Some of our Year 8 students were given the opportunity to interview writer Ali Sparkes during her visit last week. Here are a few of the questions they asked:
When you are writing your books, do any parts get edited out and how do you feel about that?
Ali: Yes! Car-Jacked is a prime example of this as it went through three big re-writes. The editor thought that Jack's 'monster mother' was too over the top in the first draft and that her actions were too extreme. Also, the book's ending didn't exist in the early drafts. Without wanting to tell you what happens if you haven't read the book, I had left the ending hanging after Jack's press conference but according to my editor the story needed more closure. I am sad that I lost parts of the book but I think it gained more as a result of the editing. I think the book is way better than it was before.
Are you good at meeting deadlines?
Ali: I'm not bad as I used to be a journalist which is all about deadlines. As I do a lot of events it has become more difficult to organize my time but I try to write whenever and wherever I can!
Do you watch The Great British Bake Off and who did you want to win?
Ali: Liam! As a character, he was the real winner. I'm a keen baker so I'm really addicted to the show.
What is your favourite TV show?
Ali: Bake Off would definitely be in my top five. I also like understated comedies like Detectorists and Rev.
If you could make any of your books into a film which one would you pick?
Ali: I think Car-Jacked would work well. Movies for young people often need a strong adult character so that the movie makers can cast a star adult actor in the role. Both Ross and Leonie's characters would be good for that. I'm waiting for the call from Steven Spielberg!
If you had to choose, would you prefer a world with books and no TV, or a world with TV and no books?
Ali: I like watching television but I would have to go for books and no TV because books can reach people everywhere and in a whole different way.
Year 7 and 8 students had the pleasure of meeting award-winning writer Ali Sparkes when she visited Beaumont last week. Ali has had over forty books published and during her visit she introduced us to her fast-paced adventure story Car-Jacked. The book's main character Jack is a home-tutored child genius who finds himself on the run with bank robber and car stealer Ross as they try to evade the police, the bad guys AND Jack's pushy, over-protective mum. The story follows the pair as they use their very different talents on a breathless chase from Scotland to London.
Addressing students and staff in the hall, Ali set the scene as she read extracts from Car-Jacked and then went on to describe some of the research behind the story. As Jack has an IQ of 170, Ali contacted real-life child geniuses via Mensa (The High IQ Society) to ask what it was like to be super brainy. Ali also auditioned and appeared on the television quiz show The Chase. She explained that her hopes for success were high as she had previously appeared on Eggheads and had won her head-to-head round on art and books. Sadly, Ali had to confess that her time on The Chase was much more gruelling and that she only got two questions right! Fortunately, she explained, being a writer means that any experience, however negative, can be turned into material for her books!
Continuing the quiz theme, Ali's presentation included a How Clever Are You? quiz for the audience. After testing students on maths, books, pi and Jupiter's moons, Ali declared that Beaumont is 'full of geniuses'! There was even a Quiz the Teachers round with top spot going to Mrs Bennett for her knowledge of crepuscular creatures and the Jovian planets! Ali rounded off her talk by encouraging our students to celebrate their 'brainy side'.
Students described Ali's talk as 'brilliant', 'inspiring' and 'very funny'. They loved all the crazy/cute kitten pictures Ali used in her presentation and also the vivid description of her own 'monster mother moment'!
Ali spent a very busy lunchtime in the library, meeting students and signing copies of her books. She was also interviewed by members of Beaumont Book Club.
We would like to say a big thank you to Ali for visiting us at Beaumont School. The library has a wide selection of Ali's books, including her latest title Thunderstruck...why not give one a try!
