On Monday, we featured the Queen of Dress-ups. Today, it's the turn of the undisputed Queen of Poetry, and not just any poetry, but hilarious poetry (featuring bungy-jumping grannies whose knickers are frequently on display). Please welcome, Judi Billcliff...
I love writing poetry for children to perform, they are who inspire me. Children often ask me why I write. I tell them I write for one reason only, because I can’t not write. Just like a Silver Fern has to play netball, the need to write is within, and can’t be ignored.
How do you know your book is finished? How do you stop adding and changing words?
What a great question. After the book or poem has been edited and edited again, there comes a time when you need to remind yourself, a verse or sentence can be written in several different ways, and each one will work. I’m sure most authors are still reading and editing right up until their book has gone to the printer. Please tell me other authors do this too!
How hard is it to think of new ideas?
Not hard at all for me. My poor brain is always overflowing with what seems like a trillion ideas. They almost have to get in an ‘idea queue’ waiting to be used.
Who is your favourite character?
I love the crazy granny. I have recently finished a chapter book about a bored granny, who decides to make her life more fun by doing outrageous things. When one of my granddaughters read it, she said, “I feel like I’m reading about you and me Granz.” Oh dear!
If you were not an author what would you have been?
I’d be hosting a TV show like Ellen does, or be a stand up comic, or a sit down one as I’m getting old now.
Where do you write?
I do 95% of my writing in the same place, my office, also called my comfy chair in the lounge. But in the shower, or driving on my own is where I test a lot of my ideas out loud.
What was your favourite book as a child?
It was a Golden Book called ‘Georgie Finds A Grandpa,’ because I never had a granddad and that book always made me feel happy and sad at the same time.
How do you come up with character names/character design?
I really don’t know, they just pop out of my head and onto the screen. It’s as if they’ve been sitting in my head waiting to be found.
Did you like writing as a kid? Were you good at writing at school?
Yes, I did like writing what we used to call essays, except the one at the beginning of every term – ‘What I did in the holidays.’ I never liked that one. I was pretty good at it, or so my old school reports say.
Can you make a lot of money from writing or do you need another job too?
I don’t think many authors make a lot of money from writing. I’m very lucky being an experienced drama teacher, as I use poetry and drama to get kids storytelling and writing. I couldn’t make a living just from my books, so combining my writing and drama makes it better. But I must stop giving things away for free!
When did you start writing?
I’ve written all my life, but in 2013 decided I wanted to do a book of poems. It took off from there, and at the end of that year, I took the plunge and gave up the paying job to work on writing and my performance poetry full time.
Do you have any exciting projects planned for the future?
Why yes, I do, working in collaboration with a talented illustrator, but I can’t tell you any more or I’d have to kidnap you! I am working on getting my first chapter book published. A production I have just written for schools has been picked up by Pukete School, and I’m looking forward to seeing it performed in September. It’s also exciting that Twinkl have picked up my poetry and have asked me for more due to the interest from teachers.
What do you do in your spare time?
Spare time? What is that? When you work for yourself, you’re the only one to do all the jobs. It can be hard to find time to actually write, as bookings need to be taken care of, orders posted off, accounts and sales recorded. But I do take time over December and January, and it’s weird as my interest and work are the same. I began an adult novel last year in my time off! But I do enjoy my garden, and am keen on getting back into family history, and my grandies take up a bit of time as well.