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Two Wexford authors, Gerard Whelan and Eoin Colfer, were asked questions by senior pupils (aged 8 -- 12) in St Edan's Primary School, Ferns, County Wexford. There are ten questions asked of each author and the first six are the same for both. It is interesting to compare their answers to these questions. Here Eoin Colfer tells us about growing up in Wexford, about his bestselling novels and about life as a teacher in Wexford -- and in Tunisia!
Q1 Have you ever started writing a book then thrown it in the bin?
Yes and no. I have often given up on a book because I couldn't think of an
ending or the plot became too twisted. Once I had 30,000 words done before
I realised the book couldn't be finished. But I never throw anything in the
bin. Out of those 30,000 words there were several characters and situations
that I went on to use in other books.
Q2 Did you always want to write? Did someone encourage your choice?
I have wanted to write since I can remember, and I have been lucky enough to
have had my parents' encouragement every step of the way. I have also had the
support of several English teachers who gave me high marks and gold stars. I
remember several specific instances when my work was praised and I honestly
believe that this fed my determination to become a writer.
Q3 When you meet someone for the first time, do you see if they would make a
good character for a book?
I don't go around consciously deciding if people would be good characters. I
think that interesting people stick in my mind and sometimes they write
themselves into a book without me knowing. Often when I am reading over my
work I will realise that so and so is just like so and so. If you know what
I mean.
Q4 Did growing up in Wexford influence the setting of your novels and the
choice of character?
Yes. Your life affects you, so obviously where you are and who you meet will
make their way into your stories. My life in Wexford and abroad have been a
large part of my novels since Benny and Omar.
Q5 If you had grown up in a different country, would it have affected your
ideas?
Ireland has been an integral part of all my books. Also I think being Irish
has affected my personality and attitude to many things. I think if I had
grown up anywhere else, the stories I'd have to tell would be completely
different ones.
Q6 Did you enjoy hurling in school?
I enjoyed watching hurling and tried my best to play it, but I was never
good enough to be on the school team. I think creating Benny is my way of
fulfilling a dream.
Q7 Are you Benny?
I think that Benny is made up of several real life people. He has the smart
mouth of my brothers, the hurling skill of a friend of mine. A large part of
him is a young Scottish boy I taught in Tunisia.
Q8 Did you go to Africa to research for Benny and Omar or did the idea come
from a holiday?
I was in Africa on a teaching job. While there I was immersed in the
Tunisian culture and material for a book more or less beat me over the head.
Q9 Do you like being famous?
I like the books being famous, but as a writer I am very fond of my privacy.
Luckily I am still able to walk down any street without being recognised.
And even if I am, writers don't get the same kind of rapturous reception as
pop stars. Thank goodness.
Q10 Are you going to stay being a teacher now that you have written so many books? Do you prefer being a teacher or a writer?
I have had to take a break from teaching because of publicity duty. I hope
to go back in a few years. I can't decide whether I prefer teaching or
writing as they are linked. I get ideas from the kids I teach, then I teach
kids with the books I read to them.
More from this author:
List of all contributions from O'Brien Press authors
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