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Author 411 March 2008 - Linda Newbery Photo © Usborne
New house, new school, new friends–but Matt Lanchester knows it won’t all be that easy when he moves to the town of Hay-on-Wye. Almost as soon as he arrives, he is drawn into a mystery when he sees a roadside memorial marked by a little wooden cross with the initials M.L. carved into it. His initials! Then he meets Robbo and Tig and Old Wil Jones and his wife, Gwynnie. There’s history here and a well-kept village secret–and Matt is desperate to find out more.
AUTHOR 411 First of all, I’d like to say how wonderful it is that you’ve all read my book so attentively, and have talked about it, and asked such thoughtful questions. It’s as if the book comes to life all over again in your imaginations—just as Gwynnie says to Matt, at the end! So thank you very much for choosing it, and for reading it. 1.) What inspired you to write Lost Boy? Was this story born completely from your imagination? Or are there parts that are based on personal experiences? We’re all very intrigued by the setting of Lost Boy—the bookshop-filled town of Hay, in particular. One reader comments, “The way it all connected back to the books was awesome!” Another said the town seemed too “good to be true” . . . so is it? In general, we’d like to know more about your connection to this area of Wales, and if the various natural landmarks you mention, such as Pen-y-fan, are real. Have you explored the area, yourself? Do you hike? The book’s first starting point was my love of mountains and wild places. I’m no mountaineer, but I do love to be up high, sometimes doing a bit of rock-scrambling, and often scaring myself! Among my walking trips, I’d been to the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains, and had also visited Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh borders. Books and mountains so close together—what a marvelous place! Before long I had the idea of setting a story there, which gave me the chance to go back several times. As I know the area only as an occasional visitor, I had the idea of making my main character, Matt, a fairly new arrival—he’s just finding his way around. The Welshness of the place is strange to him, as well. Here’s the Web site for Hay-on-Wye, with a link to bookshops: http://www.hay-on-wye.co.uk. Pen-y-Fan is definitely real, too—more about that later. It’s the highest summit in the Brecon Beacons. Quite a lot of school parties go to this area for outdoor activities weeks: as well as the mountains, valleys, and waterfalls, there’s the river Wye where they can go canoeing. So sometimes when I talk to school groups in the U.K., people know the area and have climbed Pen-y-Fan. I was pleased that the cover artist, Jess Meserve, took the trouble to research the area and to paint the very distinctive profile of Pen-y-Fan, recognizable to those who know it. Fairly soon, thinking about what would happen, I had the idea of Wil and his awful experience. How terrible it would be to live with something like that, even though it wasn’t his fault—to know that if he’d made the tiniest different decision about what time he set off or which way he drove home, Martin would still be alive. Then I thought of a way to link that with Matt, and decided on the opening incident.
2.) On that note, is the story about Tommy Jones true? Yes, the sad story of Tommy Jones is a true one—and on the slopes towards the summit is the Tommy Jones Obelisk, as described in Chapter Twelve. My version (or, rather, Gwynnie’s) in the book uses the known facts about Tommy Jones, but the bit about Gwilym, the ghostly dog, is, of course, made up. I bought a booklet like the one Adam lends Matt, at the Brecon Beacons visitors’ centre. You can read the story here: http://www.breconbeacons.org/content/visit-us/about-the-brecon-beacons/victim-of-the-beacons. And there’s more about the Brecon Beacons, too.
3.) Matt’s experiences in Lost Boy got us talking about ghosts. How did you come up with the idea to bring Matt and Martin together? Do you believe in ghosts? How did you mean for readers to interpret Matt’s visions? Do you think Martin was really communicating to Matt, or was it all in Matt’s head? Did you intend for us to fear ghosts or have a positive view of them? I don’t believe in ghosts, as in apparitions, but I do think events of the past can have a powerful presence in our memories or imaginations. Matt’s visions? Well, I used the matching initials as a way of making Martin seem very relevant to Matt, not just a boy whose death he happens to hear about. Once that link is made, Matt is very susceptible to thinking about Martin, imagining he hears him, etc., and he feels that if something needs to be discovered, he’s the person to do it. No, certainly I don’t want anyone to be afraid of ghosts, because both the presences in the story—Martin and Gwilym—are there to put something right, in a way; to guide, rather than frighten. “Ghost” or “ghostly” is used only in connection with Gwilym, in Gwynnie’s story. I never used the word “ghost” in connection with Martin.
