun – the inevitability of a new day. I’m delighted with the illustrator, Stephen Michael Worm Songs by Ann Coburn King. His illustrations perfectly capture the active optimism of Splodge and Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve the reassuring, loyal presence of the ever silent Humbug. I feel privileged to Worm Story by Morris Gleitzman have received a lot of positive feedback about the book and that it has been translated into ten languages. The Ghost of Raven Hill by Emily Rodda

And finally – and I just have to ask this – What is you most favourite food, movie, author and time of day? Favourite food: Anything! But in particular, on a cold night I love a roast pork din- New Zealand ner with apple sauce. Favourite movie: An Angel At My Table the story of the New Zealand author Janet Post Frame and Whale Rider – a film based on the book by Witi Ihimaera. I find myself drawn to movies with a strong New Zealand theme. Favourite author: Oh, but there are so many – , , Gary Book Awards Paulsen and Jacqueline Wilson come to mind Favourite time of day: The beginning, as it brings with it all the possibilities of a Children & new day.

Silver Young Adults Slowly, silently, now the moon 2006 Walks the night in her silver shoon; This way, and that, she peers, and sees This year’s finalists have been announced. Check them out—and remember you Silver fruit upon silver trees; can vote for the Children’s Choice Award. Pick up a voting card at the library but One by one the casements catch don’t forget, New Zealand Post must receive your entry by 2nd May 2006. Your Her beams beneath the silvery thatch; vote will count! Couched in his kennel, like a log, 2006 Finalists: With paws of silver sleeps the dog; Junior Fiction: Hunter, Joy Cowley From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep Maddigan’s Fantasia, Margaret Mahy Of doves in a silver-feathered sleep; My Story: Chinatown Girl, Eva Wong Ng A harvest mouse goes scampering by, Sil, Jill Harris With silver claws and a silver eye; Super Freak, Brian Falkner And moveless fish in the water gleam, Non-Fiction: Blue New Zealand, Glenys Stace By silver reeds in a silver stream. Cameras in Narnia, Ian Brodie

Peter Blake Sailor, Adventurer, Alan Sefton Walter de la Mare Scarecrow Army, Leon Davidson

Frontier of Dreams: The Weight of World Wars 1897-1949, John Parker Janeen Brian has had 62 children’s Picture Book: A Booming in the Night, Ben Brown & Helen Taylor books published to date and has Haere-Farewell, Jack, Farewell, Tim Tipene & Huhana Smith just finished writing another one for Nobody’s Dog, Jennifer Beck & Lindy Fisher young readers aged 13-14 years. Where’s the Gold?, She lives in Australia and is cur- The Waka/Te Waka, Jean Prior, K āterina Mataira & rently visiting New Zealand, resid- Young Adult Fiction : Deep Fry, Bernard Beckett & Clare Knighton ing in Ngongotaha. Janeen is our Kaitangata Twitch, Margaret Mahy guest speaker at this month’s Book Running Hot, David Hill Club meeting on the 15th March. The Unknown Zone, Phil Smith With Lots of Love from Georgia, Brigid Lowry

REVIEWS REVIEWS

Ariel, Zed and the Secret of Life by Anna The Tree House by Gillian Cross Fienberg

A gentle, funny story about two young brothers and Anna Fienberg is well known for her wonderful their tree house adventures. You will laugh at the imagination, within her famous ‘Tashi’ novels; antics of these two as you wish you could join in their but here is something altogether different. Ariel’s fun, sympathize with William, the oldest, as he mother is a writer who conjures up all sorts of struggles with his father’s departure, and be warmed colourful characters who make a habit of by the wisdom of the youngest, Sprog. Reading level 5 hanging around the house. It seems some of to 8, interest level: for anyone who has ever dreamed them, however, are not happy about the of having a tree house. personalities that have been chosen for them so she sends Ariel and Zed away to a most fantastic island inside the book she is writing, to Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume sort things out. And what strange and fabulous adventures they will have there. For readers It’s trickier than some might think, being an eleven aged 8+ going on twelve year old girl…..what with puberty, boys, new friends, grown-ups and school to contend The Flowing Queen by Kai Meyer (also titled The with. Water Mirror )

Margaret talks to God…but who is God and how on This extraordinary book is the first in the new Dark earth will she ever be able to choose what religion she Reflections series. A great fantasy filled with “magic wants to be?? and menace”. It conjures up a land of mermaids, An honest, enjoyable and very realistic read for magic mirrors, mummy warriors, winged stone lions readers aged 10+ and danger. Only the Flowing Queen, a mysterious presence, can protect this world from its enemies. But what would lie in fate for this realm if the Flowing Elidor by Alan Garner Queen, herself, was in danger? Read the first page and you will be captivated right to the end. Great for fantasy readers aged 11+ Four brothers and sisters are caught up in a battle to save Elidor – a place that exists not in Tackling Dad by Elizabeth Levy this realm but which touches it. Rowland, the youngest, discovers that he alone can bring Young Cassie is football crazy – it runs in her blood and about the end of the spreading darkness that when she’s asked to play in the middle school team by her old coach she can’t believe it. Trouble is neither can the threatens Elidor. A richly atmospheric novel. 10+ other contenders for the team - all boys. Plus things aren’t great at home as she confronts even more resistance from both her parents. This humorous story of a young girl determined to follow her dream is a winner for readers aged 8 to 12.