David Melling - Author Q & A
David Melling on Asterix, Stig of the Dump and How to Beat Captain Najork...
What was your favourite childhood book?
Which book has made you laugh?
Apart from Asterix and Obelix, well, there are so many. But one of my all time favourite picture books is How Tom Beat Captain Najork and his Hired Sportsmen by Russell Hoban
Which book has made you cry?
Which book would you never have on your bookshelf?
All Pink fiction - though my daughter would take a peek.
Which children's book do you wish you had written?
Fairy Tales and Fantastic Tales by Terry Jones
Which book are you reading at the moment?
I've just finished Blood Red Snow White by Marcus Sedgwick. Wonderful!
Which children's book do you think every child should read?
Very subjective, but I think Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland should be there somewhere - as well as all things Asterix and Obelix of course. For older children Animal Farm.
Which other children's writers do you admire?
A favourite at the moment is Marcus Sedgewick - a wonderful writer who can describe a scene and create a mood effortlessly as well as tell a gripping tale. I have also enjoyed The Spook series by Joseph Delaney
Which children's classic have you always meant to read and never got round to it?
I recently read Peter Pan, and confess there are more unread classics than I should admit to. But, certainly among them and probably top of the list now would be Treasure Island, The Wizard of Oz and a big chunky collection of The Arabian Nights.
What are your top five children's books of all time, in order or otherwise?
Asterix in Britain by Goscinny and Uderzo, Stig of the Dump by Clive King, The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien, Animal Farm by George Orwell, How Tom Beat Captain Najork and his Hired Sportsmen by John Masefield.
What is the worst children's book you have ever read?
I'm not sure I can answer that - after all, it's a matter of taste. If I don't like a book, it doesn't necessarily make it bad. I'll leave it at that!
Which book have you found yourself unable to finish?
More than I care to remember -; but that probably says more about me than the book.
I remember finding Shardik by Richard Adams heavy going. I'm a slow reader and I recall flipping through the remaining pages many times with a grim determination to see it through. But I didn't.Is there a particular book or author that inspired you to be a writer?
No single book really, though I have always loved the idea of creating something like Asterix and Obelix. I have been inspired by many, many authors and been lucky to work with a few of them, Ian Whybrow and Vivian French to name but two. But the list could go on and on...
What is your favourite time of day to write?
Mornings are best for me. Early afternoon is not so good, but I often have another good run between 4.00pm and 6.00pm
And favourite place?
I work in a flat round the corner from where I live. I used to work from home, which was fine, but having children has forced me to find somewhere a little quieter.
Which fictional character would you most like to have met?
I remember thinking it would be great to have a secret friend like Stig from Stig in the Dump.
Who, in your opinion, is the greatest writer of all time?
Goodness, that's a tough one. Honestly I couldn't say - but you can see in this Q and A who my favourites are.
What is your favourite word?
Seepage! Don't ask me why, but for years every time I heard it, it made me laugh - it just sounds funny. I've finally managed to give life, as a character in Stone Goblins.
Other than writing, what other jobs or professions have you undertaken or considered?
I've taught English in Italy, cut grass in cemeteries, been a photographer's assistant for a while, all sorts really. I consider myself very lucky to be doing what I love - writing and illustrating stories.
When did you write your first story?
I can't remember the very first story, though I tended to draw the characters and tell the story in my head. But The Kiss That Missed is the first book I had published in 2002.
What was the first piece you ever had in print?
The first book I illustrated was Brilliant The Dinosaur by Richard Stilgoe in 1994. See the previous question for my first written and illustrated story.
What are you working on at the moment?
I have just finished a picture book called The Star-Faced Crocodile which should be out September 2008
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