4.) Tig and Robbo triggered a strong reaction in all of us. How could they be so mean? One reader comments, “I think you were good at describing Tig’s character and the peer pressure” and wants to know if you’ve ever been pressured to do something that made you feel uncomfortable or that you thought wasn’t quite right. Another wants to know if you’ve ever been the new kid in town, and perhaps if you’ve ever fallen in with the bad crowd at school? And another reader wonders, if Matt had been a girl, do you think he would have still gotten tangled up with Tig and Robbo? When I talk to groups of children or teenagers about the book, and raise the idea of feeling uncomfortable about going along with someone else, or with a group, even though you’d rather not, I get a very definite response—nearly everyone seems to know what that feels like. I was never really part of a “bad crowd,” but I can certainly remember being new at school and worried about fitting in—it’s such a big thing in anyone’s life!—and occasionally going along with things I didn’t much like. Nothing very terrible, but these things seem so important and worrying at the time. That’s a very interesting question about “if Matt had been a girl.” No, I don’t think she would then have got involved with Tig and Robbo, but girls have other ways of putting pressure on each other! If I’d written about girls, then I think the whole reason for the grudge against Wil (Luke’s thieving and arrest) would have had to be different.
5.) Was Matt was more afraid of Tig and Robbo, or of not belonging? What about Fen—why was she so extremely anxious about her schoolwork? What was she scared of? Can you relate to any of these fears yourself? If you could offer Matt or Fen advice to tackle their fears, what would you say? Yes, I think Matt’s “friendship” with Tig and Robbo was driven by his wish to fit in at the new school. By the start of the story, he’s already begun to realize that he doesn’t really like them all that much. As for Fen, well, a lot of students, particularly girls, perhaps, become obsessed by schoolwork and the fear of failure—the sense that nothing they do can possibly be good enough. In Fen’s case, the change of school didn’t help—it wasn’t a good time to move. As for giving my characters advice, I’m not very good at that—far better at getting them into trouble! I tried to answer this question, but it didn’t feel right. That’s because offering advice makes me stand outside my characters, and think of them as a teacher or a parent might. Writing the story, I’m trying to be inside Matt’s head—to be him. See my answer to question 17, too. I wasn’t like Fen at school, but maybe I can identify now with her efforts to do better and better. I can be a bit obsessive, spending hours and hours on tiny details, and then I’m annoyed with myself for being careless.
6.) How do you choose characters’ names? One reader shares, “I liked the names Tig and Robbo, but I’ve never heard of them before.” Another notices that Gwilym and Gwynnie sound a lot alike; did you do that on purpose? Why did you have Wil’s wife, Gwynnie, be the author of the “original” lost story, starring Tommy and Gwilym? Choosing the right names is very, very important. Here, I wanted Welsh-sounding names for many of the characters, so chose traditional ones (Wil and Gwynnie) for the older people, and more current-sounding names like Bryn and Sian for the children. Rob (or Robbo) is short for Robert or Robin; Tig is short for Timothy, and is probably a nickname he’s had since he was little. Sometimes, the right name just jumps into my head, as “Tig” did; other times I have to think hard about it, or look up lists. With the Tommy Jones story, I really hadn’t noticed that Gwilym and Gwynnie sound so similar! An editor might have asked me to change, but I’m glad no one did. The point of having Gwynnie as the author of the story was partly to cause confusion, when Matt thinks it’s about Owen; partly to bring about his surprise when he comes across the obelisk and finds out that it’s quite a well-known story of the Brecon Beacons; and partly because it’s Gwynnie’s way of expressing her sadness about Owen, her own lost boy.
7.) Who is your favorite character in Lost Boy? Probably Wil, because of his sadness and confusion. I also liked Fen, and felt that there could quite easily be another story, from Fen’s point of view. But I’m not going to write it.
