This was a
super-fan event to get to know Jacqueline Wilson, the much-loved children's
author, who has recently published her 105th book, Clover Moon.
Sitting centre stage with the new book on a coffee table beside
her, she spoke about the inspiration for her stories, Clover Moon itself, her
life and her background - and getting started in her career.
Jacqueline told us that as a child her head was always full of
stories and imaginary friends.
As she grew up, she used to save up her pocket money for a new pen
or notebook for whatever she would write next.
She told the sell-out Playhouse audience (mostly of girls and
their parents) about how at 17 she sent off a short story to DC Thomson in
Dundee, which eventually resulted in her living there, working on a new
magazine for girls!
One of her roles was to write pretend 'readers letters' and to
make up the horoscopes column - all good practice for her award-winning fiction
writing later on in life!
She spoke about her latest book Clover Moon. Poor girl Clover
lives in a grimy backstreet of Victorian London with her six younger siblings,
her weary dad, and his cruel uncaring second wife.
More full of life than the others in her family, Clover jumps at
the opportunity of learning her letters, and loves the chance to paint or draw.
Unfortunately, despite her talents, Clover's future is as a house hold skivvy.
Then an exciting chance crops up, to have a meeting with an artist
that opens up ideas of her future.
Jacqueline told us she enjoyed writing this book, and even let on
there is a Hetty Feather encounter in the book as well.
Towards the end of the jam-packed hour, there was a question and
answer session with the audience.
She revealed her own favourite stories were Hetty Feather and The
Story Of Tracey Beaker.
She also told us to expect a three-part CBBC series of her book
'Katy' as well as (in two long years' time) a feature film of her book 'Four
Children And It' to look forward to.
