Popular children’s author Jacqueline Wilson is one of the star names at this month’s Audi Dublin International Film Festival, which will celebrate her work and the films that have inspired her. As this year’s Festival Curator, she has selected three films for the Fantastic Flix programme for children and young people.
Ahead of the festival, Jacqueline agreed to answer Irish Times readers’ questions about her life and work. Here are the questions she selected and her replies.
Rosamund McGreevy
My name is Rosamund McGreevy. I am 9 and I live in Inchicore, Dublin. My question for Jacqueline Wilson is: Will you write another story about Destiny from Little Darlings because it is my favourite Jacqueline Wilson book and I really want to know what happens to Destiny next? Thank you for reading my email. Love, Rosamund x
Hi Rosamund, I'd love to find out what happens to Destiny too! Maybe I will write another book about her one day. I'm pretty sure she'll be a big success as a singer!
Ismena Baig
Recently a lot of your books have been set in the past, are you planning on writing any more contemporary stories?
I've got a book out on World Book Day in March called Butterfly Beach – it's definitely a contemporary story, Ismena!
Juno Sheridan, Galway
Which of the characters you have written is your favourite and why?
It's always difficult to choose my favourite character, Juno. I nearly always plump for Hetty Feather. There are five books about her now, and she also pops up in Clover Moon. I don't think we've seen the last of her either.
Tess Rock, St Mary's NS, Garristown, Co Dublin
1) If you could be any person for one day, who would you be and why?
2) What was your life like growing up?
3) Who is/was your favourite author?
4) Who inspired you to become an author?
5) Do you have any advice for children who want to be like you when they grow up?
6) What is your favourite song and why?
7) Who is your best friend?
I've tried hard to find you a good answer, Tess. I wouldn't mind swopping places with Nick Sharratt for one day it would be wonderful to draw like him (and I happen to know he treats himself to a big iced bun every day when he works.)
I read a great deal when I was a child and I was forever writing stories – my life hasn't changed much actually!
My favourite author when I was a child was Noel Streatfeild.
I don't think anyone inspired me to become an author – I simply loved making up my own stories.
I would read as much as possible and maybe keep a diary.
My favourite song is These are the Days of our Lives by Queen, because it's so sad and so sweetly sung.
My best friend is Trish, who loves reading too and we always have fun together.
Beibhinn Donnelly, Dublin
1) What inspires you to write books?
2) What is your favourite quote and why?
3) What is your favourite book you wrote and why?
4) What is your favourite genre of music and film?
I don't really know what inspires me, Beibhinn. Ideas just seem to pop into my head.
There's a jaunty little song called Don't Worry, Be Happy. I quote it to myself if I'm feeling particularly anxious.
I think my favourite out of all my books is The Illustrated Mum. It was adapted into a film. I'm looking forward to talking about it at the Dublin Film Festival.
I have a weakness for country music. I like sad, serious films.
Sarah Moore, Dublin
1) Will there be a Diamond Girls sequel? If so, when?
2) Have you ever met any other famous authors?
3) What was your favourite holiday?
4) Have you ever ran a marathon? If so, which one and if not, do you have any plans to?
5) How many book signings do you do a month?
Yes, I wonder what's happening to those four sisters, Sarah. I'd especially like to know how Dixie is getting along.
I've met lots of famous authors: JK Rowling, Philip Pullman, Michael Morpurgo, Liz Pichon, David Walliams …
I used to love going to Cape Cod in America – but now I mostly go to North Norfolk instead. Maybe it's time I started exploring Ireland's coastline too.
I've never run a marathon! I've never run even a mile (though I can swim one). I think you must be a very sporty girl.
I don't do many book signings now, but I wish I could.
Ketia Bakumba-Meluel, Dublin
1) What was your favourite book you wrote and why?
2) What/who inspires you to write?
3) Do you write with your right/left hand?
4) What school did you go to when you were younger?
Beibhinn's already asked me which is my favourite book, Ketia. I'll give you an alternative answer and say Hetty Feather.
Sometimes when I'm really tired and thinking about something else entirely an idea will suddenly come to me.
I'm right-handed - though when I was having hospital treatment with my right hand out of action I taught myself to type quite quickly just using my left hand.
I went to Latchmere Primary School and Coombe Girls Secondary School. I've been back to both schools to give talks about my books. They're both lovely schools, much less strict than they were when I was a child.
Fantastic Flix highlights
Jacqueline Wilson said: “I’m very much looking forward to returning to Dublin to present three of my favourite films. I’ll be introducing the excellent film adaptation of my own book The Illustrated Mum, directed by Cilla Ware, followed by a Q&A with me. I will also introduce Mandy, a black and white film about a little deaf girl, which made an enormous impression on me as a child, and The Secret Garden, directed by Agnieszka Holland, a truly magical film. It will be a lovely opportunity to meet lots of you!”
The Illustrated Mum will be screened in Dundrum at noon on February 11th, followed by The Secret Garden (February 12th, noon) and Mandy (February 13th, 10.30am), both in the Light House Cinema.
The Illustrated Mum stars Michelle Collins as Marigold, an avid lover of tattoos, who suffers from bipolar disorder and has a drinking problem. She lives with her children Dolphin and Star in a small London flat. Mandy is a 1952 British film about a family’s struggle to give their deaf daughter a better life. It was directed by Alexander Mackendrick and is based on the novel The Day Is Ours by Hilda Lewis. The Secret Garden is an adaptation of the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
The festival’s expanding Fantastic Flix programme brings the world of cinema to the next generation in its packed festival of children’s films from around the globe, workshops, short film selections, the Fantastic Flix Children’s Jury and special events. Highlights include Golden Globe-nominated animated film My Life as a Courgette, a preview of Michaël Dudok de Wit’s The Red Turtle, edgy Australian drama Girl Asleep and Korean animation Kai. Treats for youngsters include hit Canadian animation Snowtime!, the brilliant stop-motion animation Louis & Luca – The Big Cheese Race; the mischievous Captain’s Island and Jonathan Geva’s Abulele.