8.) Dogs play an important role in Lost Boy. We adore Jacko, and we’re amazed at how well trained he was! Do you have any dogs, and if so, what kind? One reader comments, “I liked how you had the dogs be protectors of the characters.” A reader from another book group adds, “The part where Gwilym came in was my favorite part of the story, because he made everything happier because he was a true guardian.” How come Gwilym was a ghost dog, and not a real dog? Speaking of Gwilym, is that the dog depicted on the cover of Lost Boy? Is the boy beside him Tommy Jones? I’m glad readers liked the dogs! I enjoyed writing about them. Dogs, and pets, can be so important in peoples’ lives. Jacko is a working dog, so Wil probably wouldn’t call him a pet, but the relationship between them is very important to Wil. No, I don’t have a dog—like Matt’s parents, I’m more of a cat person, and have four. But I like dogs, and writing this book I became very interested in Border collies, like Jacko. They’re very active, intelligent dogs, and love working. Recently, in a newspaper, I read about a survey in which various dog breeds were compared for intelligence, and Border collies came out on top. As part of my research, I watched sheepdog trials, talked to trainers, and got in touch with a Welsh trainer who told me some of the commands. Another man I’ve heard of has a team of dogs that perform at country shows. Each dog is trained to obey commands in a different language: Welsh, Hebrew, Arabic, etc. That must be amazing! For the Gwilym part of the Tommy Jones story as told by Gwynnie, I was partly thinking of a well-known story from the Lake District in England. There’s a high and exposed ridge called Striding Edge, which leads up to the summit of Helvellyn. Many years ago a man was killed there in a fall, and according to legend, the loyal ghost of his terrier dog still waits there where he fell. Yes, Jess Meserve (the artist) has painted Tommy Jones and Gwilym on the cover. I think it’s a lovely cover, full of atmosphere.
9.) Let’s talk about the title of this book. One reader says, “I love the layers of ‘lost boys’ in the story. I loved it that you used so many kinds of lost—most of the men are lost in some way.” Why did you choose to name this novel Lost Boy? Do you think the lost characters in your book are eventually “found,” and how so? Do you think Owen ever comes back? Matt, Martin, and Owen all look alike. What is the meaning behind this? I’m glad your readers liked the different ways of being lost—and that’s an interesting comment. Sadly, I don’t think Owen will come back. More and more, I hear of family rifts like this, often initiated by the parents rather than by the children. In fact there’s a separation in my new book, Nevermore, and also in the one I’m working on now. Sometimes, with a book, I have the title immediately—as I did with Nevermore. With Lost Boy, I wasn’t so sure that it was right, but it grew on me. The title led me to think of all the different lost boys, and to include the real Tommy Jones story. The reason for the boys looking rather alike is to introduce confusion at various points—Matt mistaking Owen for Martin, Wil mistaking Matt for Owen, etc.! Maybe, though, they’re not that much alike. We tend to see what we expect to see, not what’s actually there.
10.) Our participating book groups all live in the United States, and therefore many were new to the British terms used throughout the book. For instance, after reading that Matt’s mom was using a “ Hoover,” one reader says, “I noticed ‘Hoover’ on our old vacuum cleaner and figured that out, but some of the phrases I didn’t know.” Do you think these colloquialisms are necessary to hold up the plot, or have you considered changing them for you American readers? My publisher, David Fickling, brings out all his books in the States with no changes at all from their U.K. editions. For instance, there’s a picture book called Pants, which in the U.S. would more correctly be called Underpants, but it was published there as Pants. So I made no changes at all to Lost Boy—it’s exactly the same as the original U.K. version. Another publisher would probably have asked for small changes and clarification—e.g., about the Hoover. I wonder about that, though. When I’m reading a novel set in the U.S., the American terms add flavor and a sense of place or period: “home room” where we’d say “form room” over here; “cart” instead of “shopping trolley;”“diapers” instead of “nappies,” etc. If I’m reading a novel set in the U.S., I don’t want to pretend it’s in England—I enjoy the differences. So I hope some American readers will feel the same. In this novel, of course, the setting is very specifically Hay-on-Wye and the Welsh borders. I don’t like making the setting bland, in a “could be anywhere” way, and it annoys me in novels if I don’t know exactly where I am.
11.) We loved the mystery and suspense in Lost Boy. Is this your favorite kind of book to write? What other kinds of stories do you enjoy writing? Several of my stories do have a mystery element—a secret from the past, or something that needs to be discovered or put right. That would apply to Sisterland, The Shell House, Set In Stone (for older readers), At the Firefly Gate, Lost Boy, Nevermore—to pick just a few. I enjoy a puzzle element—something that needs solving, pieces to put together as in a jigsaw. Several of my stories have also featured the First or the Second World War; several are set around interesting houses. I’ve also written several stories for much younger readers—children aged about 5 up—which sometimes include fantasy elements, and often animals and humor. One of the great things about writing for children and teenagers is that you can try lots of different styles, genres, and subjects.
