Author Interview

Dick King-Smith is the author of BABE: THE GALLANT PIG. Everyone knows "Babe" thanks to the hit movie based on the book, but does anyone know much about Babe's creator? For instance, did you know that King-Smith has written lots of other great books about all kinds of charming characters besides Babe? In fact, Crown Books for Young Readers has published over 17 of his books since 1982. We wanted to find out more about Dick King-Smith, so we recently sent him a letter asking him a few questions about his work and his life, which he promptly answered via return letter, neatly typed on his trusty manual typewriter.

Q: Why do you write about animals? Are they easier to write about than other topics?
A: I write (mainly) about animals because I've always kept them, I'm interested in them, I know a bit about them, and I know that children like them. Anyway, it's such fun putting words into their mouths.

Q: How many different kinds of animals have you had at any one time?
A: Let's see -- when farming: cows, horses, pigs, goats, hens, ducks, geese, guinea-fowl, rabbits, guinea-pigs, mice, rats, budgerigars, zebra finches, cats, dogs... that's 16.

Q: I've heard from someone that you belong to different animal groups, i.e. "The Mouse Breeder Association." Is this true? How many of these associations to you belong to?
A: Many years ago I was a member of the National Mouse Club. Now I am a member of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and indeed a Director of the Kelmscott Rare Breeds Foundation of Lincolnville, Maine, USA.

Q: I understand you were a farmer for many years. Why did you stop farming, and how does your farming experience translate into your writing?
A: I loved farming and would have remained a farmer for life if only I'd been a better businessman. Of course my 20 years of experience farming is helpful in many of my stories.

Q: How does your teaching experience affect your writing?
A: I taught kids of 5 to 11 -- useful in school stories, as one knows what goes on in a primary school.

Q: What's your favorite Dick King-Smith book?
A: Favourite -- probably THE SHEEP PIG (BABE THE GALLANT PIG in the U.S.A. and just BABE in the cinema.)

Q: What is a typical day for you? Can you describe it for us?
A: A typical day. Sit down in my very small study in my very old (from 1635) cottage; scribble in longhand in the morning; in the afternoon, type out the morning's work (on an old portable typewriter, with one finger); evening, read day's work to my wife, seeking her approval.

Q: I also know that you don't like to fly. Do you ever anticipate getting on an airplane one day? Would you like to travel more? And what's your favorite mode of travel?
A: No, I shan't fly if I can help it. I love being on the sea -- we go on cruises, mainly. Mostly I like just being at home.

Q: Did you ever imagine yourself as a children's book writer? Why or why not?
A: No, I never imagined myself as a children's author. What happened was that, in my fifties, I got an idea for a children's story and was lucky enough to get it published (THE FOX BUSTERS).

Q: Briefly describe the way you write a book -- from the idea stage to finished product. Are all of the book ideas yours, or do you ask others for advice? How do you actually write the book -on a computer, typewriter, longhand? Do you revise many times? Do you test the book out on kids prior to submitting it to your publisher?
A: I get the germ of an idea, sit down, and knock something out, hoping it will evolve into a story. I don't do all the preparatory things writers are meant to do (so sometimes I fall flat on my face). I certainly don't ask anyone else for advice or for ideas. I don't try the story out on anyone (except my wife, see above). I seldom revise, knowing that my various -- very good -- editors will leave it along if it's O.K. and will tell me in no uncertain terms if it's not.

Q: Tell us about your family. What do they think of your success?
A: I have two daughters, one son, eleven grandchildren (and a twelfth on the way), and a great-granddaughter of 3. I think they are all delighted about my success -- they seem to like the books.

Q: What animal makes the best pet, in your opinion?
A: Fond as I am of pigs and admiring their beauty and great intelligence, I have to say that the best pet is a dog, especially if it's beautiful, affectionate, intelligent and biddable. Our present dog, a German Shepard female, named Fly after the collie in BABE, is beautiful, affectionate, intelligent, and as mad as a March hare.

Other facts about me: I'm 76; have been happily married for 55 and a half years to a girl I met at age 13; live in a beautiful old cottage in a tiny village; don't like nuts, turnips or pineapples; love the English countryside and would probably die immediately if forced to live in a town; and am a very happy man doing what is in effect my hobby for a living, i.e. writing stories for children.