12.) We see in your author’s note that you’ve been writing since you were 8 years old! Do you keep a journal? Have you always enjoyed writing, or have you considered pursuing other professions? If you were to have any other job, what would it be? Yes, I’ve always enjoyed writing, but I’ve also worked in offices, and I taught English in a secondary school for many years, and ran a library there. Now, if I were to change, I think I’d be a gardener, or maybe a charity fundraiser. I don’t keep a journal, but I always have a notebook with me.
13.) When you start a book, which comes first: the story, the setting, or the characters? Do you have a plan at the beginning, or does the process evolve naturally? How did Lost Boy change from when you first thought up the idea to when you finished writing the final chapter? Do you share your progress with others as you go along, or do you prefer to keep your work private (like you did when you were little, and like Gwynnie did in Lost Boy)? How long did it take to write and publish this book? What were your biggest challenges throughout the experience? Lots to answer here! Nearly always, a story begins with a setting (place and period), then the characters. The plot grows from those elements. I start with a vague plan and some promising ingredients, but I don’t want to know everything before I start—I prefer to let the story grow. And I know that my best ideas will come to me in the middle. For instance, when I began Lost Boy, I hadn’t yet thought of separating Wil from Jacko. But as I wrote about them, it became obvious that this had to happen. Usually, when I reach the end of a story, and look back at my rough plan, I’m amazed at how much it’s changed. I NEVER discuss my work with anyone till I’ve finished at least the first draft, and no one reads a single word. It’s strictly private! Even my husband is never allowed to glimpse what’s on my screen or in my notebook. Somehow the story wouldn’t live and breathe if I were to share it with other people at that stage. It took me about three months to write the first draft, but then there was still a lot to do. I love rewriting! It must have taken me about a year to write and revise it, and then another year until it was published. The biggest challenge? Holding all the different elements together—being convincingly inside the head of Matt, when I’ve never been a boy!
14.) How does it feel to have a book published? Rather odd! It’s lovely to see a book in the shops, of course, or to hear that someone’s read and enjoyed it. But at the same time, it feels as if the finished book has nothing to do with me. While I’m writing a story, I’m living in it; by the time it’s published, I’m on to something new. In fact, in order to answer your questions, I had to read Lost Boy again—I quite enjoyed it!
15.) Besides writing, do you like to read? What are your favorite books? Are their any authors who have inspired you? Yes, I read a lot. My favorite books: I enjoy popular science, biography, natural history, as well as fiction. At the moment I’m reading Wildwood, by Roger Deakin, all about trees. Authors who’ve inspired me: Monica Edwards, K.M. Peyton, Aidan Chambers, Barbara Vine, Barbara Kingsolver, Jane Smiley, Anne Tyler, John Irving, Vladimir Nabokov, Thomas Hardy, Wilkie Collins, Charlotte Bronte, L. P. Hartley, Geraldine McCaughrean, Michael Morpurgo, David Almond, Edward Thomas, Jill Paton Walsh.
16.) What do you have planned for the future; will you be visiting the United States any time soon? Will you write a sequel to Lost Boy? One reader suggests a book told from Wil’s point of view. I would love to visit the States, and hope the chance will arise! I’ve been twice, as counselor at a summer camp in Connecticut—but that was a very long time ago, in my student days. I spent a few days in New York, which I loved. No, I definitely won’t write a sequel. I prefer to write one-off stories. I have a novel called Catcall to be published in the U.S. in October; then I hope Nevermore will follow, maybe next year, and I’m currently working on The Sandfather. News and updates are to be found on my Web site: www.lindanewbery.co.uk.
17.) If there is one message you’d like readers to take away with them from Lost Boy, what would it be? It may sound odd, but I don’t like the idea of “messages” in stories. If a message is spelled out too clearly, it’s as if the author wants to teach something. I don’t write to teach. Rather, I want my readers to live with the characters for a bit and experience things from their point of view. If readers engage with Matt, as these readers clearly have, they’ll have thought about various things, gone through Matt’s difficulties and decisions with him, and come to their own conclusions.
Thank you again for reading my book and for asking these excellent questions. Happy reading!
Thanks to the following Teen Book Groups for participating! Guys Read Huntersville, NC Old High Middle School Book Club Bentonville, AR Southwest Readers Albuquerque, NM Wiley ELA Enrichment Watertown, NY
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